The genesis of Eole:
a self-taught dressmaker's journey
Part 1 - finding the pieces
Sometime in January I saw this picture…
The polka dot caught my eye...how cute and all about me it is, being modest, elegant in a retro way and unassumingly sexy. I love the drop waist gathers. For a pancake bum like I, gathers are essential to give the illusion of fries coming with the shake. Just to wrap my mind's eye around the design I drew the thing….
Although it kinda looks like a no problem pattern, life has taught me that anything that looks basic and easy, probably isn't.
I started by looking for look alikes in my stash, both paper and digital.
The first among the pile is m7625 a retro 1940s frock that had me wondering if my source picture was a period photo or really good marketing visuals.
I started by looking for look alikes in my stash, both paper and digital.
The first among the pile is m7625 a retro 1940s frock that had me wondering if my source picture was a period photo or really good marketing visuals.
(Buy this pattern here: https://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m7625)
But I was not into that anxiety inducing side bodice point stitch thing, and the dolman sleeves were not really what I had envisioned in my illustration.
Where does the bit of skirt go? Do I care? Nope, so Ciao Amore!
But I was not into that anxiety inducing side bodice point stitch thing, and the dolman sleeves were not really what I had envisioned in my illustration.
Where does the bit of skirt go? Do I care? Nope, so Ciao Amore!
Watch these “vintage on tap” videos to learn more about McCall's..zez (?) 7625
https://youtu.be/uCsoLT738xE
https://youtu.be/muMLQDRB7kY
On the other hand, the gathering is totally fine and that weird button down to the waist thing was absent. I like the button down all the way.
So, I would like to keep the bodice connection to the skirt, get rid of the one piece sleeves, keep the length and the multi panel body with the centre front bit linked to the skirt.
And then I went through Marlene Mukai's website, and found this pretty thing...
https://youtu.be/uCsoLT738xE
https://youtu.be/muMLQDRB7kY
On the other hand, the gathering is totally fine and that weird button down to the waist thing was absent. I like the button down all the way.
So, I would like to keep the bodice connection to the skirt, get rid of the one piece sleeves, keep the length and the multi panel body with the centre front bit linked to the skirt.
And then I went through Marlene Mukai's website, and found this pretty thing...
(Visit her here: marlenemukai.com.br)
This is more like it! At least for the front. I also like the sleeve. I would have to cut a princess seam at the back. Not forgetting that the centre bodice curves into the skirt. So, keep this bodice, don't forget to curve into a skirt, keep the sleeves, add a panel in the back, princess seams. Loose the Mao collar.
Onward!
Then I dug through my drivez and found this pattern from lady boutique….And thought
“crumb, I forgot
This is more like it! At least for the front. I also like the sleeve. I would have to cut a princess seam at the back. Not forgetting that the centre bodice curves into the skirt. So, keep this bodice, don't forget to curve into a skirt, keep the sleeves, add a panel in the back, princess seams. Loose the Mao collar.
Onward!
Then I dug through my drivez and found this pattern from lady boutique….And thought
“crumb, I forgot