FINISHED! Lauren's Leaf Viviane

Tessuti has just received some of the Winter 2014 Liberty range so upon hearing this news last Wednesday I immediately went to the site and bought two pieces. This is one of them. Laurens Leaf in Blue. The fantastic thing about being in the Southern Hemisphere is that even though we are a season behind, with Liberty releases the fabric and colour palette are perfect for the current season in Australia. Thank you Liberty!

Here is the fabric story:

Lauren’s Leaf Liberty fabric was created from the leaf imprints of the world-changing indigo, upland cotton, hemp and white mulberry. Respectively, these plants have helped bring about Indian independence, fund an industrial revolution and produce the world’s first jeans. White Mulberry is the food of the silk worm.

My intention was to make another Burda wrap blouse with the fabric so only bought 1.5m but when I opened the package (a mere 24 hours later), I immediately changed my mind. The fabric was just so beautiful that I decided to try the Viviane dress by Republique du Chiffon.  I have been on a bit pattern buying binge with Republique du Chiffon. I have bought 4 from the new season release, with 2 still on their way from France. Fortnunately this one I was able to buy as an English PDF and get straight onto it. 
The pattern prints out overlapped, so you have to trace and add seam allowance. The pages printed out well and I had no problem assembling them. The pattern calls for 1.8m but I got lucky as I think I got a few bonus centimetres of fabric, so with an adjustment for my height and given the width of Liberty I was able to get the dress out of this meterage.  
I was nervous about the yoke. Not just because stylistically it is bold (and I was just a little bit worried about pulling it off), but also because of the quilting. Thank goodness for walking foot. The yoke is a wool batting with a voile (with interfacing underneath to help with the colour). I usually hide my stitching in busy patterned fabric, so I'm pretty proud of my efforts with this dress.  Especially with the sewing to attach it. But maybe not so much that I didn't clear off all the chalk before taking these pictures!  So now you will be subjected to close up photos!
Rue des Renards suggested after making her super cute Viviane that to get a good curve on the bottom that it would be good to make up a facing. So I did and it worked well.
The rest of the make is straight forward.  The instructions are brief but useful and even provide advice for when to overlock the seams.  I was amazed that the sleeves eased in as well as they did given the bodice had the quilted yoke, but it did. Afterwards I did consider overlocking the armscye seams together rather than separately (as per the instructions) but decided to leave well enough alone. Sadly, I had a brain freeze at one point where I didn't overlock the seams on the shoulders because I thought they would be concealed. Aaah, they aren't.
Other than an adjustment of about 8cms off the length of the bodice (using my other drop waist dresses as a guide,yes, I do love a drop waist: the Malvorosa and the Pattern Runway shirt dress) I didn't make any other changes to the 36.  It fits like it should (for someone who isn't overly obsessive about fit) and the little bit of extra width and flare at the bottom of the dress makes it fun to wear.
I admit, this dress style isn't for everyone. Ben said to me that it is 'special' which is his word for 'mmm, I'm not sure about it' and the boys said that they thought it was funny.  But I like it. I wore it to work today and it made me feel... well, happy and original. So that's a win in my book. 

53 comments:

  1. That quilting is so neat - you will have to teach me how to do it!

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  2. Beautiful stitching! I agree that this style isn't for everyone, but I think you pull it off wonderfully!

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  3. Gorgeous! Perfect winter dress and the detailing makes it very cool and unique! Definitely another worthy addition to the archives of Club Drop Waist.

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  4. This is a real beauty! Great details. Just perfect, and so much in your style!!

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  5. yes! Happy and original! I think this suits you down to the ground :-)

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  6. That quilting is perfection, I think you've just sold me on this pattern. Super cute!

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  7. Amazing dress. The stitching on the yoke deserves a gold star or two or three. You rck the drop waist dress.

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  8. Ben is right. This is a special and amazing dress.

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  9. This is gorgeous. Love the fabric and the flare, you can definately wear it well.

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  10. Oh I just love this! I'm glad you listened to the fabric. And not your family :)

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  11. Looks great! I'm currently working on mine - I love when you read about someone else making the same thing at the same time! Mine has come out a bit small though so I might have to start again and go a size up....

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  12. I like it . It's bold, but that's OK. I'm loving the Belmont Ivy fabric in navy - what other Liberty print did you get?

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  13. I love that fabric too and in fact was going to buy the navy as well. I may still buy it.. it's early in the season. I bought the wildflowers in green, but not sure what I'll do with it yet Was thinking originally of a little jacket but not sure I like the colour so much.

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  14. I think it is nice to make things that are not available rtw! I really like the quilting and love the fabric!

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  15. You definitely nailed it! Forget the men in your life, this dress is just fabulous.

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  16. You must share your make with me! What fabric are you using? Is this your first RdC make.?

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  17. Thanks Andrea and this dress certainly doesn't look like I got it from the mall!

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  18. Thanks Morgan. I love a bit of a yolk detail :)

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  19. Thanks Barbara. The ladies at A2F tell me that they are getting their shipment in soon.. Yay can't wait.

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  20. Thanks so much Maria. It is a little bit more out there than my recent makes, but it is fun.

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  21. The drop waist isn't for everyone, but I do love them. Thanks for the stitching love.

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  22. Thanks Jo! What are you sewing at the moment?

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  23. Ha! You are the queen of the quilting. I learnt from you.

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  24. That print is stunning. I don't think I've seen this one in person but can imagine the colours pop so much.
    I like that the yoke seems more structural than the rest of the dress.
    Overall it looks wonderful! Just a shame it was too late for the contest.

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  25. It is gorgeous! That top stitching is amazing. I am intrigued by a lot of the RdC designs.... but am totally put off by the nested pieces thing. I've done that with Japanese patterns in the past and didn't enjoy it. Wonderful Liberty too... I need to start thinking about which ones I want!

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  26. Oh, I love it! The coour of the print is amazing (blue's my favourite colour) and the yoke is such a pretty detail. The drop waist style really agrees with you Kirsty!

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  27. You carry this style off very well Kirsty, and it's a one of a kind. You've done a beautiful job, it's fab.

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  28. Blue is my favourite colour as well. I think I need to do a long sleeve Malvorosa as well for winter!

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  29. I used to make so many japanese patterns as well, but I must admit too to not liking the nesting. So much prefer a pdf with seam allowance!! The RdC paper patterns aren't nested but they still need a seam allowance AND they are in French so it's win some lose some. I love their designs though so am going to battle through a translation...

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  30. I love your choice of fabric. While it would look great as the wrap top, I'm glad that you changed your mind! The dropped waist really works for you and you can definitely pull off the statement yoke.

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  31. Really adorable, I just love a drop waist so much also- and I love RDC, I saw that this one is available in English, I might just have to try it. And as always, beautiful stitching, bravo!

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  32. This is an amazing dress! I love the yoke and the top stitching is awesome! Very special dress.

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  33. Wowzers, this is amazing! The yoke looks so fantastic and the colour matches your fabric perfectly! You must be the best dressed lady in Canberra!

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  34. Thanks so much Claire! I'm so glad I changed my mind as well.

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  35. Thank you Angela! RdC have such great patterns and it is always so nice when they come out in English!!

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  36. Thanks Jenna. The yoke certainly makes it interesting and different.

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  37. Thanks Mel! I don't know about that, but I'd like to see someone who wears more Liberty!! I'm sure they exist but it would funny to meet him/her!!

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  38. I haven't looked at this line of patterns before, but I definitely will after seeing your amazing dress. So glad you could squeeze it out of the Liberty you ordered, its the perfect fabric for the style.

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  39. Thanks Kristy! I am in love with this line of patterns although I wish they were all translated into English!

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  40. I've just clicked on over to your pattern maker and I'm in love with the Jacque pants. Such original patterns with such unusual lines! This dress style is definitely one that I like on you - original and quirky but still a bit 'dark and stormy' which I think balances it out. As usual - the perfect liberty choice. I bought a particular Liberty print on Saturday just past because I've been so inspired by you!

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  41. Oh those pants are too cute aren't they! I'm afraid I need pants to have a little less focus on my tummy area, but I love these on other people! Thanks for the comments on the dress. I think it could easily turn a bit cutesy so was definitely going for something with a dark and stormy edge to it. Can not wait to see what Liberty print you bought!

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  42. I love the dress! Perfect fabric choices and I think the darkness of the color pallet softens the quirkiness of the style. My husband says similar things when I wear quirky stuff (-:

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  43. Oh my goodness that is flipping AMAZING!!! Zoe xxx

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  44. Thanks Carrie. I agree about the darkness of the palette balancing the quirkiness. I'm making another dress which I thought he would also say is 'special' but it turns out he likes this one.. can't always pick it! :)

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  45. Wow this post slippped through my reading until now, love this dress! It looks fantastic. The combo of liberty with yoke is perfect, as is that yoke stitching!

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