I’m wearing a curtain again! Lol! 😀 This time it’s my grandma’s bathroom curtain! Doesn’t the curtain look pretty?
By the way, the photoshoot of this dress was the last photoshoot (and only photoshoot in 2018) one day before I adopted my puppy. Sewing, wearing pretty clothes and photoshoots aren’t possible with the crazy little puppy at the moment! 😉
I found two pieces of this blue and white check cotton curtain in grandma’s stash and thought the fabric would be perfect for a 1950s summer dress. The blue check looks so summery like a picnic blanket!
The two pieces that were leftover from grandma’s old bathroom curtain were just enough for a dress! Yay! I used the smaller piece of fabric for the bodice. After cutting out the bodice I sewed the leftover fabric to the larger piece of fabric for the skirt. So there are five seams in the skirt – my grandma already had pieced together the curtain out of neccessity – but one can’t see the seams because of the check pattern.
Original 1950s dresses were my inspiration for this 1950s curtain dress. If you follow me on instagram, you’ve seen me making the 1950s bodice pattern. I also used 1950s dressmaking techniques for the dress – like attaching the facing by hand. My grandma was a dressmaker and I used one of her original 1950s dresses as model for my 1950s curtain dress.
The dress is closed with snaps and hooks & bars at the left side. I followed this tutorial for the snap button closure but I added a hook and bar at the top. It’s my second dress with a vintage snap closure and I really like this closure: it’s easy to sew and looks nice. And with the hook and bar the snaps never come undone.
Handwork is so relaxing. I made a skirt not too long ago, and I hand sewed the hem, and another part I can’t even remember right now, maybe the facing edge. Therapeutic almost… Not to say that I wouldn’t mind a blind hem machine though.
Love the fabric choice. The pattern is beautiful. I never thought to use curtain fabric for a garment, but it’s an excellent idea. That, or a bed sheet.
Thanks so much, Alexandra! 🙂
It’s a lovely dress, hence … thumb up for the idea to use curtain fabric!
Great minds think differently!!! 🙂
Thanks, Dan! 🙂
This looks beautiful, so summery! Interesting to hear how you’ve done the closure, snaps (we call them poppers in the UK) and a hook and eye, makes a nice change from a zip and looks great.
Thank you so much, Julie! 🙂
This is a beautiful handmade dress! What an amazing skill. Love the white and blue pattern on this fabric and I like how you styled it with a white belt for finishing touches. Perfect!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Thanks, Maureen! 🙂
Beautiful dress
Thanks, Helen!
Wonderful sewing! I think if I could sew I would make 50s style dresses day and night. And in pretty patterns like gingham 🙂
-Kristin
countdowntofridayblog.com
Thanks so much, Kristin! I’m sewing another 1950s dress at the moment! 😉
The checks or gingham print is such a spring trend right now. I think it’s awesome you had this fabric set aside and made it into this dress!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
Thanks, Ruth! 🙂
28 Pavillion Dr
I have no idea why that posted? What I wrote was can you imagine doing all your household chores in this? It is a cute dress. #bloggerclubUK
Thanks, Tracy! 🙂 Yes, the dress is so comfortable to wear!
I LOVE IT!! Gingham is so in right now and this fits so well! Thanks for linking up at the Blended Blog!
Thanks, Sheila!
What a wonderful, meaningful way to upcycle, Lina! I love this cute dress, it’s perfect for summer. Sharing on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Hope you are having a lovely week!
Thanks so much for sharing, April! 🙂
very pretty dress,you are so talented.
if you like please link up at Thursday fashion files on my blog. I am co-hosting with Carie from “Curly crafty mom”
https://www.modlotus.com/blue-striped-dress-statement-earrings/
Thanks, Manisha! 🙂
I love this dress! It does look very 50s and summery.
Thanks, Susan! 🙂
I really love this! But then, I would have to say 1950s dresses are my favourite style :-). You’ve done a wonderful job and it looks really good on, well done!
Hannah
Thanks so much, Hannah!
You are one talented lady. Found you on Traffic Jam Weekend Linky Party
Thanks, Candy! 🙂
I love checks, and this is so cute! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for stopping by, Jann!
Wow. fabulous job! This style is so summery and fun! I love the blue and white gingham. You look lovely!
thanks for linking!
jess xx
Thank you, Jessica!
Beautiful job! You found the perfect use for those curtains!
Thanks, Caroline!
Summer cuteness!!!
Thanks, Colleen!
Love it! The more I see of Sew Historically, the more I want to revive my long-dormant sewing skills!
Thanks so much, Jean! 🙂
I love this! Thanks for sharing at Friday Frenzy!! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning, Kelly!
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AND!!!!!!!!
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Thanks so much for featuring me!
Beautiful site. I’m so glad I found this link through Marilyn.
Thanks for stopping by, Barb! 🙂