Signature style - Going Nordika with another 'flipped Tinny'

By Victoria As-it-Seams - 14:37

UPDATE Oct 3, Signature Style Project Run and Play.
See below!
 So I was going to sew-along something special for Project Run and Play's Signature Style Week, see here for details. But then I thought - this dress has everything that is my signature!
1 - Gorgeous fabric 
Lovely prints are what inspire me to sew every time...
2 - Piping.
Scan through this blog and you'll find it on most of my posts!
3 - Pintucks
My new fave. Slightly nostalgic, slightly structural. Love them
4 - Dresses
Can't help it. I'm a girly girl for my little girl




Um...remember how I said a few posts back I was going to be a little more thrifty about buying fabric? Nope? 

Well neither did I when I saw this wonderful print.


Resistance was futile...



Actually I was quite proud that I resisted buying more from Jeni Baker's Nordika collection. I love Nordika's colours, the blues and pinks and greys, the geometric prints and strong florals. But my craving was satisfied with this print, Whimsicol in Tide,  bought here at M is for Make. 
It seemed to have it all; florals, hearts, bold colours, subtle hues and more. Oh, except it didn't have a geometric pattern ... oh well, that was easily remedied with a fat quarter of another Nordika print, Stellar in Starlight.


Such a stunning print calls for a simple dress pattern, so once again I used Straightgrain's Tinny dress pattern, with a few modifications or flips. This has proved to be such a versatile pattern. With a Tinny bodice pattern and skirt options, I can make anything (almost!)

No sleeves, evidently, but a fully lined bodice instead, in pink cotton - I find a lining often easier than a facing, and I like the flashes of pink just visible. The bodice has also been cropped, to make way for a maxi skirt and that lovely print!

I cut the gathered skirt way longer. It's a maxi now. This was partly to make the most of the Whimsicol print, but also to ease my thrifty conscience. Summer hit the 'off button' here a couple of week's ago, autumn and winter are looming, and I really should not be sewing cotton dresses, says the sensible voice in my head. So this is one dress that is sewn to last. I cut Size 5 in the bodice pattern, but also slipped the pieces away from the centre fold to make the bodice wider. You can see it's slipping off Missy's shoulders. This is deliberate!

 
I was trying to keep things simple, but I always end up fiddling.
I added a pin-tucked placket to the bodice in the stellar print. Graphic lines of the print helped a lot when sewing the pin-tucks, and the real mother-of-pearl buttons add a glint of light. And yes...there's a touch of piping, of course, around the placket.


 


I also added a sash, long ties in the Whimsicol, lined in the stellar print, which 'lifts' all the colours somehow. The sash is a bit long, and I experimented with crossing them over and tying them at the front, which  looks better in real life than it does in the photos. It looks like a kimono, said Mr As-it-Seams.  
The fabric may be Scandinavian inspired, but Missy had other ideas. Every new dress means one thing to Missy: dancing! She pulled this on in our living room, and her first words were; "Mummy, can I have reggae?"
So if the last 'flipped Tinny' turned her into a ballerina, this is the reggae dress for jumping around to some Trojan classics.



I'm considering this dress work-in-progress. It wasn't even completely finished when I took the photographs.  It needed a proper iron and the lining hadn't been stitched in place, but now it has, it sits much better.
But I had to make the most of the moment that was available to me. It was perhaps the last warm day,  I wasn't stuck in the office and Missy was in a good mood. So it was a case of now-or-never (Or at least wait weeks and weeks for the next photo-opportunity window).
But I may yet tweak around with the skirt - it is very long and I've got other ideas...watch this space for a possible Nordika update....







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16 comments

  1. Jenya @ While she was sleeping22 September 2013 at 03:41

    Love it Victoria :) The fabric is delicious. The pin tucks are my new fave I think. Lovely overall :)

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    Replies
    1. Victoria As-it-Seams24 September 2013 at 08:33

      I think I could be entering a 'pintuck' phase! Pintucks AND piping could be my next obsession!

      Delete
  2. Rowie22 September 2013 at 10:05

    Wow! that is really amazing. Such a beautiful dress and the fabric makes it so special. What a lucky little girl to have such a clever mama. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Victoria As-it-Seams24 September 2013 at 08:35

      Hi Rowie. This really is a lot easier than it looks! If you can sew those lovely skirts for your girls, you can sew one of these dresses. At the risk of sounding like I'm getting 'commission', I'd suggest getting a digital dress pattern from straightgrain - with loads of photos in the instructions and whizz one up for your girls!

      Delete
  3. Unknown22 September 2013 at 11:37

    Oh waw, this is GORGEOUS! I love the fabric, and I love your adaptations of the Tinny pattern even more. Absolutely stunning!

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    Replies
    1. Victoria As-it-Seams24 September 2013 at 08:38

      Thanks An, honestly the possibilities with Tinny are pretty endless! Got more in the pipeline. It's simplicity makes it a great showcase for lovely fabric.

      Delete
  4. Unknown23 September 2013 at 13:57

    Oh Victoria! How beautiful!!!! Like you, I am completely in love with the Nordika line and I had also spotted this particular fabric. Of course it has to be a maxi in order to show off the amazing pattern!!!! Fantastic Tinny flip too... just lovely! Missy looks sweet!
    XXX

    Natalie@ www.natandgang.blogspot.ca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Victoria As-it-Seams24 September 2013 at 08:41

      Thanks Natalie! Would love to see what you come up with if you sew up some Nordika! I can't stop gazing at it. Sadly the weather's starting to turn here, so this is one for next summer. Might not be a maxi then!

      Delete
  5. Unknown23 September 2013 at 15:55

    It looks lovely! I like the shortened bodice :) Great fabric choice ;)

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  6. Pam @Threading My Way27 September 2013 at 05:20

    What absolutely gorgeous fabric, Victoria!!! No wonder you couldn't resist. Love the pintucked bodice... a beautiful dress.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Suz2 October 2013 at 05:17

    This is gorgeous!! I love the pleated yoke. I really love anything with a yoke!!

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  8. Marta3 October 2013 at 04:04

    Gorgeous dress!
    I have that same fabric on my wish list.

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  9. Unknown3 October 2013 at 06:20

    Beautiful! I love that you thought ahead to we arability past this season and I wouldn't have been able to cut off those lovelies either!

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  10. Xoxo Grandma3 October 2013 at 11:32

    Really cute - loving that yoke and the fabric of course is so fun.
    http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Simple Simon and Company7 October 2013 at 21:14

    I LOVE your fabric choice and your sweet dress...it is so cute!!!

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Victoria

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