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Tuesday 15 March 2016

Marimekko Dress - The Vintage Edition

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

Vintage dresses; no matter how much I love my modern fashion, sewing classic styles feels like home to me.

Here's one of my latest dresses that takes me back to my roots. The pencil shaped skirt and fitted bodice makes me think 'Mad Men' and answers my daily inner questions of WWJW? (What Would Joan Wear?)

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

The Pattern
I pulled out one of my all time favourites and most used patterns; Butterick 5603. I used the bodice of this pattern in version B, and added a pencil skirt instead of the full skirt like I have done many times in the past.

How many times have I used this pattern now? Oh, just a lazy SIX times. No biggie.

 the first step is admitting you have a problem

 Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

Fabric
Oh. Em. Gee. This. Fabric.
This gorgeous fabric is by the designer Marimekko and printed onto a heavy weight cotton.

It's from Yulki's Home Decor which is a beautiful site dedicated to designer fabrics and they have a wide range of Marimekko fabrics. Sadly the site will be closing down soon but a lot of fabrics will still be available in their etsy store.

Julie from Yulki's Home Decor has offered my readers an 18% discount store wide on all available fabrics before the website closes down. Just enter the code "special" at checkout.

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

Details
I love the little ties on this bodice. It adds such a sweetness to the dress, and the heavy cotton fabric gives shape to the ties without the need to interface.

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
So BOW-tiful

I highlighted the beautiful panelled design of branches and magenta berries by placing the pattern in the centre, with the top and bottom of the dress being white. This meant I had to cut my pattern pieces across the grain line, rather than along the grain line.

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

The bodice has a V shaped front and back and an invisible zipper down the centre back.h

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

Thanks to the sturdiness of this heavy cotton fabric, I went the easy option and didn't line it. It breathes easy and feels very structured so is very comfortable to wear!

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress


The dress has an empire bodice cut just under the bust, and the skirt has four darts at the front, and two at the back, all perfectly hidden amongst the beautiful fabric design.

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress
Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress


Conclusion
Here in the Southern Hemisphere us gals are packing up our summer gear and pulling out the knitting needles as we say goodbye to Summer *sniff* and hello to Autumn.
This cheery spring dress seems like a poetic goodbye to our warm weather as we hold onto these last few warm weeks.

I love how this dress turned out and feel happy to have finally made my very own Marimekko dress! Don't forget about the 18% discount code 'special' at Yulki's Home Decor if you are wanting to get your hands on your own Marimekko.

Hope you all have a fabric filled week! xx

Julia Bobbin - Marimekko Dress

50 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. What a beautiful dress! Gorgeous inspiration for us who are stepping out of winter into spring!
    I was just thinking about your blog this morning after a while of not being an active reader, and I was so happy to find a new post! Also started following you on Instagram, hadn't crossed my mind before that I could find you there! :)

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    1. It's good to be back posting again! I've had such a build up of new garments and no time to photograph them! Thanks so much for your kind comments :)

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  3. Dear Julia,
    what a woman, what a dress! It is so beautiful that I am out of words. You made the best out of the gorgeous fabric: a beautiful pattern, I like the shoulders. It´s not to much- just the right amount to give the dress one more highlight.
    Again, you and your dress, so beautiful,
    soo beautiful :-)
    Best regards from Germany
    Claudia

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    1. Hello and thank you Claudia from Germany! It's so nice when a fabric and pattern come together and work! :)

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  4. Really gorgeous. And yes, a tear on my cheek for the end of summer!

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  5. All your versions of that dress look so different, I'd never have twigged it was the same pattern. As for what would Joan wear - she'd wear what works for her, and this clearly works for you.

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    1. That's so good to hear! I feel like I still have more versions of this dress in me :) Thanks so much Mim!

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  6. Your dress turned out so gorgeously...but then all your dresses do. Love the print and the little bows. Great use of the print. Cheers, Michele

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  7. What a beautiful dress! Actually I like all your versions of this pattern. Great fabric selection!

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    1. Thank you! Yes I was so glad the pattern worked for the fabric! It's so nice when something you imagine in your head actually works!

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  8. A beautiful woman and a beautiful dress! You look so gorgeous and have done such justice to that amazing fabric. I love how you've used the print, it's really effective. Stunner :-)

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    1. Thank you, what a wonderful compliment! Come back to Melbourne lovely lady! :)

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  9. How I absolutely love this dress. Sadly at 77 I think I'm a little bit over the hill to wear the style, but still my fingers itch to get sewing.

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    1. Janice you are never too old! Thank you so much for your kind comment :)

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  10. Wow! You look stunning. Love that dress. Love the cut and print.

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  11. What an absolutely stunning dress! I have a Marimekko store near me and I have been eyeballing this exact fabric for a long time and thinking about what I would make with it; I would have never thought to use it this way. Thank you for the inspiration!

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    1. Do it do it do it!! I tend to stick to non-printed fabrics so it's really nice to mix it up a bit, especially with such a big print! Good luck with your design!

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  12. Beautiful dress and excellent use of the print, works so well with the way the bodice and skirt join, very very effective. I like your lovely back vent on the skirt too!

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  13. Simply AMAZING! This fabric tho! This fabric. Heart eyes!!

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    1. Hahaha! Right? I wants all of the Marimekko fabric!! Thanks so much Abbey

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  14. Fantastic use of that fabric. It really goes to show what you can do with a great pattern and your style and creativity to make 6 completely different gorgeous dresses. On a totally separate note, please can you tell me what your lipstick is?!

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    1. Thank you Allison!! The lipstick is 'Meet Matt(e) Hughes by 'The Balm' in colour 'committed' :) it's a long lasting liquid lipstick

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  15. Why wouldn't you make it a lazy six times if it looks THAT GOOD!

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    1. Hahaha! I have a problem, but at least it's a constructive problem. Thanks Lisa :)

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  17. You have a good eye for picking pattern making.I never would have expected it to be so flattering! It looks great on you, and I really like the fabric you picked for it. Nice waist treatment, too.

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    1. Thanks Frenie! I was so pleased it worked out :)

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  18. Oh you are just gorgeous! Love this dress and it is so perfectly you.

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  19. A lovely dress and a fabulous print. Thank you for the information and extra discount for yulki's decor as I headed over to the site to buy some of the red floral marimekko fabric. Not sure what I'll make with it yet!

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    1. OO oo!! Good luck!! I want to see what you make with it!

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  20. Hi Julia,

    I enjoyed reading this post.

    You are right, the pretty dress has a "Mad Men" vibe, I love the fashion on the show, very stylish era.

    Great job!

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  21. What a gorgeous dress! �� And the fabric is a great choice now that you guys down there are going towards winter, fabric's name "Lumimarja" means 'winterberry.' ☺️

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  22. Love it! I've looked at Marimekko fabric and been tempted but haven't yet used it because 1: it's pricey, and 2: the large prints can be hard to work out how to use. But this is such a great use of that print.

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  23. This is a great version of the dress, and not just because of the stunning fabric - I think the pencil skirt and the whimsical top work excellent here:) Also, Julia, you look stun-va-va-voom-ning!!!:)

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  24. The choice of fabric works really well with this dress, I love the way you continued the branch into the top of the bodice that could have been a tricky match. It looks stunning. xx

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  25. Oh my Julia, you are a vision of loveliness in this stunning dress! Wow, I love it!

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  26. The placement of the fabric is lovely and the bows are adorable! :)

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