The Release of "Maria's Gazebo Dress" Pattern!

Hello Ladies!

I thought you would like to see my latest sewing project!  I am excited to have finally finished the pattern for"Maria's Gazebo Dress",a 1930s style with floaty butterfly sleeves, honeycomb smocking, a gathered skirt and bodice, and fitted belt.  This pattern was inspired by the dress Maria wore for the song "Something Good" (in the "Sound of Music"), and has nearly all the same design elements!  I worked out the pattern layout so that it takes less than 3 yds. of 60" wide fabric, or 3 3/4 yds. of 45" wide.

Since the honeycomb smocking is a hand stitch that may not be familiar to most seamstresses, I've put together a tutorial on how to smock those "v" panels at the neckline and waist.  But for those who don't wish to do the smocked version, I give a "shortcut" set of instructions for these panels that involves machine shirring which goes much faster!  The machine shirred version doesn't look exactly the same, but it still gives a nicely detailed look to those "v" panels, especially if you zigzag over the rows of machine shirring.

The belt is one of my favorite elements of this dress, since it creates such a flattering silhouette whether you wear it with this dress's bouffant bodice, or over a casual gathered top that has too much room in the waist.  On my own belt I sewed two sets of hooks and eyes, so I can wear it fitted or really fitted depending on what outfit I'm wearing it with. 

And the dress itself is absolutely lovely to wear, with the delicate sleeves that flutter in the breeze, that feminine bodice, and softly gathered skirt that is very forgiving in the "tummy" area!  You can read more about it here. 

Happy sewing!

Katrina