Sequined RP Laura dress

 

I have to be honest when I saw the line drawings for the Laura dress I was unimpressed. I thought it was not worth the fabric or effort to make this. There was no challenge, it being such a simple design. Then I saw it on people and it was a lovely simple and very wearable summer dress. I did not need another summer dress this year though because I had already made several by the time the Laura came out. 

Onwards a few months and its Christmas. Yes we cannot go out really but its still party season and when else do I get to wear sequins?

 I really want to finally get round to using this fabric. It comes out of my stash every year but I never find what to make. My initial reaction to needing a pattern was to go to Burda. I am very lucky in owning Burdas right back to 1968 and I have a good selection through to the present. I reckon about 200 copies. So you can imagine I have lots of different choices of patterns. But the problem is I really want to use something thats a simple design with no darts. Burda are generally either sack dresses or very constructed. That makes working with sequins, especially the old fashioned chain mail type, very difficult.

This fabric was an Ebay bargain around 5 years ago. I got 7m for £2.50 and I even picked up from the seller so never paid any delivery charges. Its proper old fashioned mesh backed fabric with real metal sequins. In fact I suspect I now need a new pair of cutting out sissors because this is hard to cut.

Then I remembered the Laura and I have  a credit still to spend with Rebecca Page patterns so I buy the pattern. Thats was about a week before Christmas. I printed the pattern last weekend. But I was tired after work every day this week and that was as far as I got.

Roll forward a few days and I have my fabric ready and sorted from my stash and its December 23rd. After work I put the pattern together. I cut my fabric.

I made a slight mistake and cut with the nap going sideways not down or up. I was in a  mad hurry to make this due to lack of time and I cannot sew at all over Christmas. My sewing table is the dining table so from Christmas Eve lunchtime there was no sewing allowed or even possible in my home and so it will stay for around a week.

 

Late 23rd and I am sewing this up. I lined with a rather horrible shade of coral scuba that is another Ebay bargain ( 99p for 6m) has also been hanging around for years and has made a few prototypes/ muslins but I don't like this colour at all so its fair game for this and happens to be easy to find because I sorted the sequins from the stash but never though till I was cutting about the lining and by then its pretty late already. I really cannot handle sorting through my stash looking for a possible lining fabric. So coral cheap scuba it is. It will also make the dress warmer for this time of year.

I am wearing it right now its its nice and warm despite the short sleeved design.

I start sewing and the instructions are as good and easy to follow as usual - I do like this about RP patterns. They instructions are usualy really good and I have started to use them for other patterns ( eg Burda) when the design is similar. 

 Unfortunately thought the Laura is not originaly lined so I need to work this bit out for myself. You sew the back vent first then the rest. I think thats probably the key - starting with the vent. I did the sequins as the pattern directions using my normal sewing machine. I considered pockets and even cut them out but it was by then really late and I have to work Christmas Eve so I need to get this done now. I cannot think properly due to tiredness by now let alone work out pockets and linings. I use the overlocker for my scuba lining but I did not do the back vent yet on the lining. I left it open.

 Put both bits together and sew the scuba to the sequins at the back vent. Then how to do the rest? 

I am not good at linings. Start sewing it all together flip it and Oh dear but my sequins are on the inside facing the lining. I have done the burrito method before but cannot remember. I do not have time to watch Youtube and work out how. I am tired and need to stop but if I do there is going to be no dress to wear this Christmas. Well I have lots so there will be something I can wear but not this one.

I unpick my neck and sleeves hems. I put it all together again and decide to just sew to the dress and tuck it all in together because you cannot see the stitching anyway.

 

 I use the stretch neck facing from the pattern but add to the inside and sew it down because I do not want it seen on the outside. It would ruin the look.

Finally the hem which I flipped over twice on top of the scuba layer to make everything neat - making this a bit shorter than I think probably it should be. Though I am taller than the person the RP patterns are based on. I usually add a couple of inches to a patterna dn forgot. The hip shaping is slightly high I think but still its a lovely comfortable unresticting dress.

And so here is my lovely lined sequined Laura dress.

I love the "tails" at the back. I will be making a few more of these come next summer.

I probably should have lengthened though. I usually do lengthen RP patterns but I do not mind this short and its really good. It will work very well with leggings too. I am so happy despite the sequin directions error. I actually can see me wearing this lots too not just for Christmas. I have a thing about grey marl - like sweatshirting - mixed with sequins and trainers. This will work well with a tshirt under it so that will be  a great look for January and I think surprisingly warm as well due to the scuba layer.

Happy Christmas!

Bracken