Why am I smiling in this picture? Because I have vanquished the Background Dress! Gertie prevails! This sucker is DONE, folks! Lots of self-indulgent pictures after the jump.As you can see, I figured out the link buttons - thanks to all of your suggestions!
I waxed the thread and ironed it. And then set up a little rig on my tailors ham to keep the tension between the buttons.
Success!
I also made the accompanying scarf in a silk chiffon - pale blue with white polka dots.
I tried all of the scarf tricks from the pattern envelope. This was my favorite:
And this one made me feel ridiculous. The model in the book wears it this way. Alas, it is not for me.
Here it is with the collar turned down. Sporty!
I also tried a sweater guard.
The bound buttonholes came out very nicely.
And they look just as good on the inside, if I do say so myself. (And I know, I totally owe you guys a video tutorial on this. Coming, I promise!)
I got the belt made from Pat's Custom Buttons and Belts. I love Pat!
Another VoNBBS project complete! Eight down, six to go . . . Thanks for all the moral support on this one, readers.
FINALLY! I kept hunting your blog for this dress and it was worth all the effort you put in!
ReplyDeletefiedlato
And it looks fantastic!!! I think well worth the effort, but then again, I didn't have to make it! Well donexxxx
ReplyDeleteWow! I love it and you did such a great job sewing. . . and wearing! The fabric looks yummy and I agree totally on your choice of scarf styles. The belt is awesome as well and I'll have to check out Pat's for myself. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteGertie, this is absolutely stunning! You did a great job, and the colour is perfect on you. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Gertie! The dress turned out way better than I imagined it. The shape really flatters you, and the color is just perfect for you (as you once said - your neutral). Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBravo!!!! Great dress - terrific color on you. And I know you did not like the one look with the scarf, but I think it looks fab - I'd do it like that in a wink but a)I'm older than you are and b) I'm a "scarf and pin" person.
ReplyDeleteI looks so beautiful on you! Great job, and I LOVE the color!!!
ReplyDeleteWell done! What a fabulous dress, looks great on you!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! It looks fabulous, and so do you.
ReplyDeleteWell done G.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Gertie!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! You should be super proud of this. Nice colour too.
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing, no wonder you are smiling so much!
ReplyDeleteBTW I did mention your blog in a post yesterday, hope you don't mind.
Gorgeous Gertie. The colour is really good for you, you look stunning!
ReplyDeleteGlorious. And an excellent colour on you, too.
ReplyDeletewow that dress is amazing! it looks so great on you, and what a color!
ReplyDeleteLooks great and I'll echo that the color is very flattering and elegant. Wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteOh, so pretty, Gertie! You've outdone yourself with this one, it's look fab.
ReplyDeleteHooray! I absolutely love this dress on you. The shape and the colour are great for you, and the scarf gives it lots of options. The long sleeves make it more formal - great for an evening out or a meeting too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It looks lovely on you : )
ReplyDeleteWell done, G. You did a great job, I love the color of the fabric and all the details, and you know how to rock a sweater guard! On me they just look ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteWell done, G. You did a great job, I love the color of the fabric and all the details, and you know how to rock a sweater guard! On me they just look ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteYea! Doom my eye! This is my favorite one yet. The purple is the perfect color on you and its silhouette is so flattering. I'm glad you persevered.
ReplyDeleteThat is one seriously great dress. Awesome fit and I just love that collar. I think it looks really amazing in it's own right, and that it will also shine with accesories.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! What a great color for you, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! And looks fabulous on you. I want the video on bound buttonholes, including how you finish them from the back. Do you make bound buttonholes on both the front and the facing? How on earth do you get them to line up? Inquiring minds want to know! I got the Dritz bound buttonholer and have been showing off my one-sided buttonholes, but now I really want to make a jacket that features them. -- San Antonio Sue
ReplyDeleteDoom? I don't think so! It looks fantastic, and fantastic on you. And now you're done with it, and more than halfway done with all the dresses in the book. Yay!
ReplyDeleteAhhh...........sweet victory! It looks fantastic. Good job! You didn't comment on the making of the scarf was it difficult?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous dress!
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome, excellent job!!!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out SO GOOD!! Beautiful dress and I love all of the fun options with the scarf and collar.
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing. Love the color!
ReplyDeleteMy vote's for changing the name from "the background dress of doom" to "the background dress of delight"! Fantastic job Gertie. You continue to be a fabulous inspiration to all my vintage sewing endeavours. xo
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely smashing, G. And as others have said, this is a marvelous color for you!
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to vanquish the beast! I love the color. :-D
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! And the colour looks so great on you.
ReplyDeletelove it!
ReplyDeleteit turned out great!
great color and style! you are inspiring
ReplyDeletegreat job, you are inspiring!
ReplyDeleteYAY Gertie! The purple looks marvellous on you. I like the button holes... very spesh! Monique xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous dress, beautifully made. The shape and colour suit you so well. This dress will take you anywhere - you're always going to look perfectly dressed in it!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I'm surprised by how good the dress looks on you! Victorious! And, I second (or third or whatever) the colour choice! The details are also very delicate and neat. Perfectly bound buttonholes (can't wait for the tutorial). I hope you're celebrating, and that the finalization releases energy to go on with new VoNBBS-projects!
ReplyDeleteYou did a masterful job Gertie! And the shoes are perfect!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out cute! I looove the sweater guard look!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous! I hope it was worth all the aggravation.
ReplyDeleteFantastic dress, so flattering!! Yay for Gertie! :)
ReplyDeletebeautifully done! the dress looks phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteMelanie@Unravelled Threads
Fab fab fab!!! It looks great! You must be so happy to have slayed this lion!
ReplyDeleteIts beautiful and perfect! Well worth all the work!
ReplyDelete*applauds* Well done, Gertie!
ReplyDeleteLove the dress! Especially the buttonhole detail and its variations. I want one too!
ReplyDeleteyou are such a total babe. This blog proves to me regularly that you can not just "go gay".
ReplyDeleteI have actually overdosed on this shade of purple (since I dyed my hair that shade, had a handbag of the same color etc etc) but actually still really like this, especially due to the button detail and nude shoes! also no matter how much I've od'ed on this color, I always come back because it is so damned flattering to brunettes.
Yay, congrats! I love it with the scarf!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see it with a more substantial sized and more colorful scarf! I think that your trial with it didn't work because the scarf in the photo is actually larger than the pattern for styling purposes. How about a ruby red scarf next time?
So glad to finally see another VNBOBS project from you.
ReplyDeleteLovely dress. I like the scarf through the buttonhole thing! Love the belt, but hope it's not the only one you'll try.
defeat doesn't seem a strong enough word for this achievement... it looks fantastic, really good shape and colour - enjoy it
ReplyDeleteFantastic work. Great finishes. You are really talented.
ReplyDeleteThis dress is so gorgeous, I am officially on a hunt to find it! Thank you so much for your blog, it has inspired me, not only to start sewing, but to start sewing well!
ReplyDeleteLooks excellent! You showed that dress who's the boss and the results are splendid. I love it with the scarf tied in a bow, gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteooooh! this is just devine! I'm not a purple girl, but I LOVE this on you. It really works! Beautiful bound button holes and so many intricate features. You call this the background dress, yet it is very easy for this fabric and style to look ill-fitting and poorly constructed, not a background dress for all the worng reasons, BUT YOURS IS PERFECT!!!
ReplyDeleteI do like the scarf, but writing this I've been thinking Glee, and a cotton sateen or raw silk large white bow. It might hide your incredible buttons, but could look a treat with light coloured shoes (or an ivory scarf with the shoes you were looking at!)
Lx
oops! they are they ivory/tan shoes - aren't they!
ReplyDeleteThe dress looks lovely! I love the color and the adjustments you made to modernize it. I'm wondering if you would perhaps do a post on the general things you learned from this project. I know you've got a new bound buttonhole post and a scarf post in mind, and I know that a big part of the difficulty was in the fitting, but I'm wondering if there were other things that you got from doing this project, or some way to sort of summarize...
ReplyDeleteEither way, the pictures are wonderful and I love how the dress has customization built right in! That double knit hangs beautifully but has a wonderful body to it, too. Way to finish it well!
This dress is sensational! Please do show us how to do those lovely buttonholes! And thanks for continuing to inspire me in my sewing efforts. :) Missy
ReplyDeleteOh, so lovely! Congratulations! Not only did you TRIUMPH over a project of doom, you now have a lovely dress! Can I use more exclamation marks?! I think I could!!
ReplyDeletethat color looks fabulous on you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
SO excited to see this- just gorgeous! I absolutely love it- there is something so unusual, special, one-of-a-kind about it- I know that can be said about so many of the things you make, but I don't know how else to express it. You must be so elated to have it finished!
ReplyDeleteThat dress is gorgeous! I love the way it turned out in that fabric. It looks so versatile to dress up or down. I can see why it is billed as the perfect background to dress up however you want. The end result definitely looks worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this dress! It fits nicely, the color is awesome, and it is sexy but not revealing. Love love love.
ReplyDeleteOh, Gertie!! It's so beautiful and looks amazing on you! I love the scarf, too. It's all so lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous, but why is it called a "background dress"?
ReplyDeleteWow, I love this on you! I've been trying to find this pattern, no luck. It's out of copyright, correct? Any chance of buying copies from you?
ReplyDeleteLooks FABULOUS!!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing on you! Congrats. Good work.
ReplyDeleteBrava! Beautifully executed down to the very tiny details.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat is the greatest looking dress!
ReplyDeleteBe proud of yourself!
Love, love, love that dress. The buttons are awesome. It's a stunning dress!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking back at this dress and thinking how very good it looks. Do you wear it much? It would be interesting to know how much you actually wear the VoNBBS items you've made.
ReplyDeleteyour dress is beyond beautiful, but what has caught my eye even more are the paintings behind you. that little girl holding the music horn thingie, who's the painter? :OOOOO I'm in <3
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan! =D
ReplyDelete