#WeWantQuant Mary Quant style mini dress
My friend Kerry Kestrel Makes organised an instagram challenge, Sew Vintage September, to get people to try out sewing vintage pattern. I cheated a little with this, as its a vintage style rather than an actual vintage pattern. I couldn’t be bothered tracking things down in my size (if that even exists, vintage ladies were tiny) or even grading. But I’m reasured that this counts so here we are!
Bullet pointed details as usual:
Pattern: Mary Quant-style Minidress available from the V&A website, designed by Alice&Co patterns
Fabric: The main fabric is a cotton linen mix fabric from Fabworks, its sold out but the listing is still up. It has a tiny diamond design that almost looks embossed. Its a fairly substantial medium weight and very structured. I bought it originally to make a big midi circle skirt. The contrast fabric is some african wax scraps I had left over from my rushcutter.
Size: 16. I swithered a bit as my measurements are between the 14 and the 16 and they’re on different pattern sheets, but given my recent lockdown body shape trend, I thought I’d go big and that’s worked out well
Instructions: They are very detailed, though for some reason I didn’t find them that easy to follow. Can’t really put my finger on why. It might have just been that this is a bit more involved than what I usually sew, ans reading the instructions on the computer because I didn’t want to print them out probably didn’t help
Adjustments: I made none, though if I make this again I will do. It’s drafted for a b cup, so I would do an FBA, and also a full seat adjustment. It could do with a bit more ease round the bum, and there’s quite a bit of excess fabric round the lower back. Which also reminds me of the one thing In don’t like about this, which is the back belt. It’s purely decorative, you sew it on with the buttons, and a bit pointless. It just sort of hangs down. I wanted to include it for an extra bit of the African Wax, but I may end up taking it off. Although, given that this is at the back of the dress and I therefore won’t see it, I probably won’t!
Overall verdict: This is definitely not my usual style, it feels more formal and I’m not sure how much I’ll wear it in my currently WFH lifestyle. It definitely has work dress vibes about it with the navy. I’m not planning another one immediately, but I think thgis would be really nice in a lighter fabric with an all over print. And maybe a tiny wee bit shorter.
Looks a bit weird with bare legs and black brogues doesn’t it? It definitely has an autumn/winter vibe. Also, how white are my legs? I’m fully Scottified.
