Roald Dahl ‘Lickswishy Sweets’ dresses!!!

Remember a while back I made some Matilda cushion covers?  Since then I’ve been eyeing up some of the other amazing Roald Dahl fabrics, and I decided to get some of the Lickswishy Sweets fabric, this time to make a dress!  I’ve never ordered from Plush Addict before, but I have to say I was really impressed by their range of fabrics, the delivery time etc and they even have a loyalty scheme so you can collect ‘Plush Points’ when you spend with them!  That’s the first time I’ve heard of such a scheme with a fabric retailer.  Plus, they sent me some sweeties with my fabrics.  I’m not sure if that’s because I ordered sweets fabric or if it’s just a thing they do with every order, but it made me smile.

Although the Roald Dahl fabric is described as home décor weight, having used the Matilda fabric before I knew it would be fine with the right dress pattern.  It’s 100% cotton, so even though it’s thicker than your average dress fabric, it’s still nice and soft and breathable.  I picked up a copy of the By Hand London Flora dress pattern a few months ago, and decided to use this with the Lickswishy Sweets fabric because it was the right width and in fact the fabric recommendations on the pattern mention that it is suitable for upholstery fabric!  Winner!

I really wanted to make the wrap version of the Flora dress, but when I made a toile of the wrap bodice, and it was all wrong.  It was too big under the arms, across the high bust and at the side seams, but somehow it sort of fit the bust, but gaped at the front and was baggy under the bust.  Now, I’m definitely not averse to a bit of alteration – or even redrafting – but I seriously had no idea where to start with this.  It doesn’t even look that bad on the photo, but trust me, it wasn’t wearable!  Good job I made a toile, eh?!

First toile – wrap bodice

I decided that currently I hadn’t the patience to try to figure out how to make it fit ok.  I wanted that sweets dress asap!  So I toiled up the tank bodice version of the pattern instead.  This version fit a lot better with exception of some under-boob bagginess.  I pinned out the excess, drew on my toile where I had pinned, unpinned it and then transferred the markings to my pattern piece.  Finally I was ready to cut into the fabric!

Second toile with alterations drawn on

The alteration transferred to my paper pattern

I lined my dress with some plain white cotton.  I had a 40cm remnant that was just enough to line the bodice.  I didn’t have any zips to match, but what does that matter when you use concealed zips?  The whole point of them is that they are meant to be invisible.  I used a royal blue zip, and the only bit of it you can see is the pull at its top.

Invisible zip

As regards the hem, I liked the idea of the dipped hem for a change, but didn’t like how short it came up at the front, so I traced the straight front piece and the dipped back, and I love how it has turned out!

By Hand London Flora dress – side view

Still a ‘mullet hem’, but less exaggerated and slightly more…demure?!  I finished the hem with a bias binding facing, topstitched into place.

Altered dipped hem with bias binding facing

Now…I should also mention at this point that my daughter was seriously jonesing for this fabric.  She had seen it when I ordered it online, she came with me to collect the parcel from the post office, she watched me open the parcel, she saw the fabric drying on the line after its pre-wash…and at every step along the way she asked me to make her a dress with the fabric.  I felt like the cruellest mother in the world when I said “No, this fabric is to make myself a dress”…so I added “I’m sure there will be some fabric left over to make something for you”… Well, luckily the tank bodice doesn’t use up much fabric at all, so although I only ordered 3m of this fabric, I was able to get us both a dress out of it.  Yes, that’s right, I made us matching dresses!

Matching Mother-Daughter dresses!

For her dress I used New Look 6205, which is what I am using for her flower girl’s dress and the same pattern I used for her yellow polka dot georgette dress.

Wheeeeeeeeeee!

I added rick rack to the neck line, a ribbon waistband secured at the side seams and sewn into the centre back, and a ribbon hem facing on the outside of the dress.  Little Tweedie’s dress is lined with red cotton I had in my stash.

I accessorised my dress with a red sash I made ages ago, to better co-ordinate with Little Tweedie

I declared to Aileen that I would never go out in public with us both wearing our dresses, but it was too good a photo opportunity to miss.  I did it for you guys, you know.  For the blog.

Ice creams!

I’d be interested to know what your opinion is on matching mother-daughter clothing.  I’m cringing inside and rolling my eyes at myself.  I LOVE Little Tweedie’s dress (and mine), but wearing them at the same time makes me feel like a total muppet.  Like it’s so unbearably cutesy and twee.  Like people might actually vomit at the sight of it.

Hahahahahahaha.  Check out my amazing sunglasses though.

Anyway, we wore them together for these photos and that will be the last time.  Probably.

Matchy matchy

So there you have it: two dresses for the price of one!  And most importantly, a very happy Little Tweedie!