I’ve been making myself a fun new dress for my birthday for the past few years, and I love the tradition. The last few have been maxis, so this year I made short dress instead!
Behold the glory of its twirliness!!! It is three patterns mashed up: Cashmerette Dartmouth for the bodice, Comino Cap for the upper skirt, and a circle skirt for the lower section.
I tested the Dartmouth back when it was released, and I’ve used it once for a dress bodice already. I used the same pieces for front and back, and angled in the shoulders a bit. It has some ruching at the side seams and fits snugly.
For the skirt, I chose the Comino Cap skirt because it is a gentle a-line shape with curves at the hips. I wanted something figure-skimming, neither tight nor loose! The proportions of the yoke and ruffle were determined by how much fabric I had, since I only bought 2 metres for this dress.
For the circle skirt portion, I measured the circumference of the bottom of the yoke, and cut a “donut” to match. I do this by folding the fabric in quarters and marking the radius with a quilting ruler. A pattern piece would be more exact, but this seems to work well enough for me!
My husband got me these recycled-sari fair-trade earrings for my birthday, along with some other goodies. The shorter my hair gets, the more I love a big earring!
Out of the blue, my partners-in-Sewcialists-crime Becky and Chloe surprised me with a post on the Sewcialists yesterday, called “A love letter to Gillian and to YOU!” I feel beyond blessed to have such great people around me, particularly this year which has been a bumpy ride. Thank you to all of you here who cheer me on! I love this corner of the internet!
Now excuse me while I go spin around my house and eat So. Much. Cake! Mwah!
Crafting A Rainbow 
Sending you a big birthday mwah back! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
LikeLike
Thank you! And thank you for always being so awesome!
LikeLike
This is absolutely gorgeous!! Happy Birthday!
LikeLike
Thank you! I had a really wonderful birthday week!
LikeLike
Lovely! The line for the full circle skirt is spot on perfect! Beautiful earrings too! Happy Birthday!
LikeLike
Thank you! I feel like I could go to an 80’s party if I crimped my hair, and I totally love it!
LikeLike
How did you prepare the bodice pattern to alter for a dress? I’d like to use the Dartmouth top for a dress too, (without the yoke though) tried extending but it didn’t turn out too well. Ended up back as a top, but I really like the wrap style better than the Appleton. The ties annoy me on that pattern. As it was I had to drop the hole in the side seam lower as the original was too high for my lumps and bumps. I’ve made a top from it, but again I made my ties too long.
LikeLike
Last time I used the DArtmouth as a bodice, i cut the bodice too short… it’s so snug that it rides up on me, so this time I cut it a bit longer. Other than that, it’s just as drafted!
LikeLike
Happy birthday my dear friend. I hope it is the best.
LikeLike
My birthday was wonderful – thank you for making it “sew”! (SEWING + TREK REFERENCE= always good)
LikeLike
Happy belated birthday, sounds like you had a wonderful day. Love the dress, the colours and pattern are just what I go for….my family thinks I’m a bit of a bohemian in my choices of style too but being a child of the 60s/early 70s my tastes are kind of ingrained!
LikeLike
We only get one life – we might as well dress to be happy, right? 🙂
LikeLike
Happy birthday Gillian and thanks for your sewing inspo and thought-provoking content.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I had a great birthday week!
LikeLike
Love the dress and the fit! Great job! You are so creative and adventurous. Wish I had that ability when I was your age.
Louise Chowanski
LikeLike
I’m so grateful for the sewing community! i was a much more conservative dresser before I started sewing!
LikeLike
Happy Birthday Gillian! I hope that your recovery from the concussion is going well.
LikeLike
It’s slow but steady! Thank you!
LikeLike
Happy birthday Gillian! The dress is gorgeous. The yoke and circle skirt was an inspired choice. I love how it hangs and swishes.
LikeLike
37 and still loving twirly in my dresses – something never get old! 😉
LikeLike
Happy Birthday! I love your dress. Great pattern mashing!
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I had an excellent birthday week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful dress! Happy Birthday!!
LikeLike
❤ Thank you!
LikeLike
Happy birthday! You look beautiful!
LikeLike
Mwah! Thank you!
LikeLike
Happy birthday! I love the twirly bottom!
LikeLike
Thank you! it was very fun to wear!
LikeLike