Monday, January 20, 2014

My Birthday Anna dress

***UPDATE: from now on, you can read my posts in Italian by clicking on the Italian flag in the top right sidebar. Thanks Pauline for helping me with this!***

Sizesize US8 for shoulders and bust, graded to a size US10 at the waist.
AlterationsI didn't use the 7-panel skirt of the pattern and opted for a very gathered skirt with in-seam pockets (I used the pattern piece from the Emery dress).
Fabric: A luxurious designer wool from my stash.

Back in November, when I made my first Anna dress, I told you that I fell in love with this pattern and that for sure there was going to be a second one. Well, here it is, probably one of my makes I'm most satisfied with!
This is my revenge on print placement after my Emery dress débacle, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

This gorgeous designer wool (although don't ask me what designer) was actually on of the first fabrics I've ever bought, which means it has been in my stash for about 8 years.
I remember buying it from this fantastic fabric store in my town (now closed, sadly) that carried almost exclusively designer fabrics. They used to always display remnants hanging on a clothes rack just outside the store, and even though I could hardly sew a straight line, I would always stop and look at them all. I guess fabric addiction is something I was born with XD

Anyways, this repeating print always intimidated me and I'm glad I waited all this time to use it, because it was so worth it!
Once I decided out I wanted to use it for an Anna dress, I figured I definitely wanted the roses to frame the neckline and have the plaid section in the middle of the dress. Once I placed the pattern pieces of the bodice on the fabric, it was quite easy to figure out the rest.

Just like last time, I went for a gathered skirt; this time it's even fuller, I used two panels in the whole width of the fabric. It's not the most flattering solution for my already full hips, but this fabric has such a lovely drape that makes the skirt so dreamy!
I used bias tape on the inside of the waist seam to eliminate some bulk, though, and I took pictures, yay! A tutorial is coming later on this week :D

I photographed this dress on my birthday, two weeks ago, and since I felt festive, I took out my cat ear headband (from ASOS) that I love so much but never have the courage to wear... I mean, if taking photos of a beautiful dress on your birthday is not the perfect occasion, I don't know what is XD


***D'ora in poi, potete cambiare la lingua di un post cliccando sulle bandierine nella barra laterale, a destra in alto. Grazie Pauline per l'aiuto!***

Tagliataglia US8 per spalle e petto, aumentata a US10 in vita.
Modifiche: non ho usato la gonna a 7 pannelli del modello e l'ho sostituita con una gonna molto arricciata con tasche nella cucitura (ho usato quelle dell'abito Emery).
Tessuto: una sontuosa lana dalla mia collezione.

A novembre, quando ho fatto il mio primo abito Anna, vi avevo detto che mi ero innamorata del modello che ce ne sarebbe stato sicuramente un secondo. Beh, eccolo qui! Probabilmente una delle creazioni di cui sono più soddisfatta!
Questa è un po' la mia rivincita dopo il disastroso piazzamento della stampa dell'abito Emery fatto a dicembre, e sono felicissima del risultato!

Questa meravigliosa lana designer (anche se non chiedetemi di QUALE designer) è stato forse il primo scampolo che io abbia mai comprato, il che significa che è rimasto nella mia collezione per qualcosa come 8 anni.
Ricordo di averlo comprato da questo negozio bellissimo del mio paese che vendeva (purtroppo ha chiuso) quasi solo tessuti firmati. Fuori dal negozio avevano in esposizione scampoli e rimanenze e, anche se all'epoca sapevo si e no fare una cucitura dritta, mi fermavo sempre a guardare queste stoffe e a sognare ad occhi aperti. Con la dipendenza da stoffa si nasce, mi sa XD 

Ad ogni modo, questa stampa ripetuta così particolare mi ha sempre intimidito e sono contenta di aver aspettato ad usarla, ne è decisamente valsa la pena!
Una volta deciso di volerla usare con il modello Anna, ho deciso che volevo le rose ad incorniciare lo scollo e la parte con il plaid nella sezione mediana. Una volta messi i pezzi del modello del corpino sulla stoffa, è stato semplice far quadrare il tutto.

Come l'altra volta, ho optato per una gonna arricciata, stavolta ancora più grande, poichè ho usato due rettangoli in tutta la larghezza del tessuto. Forse non è la soluzione migliore per i miei fianchi larghi, ma questa stoffa cade così bene che non ho saputo resistere a una gonna ultra femminile!
Ho utilizzato dello sbieco all'interno della cucitura in vita per eliminare un po' di eccesso di stoffa e ho fatto delle foto nel processo, per cui pubblicherò un tutorial prossimamente. :D

Ho fotografato quest'abito il giorno del mio compleanno, due settimane fa, e visto che ero in umore di festa, ho tirato fuori il mio adorato cerchietto con orecchie di gatto (di ASOS) che non ho mai il coraggio di mettere... Insomma, se fare le foto a un bel vestito il giorno del mio compleanno non è l'occasione giusta per indossarle, allora non so quando! XD

61 comments:

  1. It's stunning, the colours are so great on you and the print placement is perfect. Happy birthday!

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  2. I love the fabric, and the Anna dress pattern is great, too!

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  3. I just love how you handled the print pattern ! It could not have been better done, it's perfect.
    I love the colors too, I could totally see myself in this dress, haha.

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  4. It very beautiful, love the print. I'm actually cutting my first anna right now.

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  5. This dress is so stunning! The fabric is incredible and you have used it so beautifully!

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  6. miaow! wonderfully rich colours, you did a great job with the fabric.

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  7. The dress looks amazing and what you did with the print placement is so pretty! Love it! Your welcome about the coding, I'm happy you were able to use it!

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  8. The fabric is beautiful and you did a great job matching the patterns! Happy belated birthday! *^o^*

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  9. This is quite simply STUNNING! I love everything about it and don't think the full skirt is unflattering at all. What a beautiful fit of fabric and dress. And Happy Birthday too!

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  10. you really nailed the print placement this time, your dress looks spectacular, and you look even more spectacular in it! and i totally wish i have those cat ears right now (it's my birthday today, perfect opportunity to wear them, as you said hehe)

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  11. Oh Anna, you are breathtaking my dear! I've been looking forward to seeing this dress in full, ever since you teased us with a glimpse on Facebook. And what a beauty she is...utterly perfect! I think you should call her your 'Amery' dress as it was a combination of patterns ;o) Anyway, I'm smitten and I love the cat ears!!!

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  12. This is so incredibly beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous fabric, and the Anna is the perfect pattern to showcase it. Happy birthday!

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  13. Silvia - Sewing PrincessJanuary 20, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    Fantastic! I really love the fabric and the colors. I think it's a color that goes very well with your complexion and hair. I would still be curious to see you with a full-length panelled Anna ;) That headband is so cute and perfect for the occasion!

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  14. That's so beautiful! (And I love the cat ears, too :) )

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  15. This dress is gorgeous and suits you so perfectly. Happy sewing experience, happy birthday!

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  16. Happy birthday! And this is so beautiful and bold!

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  17. This is such a beautiful dress. Your use of the print is just flawless - I love everything about it! Happy birthday!

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  18. That is absolutely gorgeous. Like a dress in a shop window I'd stand and drool at. Buon compleanno x

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  19. Wow, that's an amazing dress! The fabric is fabolous.

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  20. Stunning! It's a pattern and fabric match made in heaven! Happy Birthday!

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  21. This dress is gorgeous! Happy Birthday! :)

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  22. J'adore. That fabric is drool inducing. IS THERE ANYTHING ANNA IN ANNA CAN'T DO?!

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  23. I just love your treatment of the engineered print! And a gathered skirt is a wonderful variation! Happy Birthday! You look adorable!

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  24. This is a perfect dress! Gorgeous!

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  25. divine. and those cat ears should come out to play more often. :) isn't it so satisfying when you hold onto a fabric till the exact rght moment??

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  26. This is probably my favorite thing that you've made. That print it so gorgeous!! And I loooove the cat ears. They should definitely be featured more often :) PS hope your birthday was lovely!

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  27. this is beyond beautiful! what a stunning use of that fabric, it was a good thing you held on to it for so long!

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  28. This dress is incredible! It looks great and you look great in it!

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  29. Love the fabric and the dress looks amazing on you!And happy birthday to you!

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  30. Happy belated birthday, Anna! I'm glad you waited 8 years to use this fabric because this was the perfect occasion - your birthday and cat ears!

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  31. Amazing. Amazing amazing amazing.

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  32. I'm in awe. This is absolutely beautiful! Sometimes stashing really pays off!

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  33. Love the dress, very pretty.

    Hannah.

    http://surfjewels.tumblr.com/

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  34. Absolutely stunning, that fabric is gorgeous! And I love the cat ears, too :)

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  35. Very beautful dress!
    Thanks Anna, you just convince me to use my wool challis coupon for the Anna dress. It was my initial plan but I was very afraid it would not be a good match. Seeing your dress just makes me change my mind :)

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  36. Absolutely fabulous! I can't stop looking at it!

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  37. That fabric is TDF! Love it!

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  38. This dress is beautiful. The placement of the pattern is just perfect. I love it!

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  39. Oh. My. God. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. Also, happy birthday x

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  40. You're so beautiful with this lovely dress and this colors! Happy birthday!

    Piera

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  41. Happy birthday! And wow, what a beautiful dress, you look absolutely stunning. It's perfect, it's all just perfect.

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  42. That is such a pretty dress. And I disagree with you, I think it is a very flattering dress

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  43. That fabric is absolutely stunning, well worth saving it up for this dress. I think winter dresses are the prettiest

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  44. Wow, that is such interesting fabric - I have never seen anything like it. Gorgeous dress, I really like the fuller skirt, I think it is super flattering. Lovely

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  45. What a perfect pairing of fabric with pairing. I really do need to try the Anna dress. And, happy belated birthday to you!

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  46. My jaw litterally dropped when I saw this. Your fabric is really awesome! On top of this, all the Anna dresses I've seen so far really look great on whatever body type. This makes me want to make one even more!

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  47. Wow! I love how you placed the fabric pattern; this is simply gorgous!

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  48. really gorgeous dress, the fabric and the way you have used it is amazing! a perfect birthday dress.

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  49. Oh, Anna! It's just beautiful!!!! I love border prints so much and to think that's wool! Lovely to the ninth power!

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  50. It's a beautiful dress! The print is gorgeous and your placement displays it perfectly!

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  51. I read your blog all the time & never comment. But you and the dress both are absolutely stunning. What a gorgeous use you have made of that fabric!

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  52. Beautiful dress!! What's more, you've enabled every single one of us that has that perfect piece of fabric in our stash, waiting for the exact right garment to make with it ^__^ I have to confess, I sorta skimmed through to find out where you got that cat ear headband because I ADORE it!! I would wear that to work at the office, I kid you not LOL

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  53. I love the dress AND the headband. I wouldn't dare to wear it either, at least not any day, but what better occasion than you birthday?!
    The comments are not showing in Chrome for me, not sure if it's related to some of my settings or yours. I'll check other blogs that use Disqus.

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  54. This is PERFECT!!! The pattern placement is inspired! Roses and plaid? I die! How I wish you wouldn't have bought it so long ago so I could get some too and copy cat you! And of course, every copy cat should have that awesome headband ;)

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  55. Gobsmackingly gorgeous!

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  56. Absolutely gorgeous, what a knockout that dress and fabric combo are! So nice that you waited for the perfect occasion for that fabric, because this is -definitely- it. How you placed the motifs is just fantastic. And a happy belated birthday to you!

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  57. That fabric is so stunning! The dress looks absolutely gorgeous! Love love love!

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  58. Oh, Anna, this is absolutely the perfect dress! It looks FANTASTIC on you! The color, the print placement, the fit, the gathered skirt-- it's all absolutely perfect! I'm so impressed!

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  59. How perfect are these colours on you?! Such a pretty dress :) And what a great lesson in not actively stashbusting- can you imagine if you'd used this fabric for something else just because you were trying to get through your stash? Patience is a virtue after all!

    Happy Belated Birthday to you, hope you had a lovely day :D

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  60. I cannot even *begin* to tell how how perfect this is. I have just been staring at it for the past few minutes. Though not in a weird way...

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