Thursday 16 June 2011

Butterfly dress for graduation ceremony, Burda 115B, April 2011

Here's the other graduation number I sewed, in case (impossible!) it's hot as blazes on the day of the university ceremony of the eldest for whom thankfully I haven't had to sew since I made him a bathrobe ten years ago. He's a history major and a rower, and heads off to India this summer under a sponsored "entrepreneurial" scheme, then to Japan for an intensive language course. You can't keep a good Swiss-American down on the farm. Last summer he did a stint with NYC US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who sponsored and finally got  the 9/11 health care bill for the rescuers/responders passed.
 We love her for her determination to see justice done for the heroes of 9/11, and were thrilled that son was in the House to see that bit of history made. If you watch her presentation on YouTube, Kid made the US maps showing health-giver locations. Carolyn Maloney Zadroga Bill. Check out the Big Map!
Everybody in London is talking about Kate Middleton's influence on the popularity this season of white, but at my age I look like a mental-home nurse in all white. We'll pass over the fact that I feel like a mental-home nurse these days. Anyway...cruising Zara with daughter last April in Lausanne, I recognized a butterfly-patterned silk as coming from Thai Silks, made up by Zara in the neckline featured in dress and blouse versions in the April Burda.
Ain't that sweet, only if it were me and my kids, they'd be the ones leaning over me...
 I didn't like the unbound neckline used on the cover photo at all, but did like the variations with bound necklines and armholes. I ordered up the silk thinking to replicate the blouse, but found I could squeeze a whole dress out of my shipment. I made a second dress (just a column, really) from fine white silk and then bound the two together at the neck and armholes, finally stitching a tunnel for the elastic using the two layers of silks. Easy peasey.

7 comments:

  1. The butterfly print is gorgeous. I've seen some cheaper versions of it in the high street shops here, but yours looks much richer and more detailed.

    Congratulations to your son, sounds like he has an exciting future ahead of him!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I got stuck at the "mental home nurse" line..........hysterical. I agree, no middle age debutante look for me.
    The butterfly print is a great compromise. Very sweet and congrats to your son. What a summer ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very lovely dress and fabric. Congratulations to the graduate.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats to your graduate -- sounds like he has an amazing summer planned! Beautiful dress as well -- the butterfly print is perfect for warm weather.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the dress, the fabric is gorgeous and I am sure much better quality than the Zara version. It will be perfect for the graduation, congratulations to your talented son and enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete