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01.12

bloom, baby, bloom: sketchbook to runway

Well, not really runway. More like run and play. I passed the first round of Project Run and Play! Thanks for voting, if you did. Whew. This week is boy’s week! I actually have one of those! No rounding up models this round, which makes life easier! Voting starts tomorrow!

I thought it would be fun to show you my original sketch of the bloom, baby, bloom dress. I plan on making a tutorial for you soon, but until then, check out my drawing board:
My notes are sorta silly reading them now. I made a note to buy “sorta stiff and really stiff” interfacing. Way to be exact there, Kate. Hah.
After the sketch got me all antsy to start, I went straight to fabric.com for the fabric. They tend to have everything and are really fast. Plus you get free shipping over $35 and you don’t have to wait in line. I’ve said this before. I love fabric.com!

120Moda Bella Broadcloth (# 9900-30) Baby Pink

2. Blush Pink Cotton  


The silver poplin is fairly wrinkle resistant and a little shiny. I loved the fabric because I wanted the dress to be overly modern: oversized ruffle collar, huge exaggerated flower applique with assymetric lines, rigid sleeves and a gore. The exact pink fabric I got isn’t there anymore, but I just went with a basic pink cotton. I intended it to be a little bit paler than it was, but I was happy with it in the end.

Obviously there are a few changes from the sketch to the final, mainly I decided on the ruffle collar later. You know how I love ruffles. I wanted a little femininity to juxtapose the strict modern lines. I also used fusible interfacing on the entire body to give it more stiffness. 

And the final result:
….…..entry post.….…..

The main feature of this dress is an intricately built chyrsanthmum in blush pink. Each petal was constructed, faced and placed individually for a boutique feel. The dress sat on the floor for days while I figured out how to attach the petals so that they would stay but also keep their bloomy dimension. In the end I stitched down the short side of the petal and handstitched the tops of each petal back.

I changed a lot from the original June bug pattern,  combining the bodice and skirt for the most part with an assemetric placket from the original design. I redesigned the sleeves, turned them upside down and and self-faced them for a modern clean cut design and added a matching stand-up ruffle collar. This dress is fully lined with muslin. I added one gore on the left side to continue the assymetric line and add a structured and modern feel. I kept one side of the original junebug placket and added more workable buttons. I wanted to keep the main feature of the junebug dress (the cute buttons) but change it up a little bit! 

………………. 
Sometimes when I’m making something I start with a totally clear idea of where I’m going (like this one) and sometimes I start with a stack of materials and see where they take me. 

Do you have a sketchbook too? What is your creative process?


See you tomorrow for my boy outfit reveal! I can’t wait!

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Reader Interactions

5 Comments

  2. Love seeing the creative process. I always compare my sketches to the finished product too. And I always mean to share them on my blog…but rarely remember :)
    Loved this dress, by the way!

  4. What a fetching cupcake of a dress! I need to start a sketchbook. How long did this take you from sketches to completion?