{"id":70153,"date":"2019-07-31T08:42:02","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T12:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/?p=70153"},"modified":"2019-06-28T03:28:42","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T07:28:42","slug":"liesls-almost-dress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2019\/07\/liesls-almost-dress.html","title":{"rendered":"liesl’s almost dress"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is one of those projects where the fabric completely dictated the project.<\/p>\n

\"Liesl's<\/a><\/p>\n

I picked up this Kokka Brush Paint fabric at a show in London from one of my favorite fabric retailers, The Draper’s Daughter<\/a>. (Sadly, it looks like they’re out of stock at the time I wrote this post. At Nunoya<\/a> as well.) I had no idea what to make with this linen\/cotton canvas, so I bought a couple of yards. It’s been sitting in my stash, waiting for inspiration. One day I was lying in bed looking at it (one of the only advantages of storing your fabric stash in your bedroom, let me tell you), and I suddenly knew what to do with it! A SoHo Skirt<\/a> and matching Breezy Blouse<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Now usually I wouldn’t choose such a heavy fabric for the Breezy Blouse, but in this case I think the fabric is light enough that it works. The goal was to get a nearly-continuous wash of color that falls off at the hem of the skirt where the brushstrokes end in an uneven selvedge, so I rotated all the pieces and cut them with the weft instead of the warp. However, I didn’t have quite enough fabric! I had enough for the skirt, no problem, but the fabric wasn’t quite wide enough to fit the bodice.<\/p>\n

So I pieced it. And I topstitched the seam to make it look intentional. Which it was, in the end. Right?<\/p>\n

\"Liesl's<\/a><\/p>\n

It looks like a yoke on this blouse. Of course I would have preferred not to add the seam, but I’ve decided it’s a design detail here. Which is sort of fitting, given the rustic, workwear nature of the fabric itself. It reminds me of denim, so the piecing and topstitching are appropriate.<\/p>\n

\"Liesl's<\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve already worn these two pieces several times. They make great separates as well as an “Almost Dress,” as I’m going to call it now. Definition of an Almost Dress: two items of clothing that can be worn together, giving the appearance of a dress.\u00a0 Several of you have sewn Almost Dresses using a variety of our patterns. It’s a nice way to give extra versatility to your clothing, I think.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liesl shares a Breezy Blouse and SoHo Skirt sew sewed from an interesting fabric to make an “Almost Dress.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":70156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20687],"tags":[20810,20759],"class_list":["post-70153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-breezy-blouse","tag-soho-shorts-and-skirt"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/BlogPhoto06.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-ifv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":83362,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2025\/04\/chacarita-wrap-dress-fabric-and-styling-inspiration.html","url_meta":{"origin":70153,"position":0},"title":"chacarita wrap dress fabric and styling inspiration","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"April 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some fabric and styling suggestions for our new Chacarita Wrap Dress, with the wrap in the back!","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/chacarita-inspo-feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":83772,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2025\/09\/fabric-and-styling-ideas-for-the-new-copenhagen-wrap-dress.html","url_meta":{"origin":70153,"position":1},"title":"fabric and styling ideas for the new copenhagen wrap dress","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"September 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Liesl is here with fabric and styling ideas for our new Copenhagen Wrap Dress, which is designed to shine in everything from crisp linen to bold Marimekko-style prints, tropical wools, or drapey silks\u2014giving you endless fabric possibilities for every season. 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She demonstrates how choosing the right fabric can take a dress from daywear to something made for a celebration.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sharon_enmore_5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":82865,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2024\/10\/isola-blouse-dress-fabric-and-inspiration.html","url_meta":{"origin":70153,"position":3},"title":"isola blouse + dress fabric and inspiration","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"October 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We've collected a lot of photos and fabric ideas to help you get started on your Isola Blouse or Dress, one of our newest sewing patterns.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/isola-inspiration-feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":49663,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2015\/09\/inspiration-shibori.html","url_meta":{"origin":70153,"position":4},"title":"inspiration: shibori","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"September 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Add visual texture and interest to you next sewing project with the art of shibori.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/shiboriTITLE.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":82872,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2024\/10\/tomigaya-dress-fabric-and-inspiration.html","url_meta":{"origin":70153,"position":5},"title":"tomigaya dress fabric and inspiration","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"October 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's talk about Tomigaya fabric and styling ideas! 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