Frock from a bed sheet

I made this summer frock during the in-betweenie time, and completely forgot about it - because it was in the wash due to my inordinate love for the dress.

It's made of an old bed sheet that I picked up while op-shopping last year - a delightful brown gingham print bed sheet. The sheet had a white trim which I re-purposed as the band at the bottom of the dress. I think the band breaks up the relentless brown check of the dress quite nicely, and it also saved me having to hem! Luckily I had already shortened the skirt on the pattern, as this made working out the skirt length a helluva lot easier.

The pattern is this terribly 80s - Style 4353. I was not put off by the terrible poutiness of main model or the freaky length of the dress, however. In fact, this was my second attempt at this dress: my earlier version was in a knit rather than the woven that is SPECIFIED by the pattern. Apparently I must learn by my mistakes.

The pattern:

And the finished product.

Can we just agree, infinitely better than super pouty 80s lady above.

Thoughts on this pattern/make:

• In future I would hem the sleeves very simply - on this version I used very narrow hems, and this, along with the heaviness of the fabric, means that the sleeve hem cuts into my arm a bit: less than Ideal.
• I could defo get away with making this  a tiny bit bigger if I'm making it in heavy fabrics.
• I could probably re-shape the sleeves, although I quite like how low they're cut under the arm (Crystal-wearing lady over here - less opportunities for sweating onto the dress the better).
• I'm stoked with my darts and with my zip insertion, and on how well I did the gathers and attached the dress to the bodice. So, you know, most things. Also, my facing is deliciously great, and overlocking the facing edges gave a much neater finish.
• In conclusion: A++ Would Make Again. Albeit perhaps in a softer drape fabric.

Have you ever remade an 80s pattern, or made over a super 80s dress so that its more *ahem* contemporarily styled? I have some other 80s patterns of which I think I might do a remake, and I love me some inspo.