Sookie Stackhouse Dress

When Tula Pink wanted to send me some advance yardage of her new line, The Birds and the Bees, which is due out in July, I almost hyperventilated. I got some of the voile, which was earmarked to make 2 dresses. Okay, still having trouble breathing…can you believe how beautiful these fabrics are? Below are the fabric swatches that will be available in the voile (which is butter, butter soft):

So, for my first bit of voile, I decided to make a dress that is inspired by a dress that I pinned quite some time ago. I love watching True Blood on HBO, and I think all of the main character, Sookie Stackhouse’s, outfits are super-cute and just what I would wear. The dress I made was intended to look like this dress:

To make this, I used Burda 7408, which I found out about on this blog post. However, this sewing pattern features sort of a backless style, and unfortunately for me I don’t have implants, so the backless version wasn’t gonna work for me.

So I swapped in the back bodice pattern piece from my favorite Serendipity Studio sewing pattern. Worked great, and the pattern piece for that pattern was the same height as the Burda pattern.

Fabric – The pattern I used called for 3-1/4 yards of main fabric, but I had only asked for 2-1/2 yards of the Tula Pink voile. It worked because I am a fussy cutter. 🙂 The pattern also calls for interfacing, and unfortunately I’m not exactly sure which Pellon interfacing I used, as it was sort of a vintage pack of garment interfacing and it does not have any item numbers on it, lol.

Pattern Pieces – There are a few pattern pieces to cut out from the tissue: 2 for the skirt, 2 for the band, a couple for the bodice, and the back piece. The pattern also gives an option for a gathered bodice (which is the orange fabric you see in my dress…I used a scrap piece of chiffon I had lying around), or a smooth bodice (which is sequined in the example in the pattern). I really like the look of the gathered bodice, and you create that look by gathering the fabric, and then hand sewing it down the center to sort of keep it tacked down (otherwise you’ll look like you have poofy cloud marshmallow breasts).

Illustrations/Instructions – This is my first time working with a Burda pattern, and it is written in a European style, which I was also not familiar with. I was a little confused by the labeling of the fabrics in the cutting instructions, but I figured it out. Other than that, the pattern instructions are much more detailed than American commercial sewing patterns. I would say it is a mid-point between commercial sewing patterns, and indie patterns (which I think are usually the best as far as explaining the sewing instructions).

The only modification I made to the pattern was giving it a back bodice, and also I eliminated the boning on the front of the dress. Since mine wasn’t backless, I didn’t think the boning was necessary, and it’s not (unless you have a large chest).

This is a lined dress, but I did not line the skirt since I wanted a light and airy summer dress. I like that it’s fully lined and think the instructions are pretty cool in that most of the bodice pieces are sewn right sides together, so there’s not really many exposed seams.

I was sort of scared to start this dress, but having sewn other dresses before, it’s not extremely more complicated than others I have made, although it certainly looks that way, doesn’t it? I had a really good time sewing this, and it was nice to try something new.

Conclusion – If you like this style of dress, I’d definitely consider making this pattern. It’s a unique look and would look great in any kind of fabric, honestly. One check off my Pinterest list, heh!!

Oh, and you must get some Tula Pink ‘The Birds and the Bees’ when it comes out in July…I am watching the online fabric shops like a hawk and will be purchasing a half-yard bundle the day I first see it available!