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FINALLY ... Fantasy Dress #1487 for sale!!

1/21/2014

28 Comments

 
I am happy to report my new fantasy dress pattern can now be purchased at the Simplicity website and, I assume, at any store that sells Simplicity patterns.

Simplicity usually doesn't take this long to release its new catalog.  I have no idea what happened.  Maybe just the holidays got in the way ...

Really, this is a fairly easy and straight forward pattern, so I don't have any tutorials, but I do have a story about it that will give you an eye into the limitations and considerations Simplicity has to take when publishing a pattern and fitting it into their little standard sized envelope.

To tell this story, I need to show you the photographs I took of these costumes before I packed them up for their trip to New York.
Picture
Picture
So, nothing was changed on this dress.

I made it out of no-wale corduroy (the red part) and embroidered tricot velour with a poly-satin lining for the sleeves.  I used appliqués that Simplicty sells on their website ... link to the red one ... and a link to the gold ones. BUT they are really silver. I painted them with metallic gold fabric paint before applying them. AND I sewed them on.  I don't often trust iron-on things.

If you like the trim I used, it is still available at Joann's.  I took this photo 5 days ago.

Picture
Picture
The story is different for the other two dresses.

Before I get into that, though, please note that I also took this photo 5 days ago at Joann's.  The fabric for this dress is also still available.

Now onto the story ...

Shortly after I sent in these three dresses, I got a phone call from Simplicity telling me that they were planning to eliminate one of them.  When this happens, it's usually either because the pattern pieces are too big, or the sewing is too complicated.  There are limits to the amount of tissue and number of guide sheets that can fit into the envelope.

Picture
So now, look carefully at the two photos of the turquoise dress here.  One was taken in my studio and the other I took at Simplicity.  They had this dress in their reception area last time I visited.  Can you tell what's different?  Actually the change of brocade fabric might give it away.

Give up???

When I sent these dresses in, the turquoise one and the gold one had completely separate underskirts.  The over dresses had splits in the seams that I finished with long straight facing pieces.  I put the facings on the straight grain since the edges of the skirt panels are on the bias and I wanted to control any stretching that might happen and I thought they would hang straighter that way.

I like the skirt and dress being separate.  I think the dress would move better, but there wasn't room in the pattern for the large dress pieces with those huge sleeves AND the very flared skirt pattern as well ... sigh ...

So these two dresses now have godets (triangular wedges) sewn into those skirt seams.

I have to say, looking at these two photos, I really can't tell the difference.  The dress will move differently though.

I will be less expensive to make this dress now.  That underskirt required quite a bit of fabric.
Picture
But, if you like, you could still make a separate skirt under this dress.


First, make a flared skirt that has no gathering at the waist.  You don't want any bulkiness there.  This means a waistband and zipper or at least an open placket and hook. The dress should cover that.


Then, leave the skirt seams open up to the point indicated on the pattern and cut straight strips of the dress fabric to make facings for the skirt split openings. 


I hope this pattern will be a jumping off point to some wonderful original creations.


Sincerely, Andrea
28 Comments
Lex
1/21/2014 04:59:45 pm

I nearly cried when I saw this pattern as I spent a lot of money on the beautiful Orange and Green Taffeta for my other fantasy gown that I adjusted in tribute to the Cersei gown in GoT. Now I have to buy more to make this. I love the Orange/Green combination and am making another gown so I may just end up buying some clearance 90"x90" curtains and making it out of that. Per metre the fabric is cheaper. I can't wait to get started on this though!

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Jennyfer
1/21/2014 10:26:06 pm

I saw this pattern on my recent visit to Hancock Fabric and picked it up immediately!! cannot wait to try!

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Anna link
1/24/2014 07:38:00 am

Gorgeous dress patterns. I'm a fan of the show and this character's clothing, so will have to buy this pattern.

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Alena
3/10/2014 06:56:16 am

I love your design, I'll try to buy it in Europe without high shipping cost, hope I'll be lucky.

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Alena
3/16/2015 05:13:52 am

There is picture of my version of your design, I used it for Mellisandre in two versions - https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7525/15419965834_f9dddcdf24_z.jpg

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Princess Crabcake
3/26/2014 12:29:54 pm

Love it. I was trying to modify an old on-hand pattern to achieve this. Thank you for sharing part of your process, plus your underskirt mod advice!

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Vanessa link
5/2/2014 05:15:49 am

I actually modified your gawazi coat pattern with a coordinating skirt to make something similar. But I've lost a significant amount of weight since then so it doesn't fit anymore. A perfect excuse to make this pattern now!

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Andrea
5/2/2014 11:02:36 pm

Congrats on the weight loss and YES! make a new costume! The more patterns everyone buys, the more patterns Simplicity will ask me to make.

Thank you.

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Cersei Lannister link
5/2/2014 02:50:26 pm

Hi there Andrea, Is this a similar one to the dress from Game of Thrones? If so, the only thing I can see wrong is the sleeves, in the series instead of going to a point from under the elbow, they went into a kimono style sleeve rectangle.

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Andrea
5/2/2014 11:01:13 pm

Cersei,
That's an easy fix to make. It is my goal to make patterns that people can use to be creative. So, please, change whatever parts you feel need changing!

Andrea

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Scott
5/12/2014 08:07:02 am

Hi Andrea!!
I absolutely LOVE this pattern! It is very similar to the GoT versions and the only thing I have to change is the sleeves as Cersei said before... I might take these sleeves (http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6940-products-48286.php?page_id=96) and put them on this dress! Thanks so much for you're wonderful designs and patterns!

Abi Sue Cosplay link
5/21/2014 03:41:32 am

I love this pattern! I used it for my Cersei green bird dress a couple months ago! I definitely modified the pattern because I wanted the square sleeves, slightly fuller and longer skirt (I'm really tall) and a real wrap dress. This pattern was very close to what I needed so I love it!

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Suerte
7/11/2014 02:03:29 pm

Hi there,
Do you think it would be possible to make this dress without the waist seam at the front and back?

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Shelley link
9/12/2016 08:37:10 pm

Here is a cosplay tutorial where the seamstress joined the front & side panels to the front & back skirts at the waist. I'm going to try it myself because I like the straight, clean line she got from neck to floor by doing this. Visit Youtube and search for "Cersei Lannister Cosplay Part 2: Dress Construction" by user Ria Regalia.

Reply
Shelley link
9/12/2016 08:38:36 pm

There is a cosplay tutorial where the seamstress joined the front & side panels to the front & back skirts at the waist. I'm going to try it myself because I like the straight, clean line she got from neck to floor by doing this. Visit Youtube and search for "Cersei Lannister Cosplay Part 2: Dress Construction" by user Ria Regalia.

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Andrea Schewe
7/11/2014 10:14:26 pm

Probably you could join the pattern pieces at the waist, but you will have to figure out what to do with the princess seams on the front and back bodice. They meet up at the waist seam. It's possible, but not completely straight forward.

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Cindy Weyers
9/17/2014 02:21:53 pm

I am using this pattern as a witch dress. The dress in black and the godet and sleeve lining in royal purple satin. The godet will also have a separate piece of sheer purple with witches, bats and pumpkins with silver sparkle. I can't wait to get started. Halloween is just around the corner!! I may ask for help with the underskirt if I go that way.

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Tara
9/19/2014 03:57:31 pm

Hi, I am working on this pattern right now. I have already ran into one major snag with the sleeve on the size 16. The pattern calls for 60" wide fabric and the widest point of the sleeve is 34". The cutting instructions call for double thickness. What I did was use single thickness. I have found the sewing to be very straight forward though.

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Lucy
2/2/2015 08:13:11 pm

This is beautiful. is there anywhere online that you know of that has the novelty sequined fabric for the belt that ships to the UK because at the moment it looks like the only places that I can find that stock it only send to America and Canada and I can't find anything similar that posts here either.

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Andrea
2/3/2015 08:59:06 pm

Lucy,
Sorry, I'm not up on who ships where. But, it is only the front of the belt that has the sequins and you could really use several other methods to get a similar effect. First ... hand sew sequins or beads there or appliqué some metallic fabric, or use paint and glue sequins. Perhaps look for some old belt or jewelry that could be attached to that front panel. Let your imagination flow!
Andrea

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Gabrielle
3/5/2015 09:03:36 pm

Hi Andrea, just wondering what happened to this amazing pattern?
I had the time to nab another copy before it disappeared from the site, but it was taken off almost before my eyes while I was browsing and now I can't find it anywhere.

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Andrea
3/6/2015 01:05:42 am

It will be back. Can't explain, but don't worry, it's coming back.

Thanks!

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Chris
6/20/2015 04:23:25 am

I was so sad to see this pattern disappear! I wonder if HBO is pitching a fit about your amazing patterns. I hope it will be back in time for my Halloween project, though.

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Annie
7/21/2015 03:22:13 pm

I adore this pattern. I used the bodice part with some modifications and drafted sleeves and a different drafted skirt piece for two competition cosplays my friend and I wore. We won a best in show in one of the divisions we entered and were so excited. I was glad to have a jumping off point in this bodice for what we were doing. Your patterns are all amazing and always draw my eye when I'm flipping through the pattern books for ideas.

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Jonelle
9/14/2015 09:37:25 am

I absolutely love this pattern! I'm actually going to be using it as the base for a Varys costume (with some heavy modifications). Thanks for making such a great pattern!

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Mohammad Salauddin link
3/28/2016 09:12:58 am

Wow these are awesome cloth. thanks for sharing these beautiful cloth.

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Shelley
9/12/2016 08:39:47 pm

For the lady who wanted to know if she could make the dress without the waist seam, there is a cosplay tutorial where the seamstress joined the front & side panels to the front & back skirts at the waist. I'm going to try it myself because I like the straight, clean line she got from neck to floor by doing this. Visit Youtube and search for "Cersei Lannister Cosplay Part 2: Dress Construction" by user Ria Regalia.

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Michelle link
11/28/2017 09:53:13 am

OMG! I love this pattern!!!!

I just happened across this blog as I'm trying to make a second costume based on it. (My first is a white linen robes which I made open in the front using the "gold" pattern, but added a couple of godet, because godet are my favorite things. You can see it here, as I was trying to figure out if the skirt was full enough to use the pattern for my next costume: https://ohjustmichelle.tumblr.com/post/166343509951/so-my-vestments-pattern-may-get-a-second-usage)

Anyway, like I referred to above, I'm now using it as a base for making a second costume as a Christmas Tree Topper. It's going to involve layering a truncated version of the wrap dress over a full length version of the skirt. And a hoop skirt.

Thank you for making a neat, simplish pattern that makes a really full skirt!!! <3

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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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