Sorry, again no comments.. I was busy making some face masks for a lady… I was already 3 weeks late getting to them so I HAD to take time for them…I’ll read your comments when I get in bed…
I have looked at the colors Hyacinth, Lilac and Wisteria so many times my head is spinning, but that’s the least of my worries right now… Here’s the problem… I don’t like the dress so far…it’s just blah to me… I love the color, I love the sleeves and the lace and I LOVE the fabric, but the shape of the dress bugs me… It just hangs there… Now be truthful, does this say, “Buy Me, Buy Me!” to you?
It doesn’t to me, so I stopped and took a step back… I was thinking the pattern was more of a slimming look, an A-line, and flattering, but I don’t think it is… and it has nothing to do with the fact that I put it on the fold and cut it to be one piece in the front… it was just a straight seam…
I asked Rebecca to come help me and she made a little silver chain belt with a bluebird and a love charm in silver hanging off the end…
Still Blah!
So I tried a ruffle on the bottom of the dress… it looked ridiculous so I didn’t even take a picture of it… but Rebecca wanted to see it, so I just pinned it back on to show her…
Still no….
So she tucked the dress up underneath and said maybe I should make it a crop top, with or without the ruffle on the bottom… and some white bell bottom pants…
I still wasn’t sure, so I got out my 1974 vintage pattern book and took a look at some dresses to see if I could figure out a direction to go…
I found a picture of what mine “feels like to me…” and this was it…
BAGGY… or a POTATO SACK… not the look I was going for…
There were some very pretty styles in the seventies… sweet, feminine and flattering… Here are a few I saw that I liked… My question is should I cut the dress off at the waist or slightly above and try one of these looks? There is fullness in the bodice as it was loose fitting to begin with… so I could easily have some tiny little gathers and connect them to a band… and then add a different skirt. Fortunately I do have another fat quarter of the fabric so I could do what I wanted…
Cindy had a long dress made from this next pattern and it was BEAUTIFUL… I can’t remember if I made it or she did…
Here are a few more looks that I could make work…
So, I’m going to wait until I get an idea from you all as to which direction to go… Good Grief! I thought this was going to be a piece of cake and easy peasy! :o)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well….I do like the ruffle at the bottom of the dress, but it needs a bit more than that, I think.
I see that the dresses from your old pattern catalog aren’t Just an A-line, but a “flippy” A-line–in other words, there is more width and flare to the skirts of many of them. I suppose you could add godets, maybe two in front and two in back, but that’s a Lot of work. And a lot of them had either a raised (empire) waistline or an inset waist panel, so those are things to consider, too. Maybe you could do the raised waist and, with your second fat quarter, an A-line skirt that flares out considerably more, giving that “flippy” look like in that blue and white dress in the 4th picture up.
By the way, I actually MADE and WORE the long dress in the 3rd picture up! I made it of a plaid with lines of orange (this was the 70s, remember?! LOL), blue and can’t remember what else running thru it, and wore it to pour punch at my younger cousin’s wedding! I also had a peach-colored big floppy hat!! And white platform shoes!! I was Stylin’!! LOL
Thanks Charlotte,
I ran across MANY of the patterns I used to make my clothes in hugh school. I just wish I had pictures of them all…
Thanks for your comments, Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress without the ruffle and chain are pretty typical of the ’70’s. The dress you made was always plan and most often color blocked aka Twiggy. I think the dress would sell as collectors are looking for dresses for Julie and the new doll whose name went right out of my head. My friend and I made the dress you made but color blocked it. Maybe try the white color but just temp so you don’t have to pull all those stitches out. I made a couple of the dresses you showed. I loved empire waist dresses so that was my style era.
I think you also could do the top and pants. People aren’t always looking for dresses.
To me the color looks Hyacinth to me.
HI Sandra,
Sorry, I was going to answer some comments but my hubby needed my help at the store picking out more things to hold the vent pipe in place… so I had to play “assistant” and go along… I never got back to my comments…
I made quite a few of the dresses in that pattern book and might have to tell a funny story about one of them…
Thanks for your thoughts…
Blessings, Jeanne
I agree that something doesn’t seem right. The lace on the sleeves distracts my eye. In the patterns the round collars seem very appropriate, not babyish, maybe either same fabric, white or a coordinating. I remember hippie type head bands and necklaces so what about matching ribbon and yarn scarf tie at the neckline with a few beads and for hair or braid? I like the look of white tights and while flats not sandals, a simple slimming stunner. Love that color.
HI Dorothy,
Oh dear, I’ve created another monster…I’ve gotta stop doing this… I have a lot to think about…
Thanks for YOUR thoughts…
Blessings, Jeanne
How about pretty in periwinkle? With flowers in her hair. A nose gay at the neckline with long streamer ribbon yarn stems?
Hi Dorothy,
I like that name…”Pretty in Periwinkle…” and might have to use it sometime… but I don’t think this is periwinkle… I need serious help… I better stick to things I know… but wait… I went to high school in the 70’s… I do know them… UGH!
Thanks Dorothy,
blessings, Jeanne
If it’s a dress, make it a mini. Let’s see those knees! I made a dress in high school out a type of unbleached muslin. I embroidered around the scoop neck, on the cap sleeves and on the pockets. I was and still am very proud of the way it turned out. I hung it up on the wall of our bedroom like fiber art. This was when Z was tiny. He wanted to know why I hung a SHIRT on the wall? I got a big laugh out of that. It was quite short!
HI Julia,
I had some of those short dresses too… If you still have it, we’d like to see it… it sounds fun!
Maybe shorter is the answer… who knows…
Blessings, Jeanne
I think I would like the dress hemmed shorter with the chain belt worn over white hot pants. Bells wouldn’t be bad either. 🙂 The lace is another factor. I don’t remember any of my dresses having it in the late 60’s/70’s. A same fabric collar would be a cute addition. Or even in white. There were lots of collars back then. Our song leader outfits in high school had scalloped collars which were also very fashionable. I remember making several sets for friends who couldn’t quite get them to look right. 🙂 I almost forgot. You might want to add a peace sign hanging around her neck. 🙂
HI Joy,
Well, something new… hot pants… OR bell bottoms… I did find a piece of white jeans fabric today and just might have to try something with it… who knows… and maybe a collar now… I’ll have to see…
Maybe I should get a peace sign and use it… nothing else… that would solve everything!
Guess not…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I had a dress with sleeves just like this when I was a teenager. It was empire style with very light gathers at the bust. It was not full at all. I would love to see you try that with dress. Your doll clothes are beautiful Jeanne!
HI Nora,
I was thinking of doing just what you said… but I’ll have to decide… thanks for your thoughts…Awww… thanks for your sweet compliment on my outfits!
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, if it feels “Baggy & Potato Sack” at least it’s authentic! Early 70’s! Like Julia says “Make it mini” or a tunic with white bell bottoms. We wore them SHORT! Just add a long necklace. The sleeves are great. I noticed that the pattern book was 1974… by then, things had a bit more shape. Loved the short, flirty skirts or the floor length….I even had a long, prairie type maternity dress I wore in 1975 & 77! Maybe you could add interest to this dress by cutting it as an empire waist and accenting that with the same lace. Then add a flippy A-line skirt. Add a floppy hat and you’d be good to go!
HI Linda,
I have a few scraps of the fabric, so maybe I should do a little playing around with things… add an empire waist with just some pieces and see what I think…
Thanks for the ideas of not cutting into it until I’ve tried a few things…
Blessings, Jeanne
Make the dress into a tunic. Add bell bottoms with wisteria or whatever we are calling this color vines embroidered around the bottom of the pant legs. These should probably be denim, maybe with a fabric inset.
I really like the collars on the blue and white dress and the last one. White is right.
Or change the top to a high-waisted, fitted top with a gored flared skirt. It has to be above the knee.
Definitely a floppy brimmed hat and possibly a bag of some kind with a handmade, craftswoman look, maybe crocheted or knitted or patchwork, but not matching the dress. If you make a scoop neck, a ribbon or macrame choker would be nice.
More inspiration:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk00jioBeW-864Ot7pkYw4xcomsnWXg:1619104525130&q=70s+fashion+women&tbm=isch&chips=q:70s+fashion+women,g_1:high+school:NovlVqskZUw%3D&usg=AI4_-kSUaSW4EqjjN5BhRu5lBqSK2slPiQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiphcywkpLwAhVGG80KHWwXDNEQgIoDKAB6BAgFEAw&biw=1716&bih=966
HI Marilyn,
I have so many great ideas…and a tunic was one of my first thoughts… it looks good turned up about hip length… I could do the embroidery like I’ve done on a few of my old Julie outfits…
Rebecca suggested a bag too… I asked her if she had any 70’s charms and she didn’t… rats… I’ll get it figured out…. but thanks for your ideas and the link… GREAT pictures on it..
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m exactly where Joy is on this one: Make it into a blouse with the belt over white bell bottoms. I may still have a belt exactly like that in the closet, but it certainly wouldn’t fit now. Rebecca was right on. It would be sad not to use such a perfect accessory. I had a small Peace sign charm from Cherry Tree Beads that I would have sent along for a necklace but I had used as trim on a mask for a friend. I also put butterfly 🦋 charms on some masks. They wash just fine like a button does.
HI Susette,
Boy, I opened up a can of worms on this one, didn’t I? LOTS of ideas… I’ll have to sort through them and decide… I would like to go to Hobby Lobby and find a peace sign charm to use for a necklace…
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my gosh! I made a dress using the 5th pattern down. I made it out of waffle pique with the white and the green/white check. I loved that dress. I’m giving you my opinion before I read everyone else’s. I love the white bellbottoms idea but I like the longer top kind of to the hips or maybe a little longer. I like the belt and it could be optional. It just reminds me of an outfit I made once. I usually wore the top straight down but it would have been cute with a belt and I had some of those chain belts.
Several of the other patterns are similar to other things I made. Not the same pattern but one like it. I loved the “granny” dresses.
HI Barbara,
This pattern book is such fun to look at…it brings back SO many memories for me in high school… Every time I see a pattern that I used, I think of the fabric and some of them, even a story that goes with the fabric…
I just found some white denim today and may be heading in that direction… who knows…
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think I’ll defer to the other for the most part as 1 was six in ’74 and I know you tend to age Julie up a bit anyway as she does look older.. I just tell you what patterns I like, but they will reflect the late 1970’s prairie style I remember in sixth grade. I know cluny lace showed up on those.
I like the purple print with rusty stripes (odd color combination though) dress in picture number 8. I remember and like those flutter sleeves. I also recall those elongated dropped peter pan collars. As an SF girl, Julie definitely needs some a flower wreath in her hair.
I had to laugh at the hot pants comment as the Nair commercial played in my head.
HI Laura,
It’s funny, but as I read the comment about hot pants, a thought ran through my mind, “Was there REALLY such a thing as HOT PANTS?” I guess there was, but we weren’t allowed to wear them…
Thanks Laura, (you’re just a babe around here!) ;o)
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m pretty sure (from memory) that the pattern you have used for Julie was the late 60’s / very early 70’s (at least in UK) and looks pretty authentic to that period. I think it would look great and within the era with bell bottoms either to match or in white. The patterns you showed today are more the later 70’s. I was in Singapore from 71-74 and most of the dresses I made there were A line and simple, very little embellishment.
HI Anne,
I think maybe the Keepers Dolly Duds pattern is a 60’s pattern… maybe I should have checked first… I actually had another more flattering pattern I was going to use, but decided I hadn’t used the KKD pattern and went with it… maybe it was a bad idea… for starters!
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Laura, replying to your comment yesterday I haven’t seen ANZAC Girls I must look and see if I can find it.
The dress could have an elevated waist and a skirt with flounces sewn to each other at least three.
HI Alina,
At this point, the dress could have ANY kind of change and it would be better than what it is right now!
Thanks for your thoughts…
Blessings, Jeanne
I think part of the problem is that it’s too long, and it needs the white collar. I agree about white tights and white flats also. 🙂
Btw, I’m pretty sure I made the shorter dress in pic #4 when I was in home ec, lol! 🙂
HI Melody,
I think I’ll play around with some ” cut out pieces” and just lay them on the dress and see if something helps…
#4… the one like Cindy’s? It was a pretty pattern…
Thanks Melody,
Blessings, Jeanne
If you could use the ideas from any of those patterns as a dress( if you have enough fabric) or top with the empire waist it would be darling!
HI Kathie,
If I could do ANYTHING to change up this dress, it would look better! I’ll play around some more and get it figured out…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wanted to add to pretty in periwinkle maybe flower chain in her hair, or a nose gay with long ribbon and yarn stems at the neckline like a brooch and a few beads?
Hi Dorothy,
I might have to try a flower chain for Julie…after all, she is a girl of the 70’s and the flower children! :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think Julia hit the nail on the head. It looks droopy because it is too long! It also needs “something” at the neck. Either a collar or a ruffle. I do like the color.
Thanks Carolyn,
Well, I certainly have LOTS of ideas now and hope I can come to some kind of conclusion on what to do to make it better…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne