Craftsy: Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress

Craftsy: Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress

I love all things vintage, so when I saw Craftsy’s class Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress by Gertie I couldn’t resist. I scored a great deal on the class during one of their sales and figured I’d eventually get around to making it… that was in March.

Then I saw i heart fabric and Peneloping were having a Copy Cat Challenge and I instantly thought of this L.A.M.B. dress that I’ve wanted for so long but have never been able to find how or where to buy it. (L.A.M.B. is Gwen Stefani’s clothing line by the way – and yes, shocking I’d pick to copy Gwen LOL)

Here is the original and my version:

i love Gwen Stefani!
gwenabee

I have to say … this dress was a bitch to make, but I’m so incredibly proud of it. I feel like it is a work of art. The Craftsy class was fantastic and I really did learn so much from it. I loved seeing how someone else sews and the process they go through. It’s refreshing to see what they do when something doesn’t go exactly right and how it’s not really a big deal, just fix it and move on. This class helps you all the way through the entire process of making a truly amazing dress that will fit you perfectly (unless you are like me and lose 5 pounds somehow before wearing the dress to an event!).

The course is 15 lessons long and helps you with printing a pdf pattern, assembling the pattern, cutting it out, tracing the markings, making a muslin and the correct fit for the bust and all the way up to finishing the dress. Throughout the course Gertie is really great about giving little tips and tricks and helping explain why to do something a certain way. I felt like I gained a ton of knowledge and have a new appreciation for hand sewing – btw, there is a TON of hand sewing! It’s not so bad though, just watch some TV and sew 😉

bust cups with piping
bust cups with piping

The hardest part were the bra cups – I made 3 muslins! I wanted the fit to be perfect so I forced myself to keep making them until it looked great. Gertie did a great job of explaining how to do a bust adjustment but it took a lot of trial and error. Now that I have the altered pattern I can remake this dress over and over and no more adjustments. Gertie recommends to use needle punch or cotton batting for stability in the bust cups but I ended up using molded foam bra cups. I couldn’t find the correct batting so I tried out felt at first and it ended up looking lumpy, I don’t know about you – but I don’t particularly want my boobs to look lumpy! I like the molded cups but I think next time I will cut off some of the height, so the cup part doesn’t look so huge.

For the skirt I drafted my own pattern and same with the peplums. Each side has 5 layers of peplum and the second layer has a hidden pocket. I love pockets and knew I’d need to incorporate some into this outfit. I just did a quick bound pocket and since I tend to have things fall out of my pockets all the time I slapped a zipper overtop.

lamb-dress-pocket1

it's small - but fits my cell phone and some cash.
it’s small – but fits my cell phone and some cash.
happy hidden pocket
happy hidden pocket

I lined all the peplums with the same yellow that I lined my bodice with:

happy sunshine yellow
happy sunshine yellow

I also added gingham ribbon to the ends of each peplum:

sewing all these ribbons on took forever!
sewing all these ribbons on took forever!

The course requires spiral steel boning but I can’t get that around where I live and didn’t have enough time to order it off the internet, so I used plastic boning instead. I wish I would have ordered spiral steel though, mainly because it would have been more structured. I’m not unhappy with the plastic but steel would have been 100x better. Next time I will. Either way, I think the lining looks gorgeous:

beauty
beauty

There is so much detail and pure love put into making The Bombshell Dress. The black and white ribbon around the waist is the waist stay and it really does help keep everything sitting just right. It also helps when you put the dress on, you hook the waist stay together and it makes zipping up the garment much easier.

lamb-dress-bodice1

Speaking of zipper, I love this added touch that Gertie recommends – a zipper guard. I had never thought of doing this:

genius.
genius.

Gertie has a slight obsession with lapped zippers, so naturally that’s what goes on this dress. I have to say it is a really nice added touch, takes the garment up a notch.

even more yellow!
even more yellow!

This is the dress I wore during my sewing panel at the 2013 Husqvarna Viking Convention. I had so many compliments on it – thank you everyone!

Now, for pictures of me in the dress 🙂

channeling my inner Gwen Stefani
channeling my inner Gwen Stefani

lamb-dress-hairup1

flappity flap flaps!
flappity flap flaps!
back shot!
back shot!

i like hair down better
i like hair down better

Overall I think this is a great course and it really helped me learn more about fitting, structure and a few new tricks along the way. This course isn’t for a beginner and you may have a few random curse words come out of your mouth… a lot… but it’s worth it, I promise! Just remember when you start it that it will take time, this isn’t something you’ll finish in a few days (and if you do – you deserve a freaking award!). I don’t know if I care to admit how many hours went into this. All that said, i already have plans for another one 🙂

Oh, and what would this website be with some pet photo bombing?!

it's a talent to show every tooth in your head.
it’s a talent to show every tooth in your head.

bear helped with measurements bear helped with measurements <3[/caption]

Lastly, I figured I should add the BurdaStyle pattern link here… duh 😉 http://www.burdastyle.com/pattern_store/patterns/52011-bustier-dress-with-draped-detail

33 thoughts on “Craftsy: Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dress

  1. I totally love it!!!!!!!!! Great job Amy….let us know how the contest goes! :). Oh and the dress looks fantastic on you!

  2. Amy…..This just blows my mind. Your fantastic (hope I spelled that right) making this dress and so many other things I have seen. You have a wonderful talent and it shows in your work. I am not saying this… just because you are my daughter, but the beauty shines out of you…your eyes..your smile and the beauty from with in ..you have love coming from your heart….I’m sure other people know this. I love the dress and it looks great on you.
    I am sure your Daddy watches over you, from Heaven and smiles down on you each day. (hug)
    Keep on sewing, there is so much more to make : )
    Love You,
    Mom….

    1. Thank you Mom 🙂 I really feel like I finally found something I’m good at – that’s probably why you see the excitement out of it. Thanks for buying me my first sewing machine 😉 I love you – can’t wait to show you stuff in person.. then you can see all the details!

  3. Amazing job Amy, so much work and attention to detail, it really is stunning and I love your choice of fabrics too.

  4. WOW!!!! I am completely stumped as to what to say. This is just gorgeous. So detailed and fits you like a glove. And the hidden pockets???? To die for. And, you need them due to the aforementioned ‘fits like a glove’ reason. Love this. Nice job.

    1. Thanks so much 🙂 I can appreciate anything truly couture and hand stitched, because there was so much with this! LOL Love it though 🙂

  5. Incredible dress! just wonderful. Your work is beautiful, as are your choices in fabric and trim. Love it all.

  6. This dress is incredible and you look amazing in it. I have never done an online course, so I was very interested to read about your experience. You should wear this with extreme pride!!

    1. Thank you! You really should, Craftsy is fantastic and you don’t be disappointed. I’ve taken 2 on there and earlier today I was bored thinking “Hmm… I want to take another Craftsy class” haha! They are great – I promise!

  7. Hello Amy

    I am so late on this but wanted to comment on how great it is.
    That is a great idea, the pocket.
    Love the African fabric
    I’ve got this class but not yet done it. Looks like a challenge to me!

    1. Thank you – I still think this is my best make ever! I put so much work into it. The class really helps. I usually am so intimidated with fit but that class really walks you through it and helps SO MUCH 🙂

  8. Wow, really really love your dress. You look amazing in it. I bought the course but have not make a dress yet. You really inspired me to make one now. Great fit too.

    1. Thank you! I really hope you take the course – I learned so much. Just gotta be patient and really work on fittings. 🙂

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