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Deer and Doe Belladone Dress and GIVEAWAY

Last night, I made a dress. I had some bags to make, but I thought that I would just crank this one out and get back to the bags. Last week I received some ‘Field Study’ linens by Anna Maria Horner, from Westwood Acres on Etsy. Amanda is selling the bundles, as well as yardage of this fabric (check out her other bundles…she is a fabulous curator!). The linens have a canvas-weight feel (if you’re familiar with Echino or majority of Melody Miller’s fabrics, that’s pretty much the same).

 At the beginning of the month, I purchased the Belladone Dress sewing pattern from a French pattern designer, Deer and Doe. The instructions are both in French and in English. The pattern booklet comes with illustrations and clear instructions, and I didn’t have any difficulty understanding the instructions. The Belladone is a cute dress with a back cut out, front pleats, and pockets. I’d recommend this pattern for an intermediate seamstress; even though the instructions are well-written, they aren’t elaborated on, so if you were new to garment sewing, you might need a little more explanation (for example, the armholes and neckline are finished with bias tape, and the instructions just note when to apply and to which part, which again, is adequate if you’ve made clothing before).

I really liked the back cut-out of the dress immensely. I originally wanted to swap out the pleated skirt for a circle skirt, because that really is my favorite, but I forgot that this ‘Ghost Wing’ fabric was directional, so I’d have to get 4 yards instead of the 2 yards the pattern calls for, to work in the circle skirt on a directional fabric, so I figured I’d just stick with the original pattern in its entirety.

I think I did a pretty good job lining up the center of the bodice with that center pleated panel of the skirt. I used a white with black polka dot fabric for the pockets because I was hoping they would stand out a little bit. Overall, the dress fit me well as is, except if I made the dress again, I would probably cut the bodice a bit differently, as I had a bit of gaping at the neckline (I took the shoulder seams in instead, to help with that). I’m just too lazy to make a muslin all the time, lol. I also swapped in an invisible zipper for the regular one called for in the pattern, except I made mine an exposed zipper…I just sort of felt like it would be cool to see that white line in the back, since I had done a decent job fussy-cuting, because the zipper line goes directly down the middle of all the butterflies.

Pockets!

I decided to share my Anna Maria Horner linens with one lucky winner! You will get 2 yards of Coral Cat, the remainder of the Ghost Wing fabric left over from making my dress (around a fat quarter size – both fabrics have been washed), and my Deer and Doe Belladone pattern!

Click below on the link to enter the giveaway. You have until Sunday, April 28th at 7pm CT to enter. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed. The winner is #22 Brooke.


29 thoughts on “Deer and Doe Belladone Dress and GIVEAWAY

  1. Adorable dress! thanks for the giveaway!

  2. Samantha says:

    Um, that’s pretty damn amazing! Nice fabric choice.

  3. Joyce says:

    You look adorable…my daughter would love this also!

  4. Nilya says:

    You Look Great. Love the back too. I would love to get the fabric and Pattern. Thanks for the Chance to Win it…

  5. Jenny says:

    im such a sucker for pockets! what a great dress. thanks for a chance.

  6. WandaFish says:

    You always make such great dresses! I’d love to try this, even though I most definitely don’t have your figure! Thanks for the lovely giveaway 🙂

  7. Mar García says:

    Cute dress, I love the back. Thanks for the chance!

  8. Katy Cameron says:

    Och you’ve been making loads of bags this year, the dress just had to be done! Love the detail at the back neckline

  9. Kirsten says:

    The dress is lovely – you matched up the prints perfectly!

  10. Jan Baker says:

    It came out great. Beautiful material. [email protected]

  11. Izzy says:

    Awesome dress. Wow you are so quick at sewing these things… I am amazed! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

  12. lesthook says:

    That is so pretty! That style would be so cute for my granddaughter.

  13. Kelly says:

    So gorgeous Sara!

  14. Beautiful dress, Sara!!! Gorgeous choice of fabric with that intriguing pattern. Deer and Doe patterns have really been catching my eye lately. Thanks so much for the generous giveaway. I’m giving away a few notions on my blog too. Feel free to stop by. 🙂

  15. margaret says:

    what a lovely design, can see why you love the back, looks great on you. Not heard of Deer and Doe patterns, must check them out.

  16. Annabella says:

    The dress is perfect – I have the pleats at the front skirt especially!

  17. Marg M says:

    The dress is great , the material looks lovely made up.

  18. Samantha says:

    That’s a lush dress! It looks like you’ve added a fancy pants collar to it where the pattern is 🙂

  19. Elsa says:

    Really sweet dress ~ love the cut out!

  20. giddy99 says:

    What a gorgeous dress!

  21. Hannah says:

    Love these linens!

  22. Melissa says:

    Love this pattern and the fabrics! I like the way you explained the feel of the linen. Nice to have an idea of what its like.

  23. The coral cat would make a crazy dress! Love the way the pleats fall!

  24. Sara this is beautiful! You look incredible and the pattern works so well with the fabric

  25. How generous of you to give away your dress pattern. I’m surprised you don’t want to make it again? You did a great job and it looks adorable on you. Thanks for the chance to win such a nice pattern and I love the fabric too.

  26. linynp says:

    Oh it’s fantastic!!!!!!!!

  27. I just finished my first Belladone and I love it! Your dress is awesome out of this fabric! I purchased this same fabric for a bag, but now that I see you dress I kinda want to use it for a dress instead. Does it wrinkle?

    Check my belladone out!

    http://sewcharleston.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/belladone-dress-by-deer-and-doe/

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