Remember the 1970s dressmaking patterns my beloved Helga sent me last week?
When I snaffled a psychedelic bed sheet from a jumble months ago I knew that one day it would make a fine maxi dress.
I cut out the pieces during our short-lived British heatwave last week and it's taken me so long to decipher the "very easy" instructions that it looks like Summer's been and gone now that I've finally put it together.
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| Peacock sheet (40p, jumble sale), turban style headband (50p, Peacocks sale 2010), 1970s brass & turquoise earrings (50p, car boot sale), tribal brass bangles (inherited from Mum) |
Still, it's a glam number for swanking around the house on a miserable Bank Holiday Tuesday whilst Jon brings me rum & cokes on demand.
The novelty perspex ring I used to attach the halter tie must be the first thing I've ever had to purchase new for a dressmaking project; zips, thread, needles, hooks & eyes and buttons are always second-hand. It wasn't as bank-busting as expected though, the lady in the haberdashers reckoned she'd had it in stock since the 1970s and charged me a very reasonable 40p.
Could sheet chic be the new curtain couture? Watch this space.
See you soon!
PS Updated to link to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday!
See you soon!
PS Updated to link to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday!
wow how amazing is that. You look great as usual x
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely gorgeous, Vix! The sheet works really well as frockage. I love using vintage sheets, there's always so much fabric to play with.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely rest of week...sun is trying to shine so we might squeeze a bit more summer out yet.
xxxxxxx
O wise woman, to save this divine drapery for sheet chic! Yes, I believe you could start a whole new trend. It amazes that you just whipped this up - I've found even patterns for pre-schoolers beyond my ability. In your fifth picture down, it looks like your headband is a belt and your hair is a black dress on your wall painting. Spooky. Probably it's the lighting in here... Beautiful as always!!
ReplyDeleteIncredible story, when you break it down. The relationship you've built up with a fellow blogger, the sheet - how long ago was it originally purchased? Where from? And the patterns, I wonder if the original.owner made any of the clothes.
ReplyDeleteI miss our heatwave, it got me all enthusiastic and energetic, I hate the way we go from heat to cold rain in a few days..
I hope you're able to wear this dress out and about very soon, sheet chic, shower curtain chic and curtain chic - the world NEEDS to see it.
Lucy x
Honey you rock the be-sheeties out of sheet chic! (excuse my lisp)
ReplyDeleteYou know I love a sheet or two and cripes I am in awe of how you've managed to whip this up in next to no time!
It takes me days of looking and pondering and re-arranging etc before I even have the balls to cut into a sheet (and I'm trying to make a living out of it - go figure?)
You are perfect in all your sheet chic x
Wow that sheet was crying out to be turned into a dress its perfect. You have done an amazing job it fits you like a glove. Love the headband with it to. You look stunning as always. I always use vintage sheet's to for clothes and my handmade work its much cheaper than fabric and more unique i say ;-)) Enjoy the rest of your week lovely, dee xx
ReplyDeleteHoly bed linen, you're amazing, amor! That was a SHEET? And now it's a FROCK? This is voodoo!!!
ReplyDeleteYou look so gorgeous - I looove that shade of flamingo pink on you - the headband is FABULOUS and those earrings are SPLENDIFEROUS! You're so frickin clever, I can''t stand it!
Love you more than voodoo! Sarah xxx
What a fabulishiss sheet!! Looks really great. Are you going to have a crack at making the bikini?? My mum made us bikinis from a pattern like that back in the '70s in Hawaiian print fabric, we thought we were all way too cool!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous.. and I love the print .. hope you're well Vix.. sorry I haven't been popping by as often .. but you are amazing as always xx
ReplyDeleteWow this is a very pretty yet glam frock.Vix you are so clever!
ReplyDeleteDx
What fabulous fabric. I'm looking for new curtains. I know I won't any like that anywhere.
ReplyDeleteC
xxx
oh Vix that is the most beautiful fabric, to nice for the bed much better as a frock. Just perfect for a halter neck.
ReplyDeleteYou look simply gorgeous.
I have a dress made form curtain fabric. We could start a Manchester trend for the chic ladies with style.
Enjoy the rum and cokes.
Love v
Ooh when I lose my weight I am soooo gonna make me a dress like that! Way too cool! ♥
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring Vix. Sheets will look differently to me from now on, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteI love the:rum & cokes on demand.
You have the best frases, and I adore YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sheet Chic and Curtain Couture:
ReplyDeletehell, yes!!!Now when I'll sew something from one of those kind of fabric I'll consider you my mentor!!
The colours and the shape of your dress are so beautiful and I love the pink ribbon as a halter tie!Perfect work, I'm almost speachless and I really can't take my eyes off that stunning print!! ♥ ♥ ♥!
Yah! I always love seeing other peoples crafty projects, especially with re-purposed fabrics. I often wonder why we have such dull and boring sheets now - I would love to snuggly up in a peacock sheet! But it is kind of too nice to have as a sheet and now you can share it with the whole world - yah! Also I feel your pain with the "very easy" vintage patterns, they do my head in! I think they were made at a time where most women were sewing from a very young age, I only started sewing when I was 31! So some of the instructions are SO confusing to me :P
ReplyDeleteThat looks fab. I wish I had the patience to sew. Absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteThat sheet is incredible! Why is bedding not like that any more? It is a fabulous dress - I do hope we get some more summer for you to wear it in too.
ReplyDelete(Referring to your background - I'm shortly embarking on making our second set of patchwork curtains, we love the first set in our bedroom so much. Watch this space)
70s sheets are amazing. I love the print on that one. Your dress looks fabulous. Sewing instructions are a pain in the arse. I usually don't understand them so I just make it up as I go along.
ReplyDeleteThumbs up for some great sheet couture! I'm always on the look out for 70s duvet covers and sheets, which I use on our beds. But, I love to make dresses for Monkeychild out of the pillowcases too. Funnily enough, I was going through my fabric stash last night and came across a pinks floral 70s pillowcase that I thought would be ideal to turn into a laundry bag. Have a great week, Vix. xxx
ReplyDeletethat dress is lovely! I love the print of the dress, looks gorgeous on you Vix!!
ReplyDeletexo
It's farking FANTASMO!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the sheet,love the frock!
You look like a mega hot Summery Goddess-I do so hope Summer comes to stay proper for a while!!
I shall be unveiling my sheet frock shortly!!!
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
It's fabulous you clever thing it looks so well made and it hangs beautifully! I would have loved a look round the shops that sold bed sheets like that, just imagine what other delights they must have stocked. xx
ReplyDeleteThe pattern is so cool on that funky sheet it would have been a shame to use it as a sheet, far better as a frock I reckon. Let's hope the sunshine comes back! Xx
ReplyDeleteAs a dress or as a sheet, such a fab fabric!! Shows off your tan beautifully!! That rum and coke slave sounds handy on a dull day too.xx.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab sheet and you've found the perfect use for it. Fantastic dress, and I love that your one 'new' purchase is probably from the same era too!
ReplyDeleteLooks great, but buying something 'new' ALAS. fingers crossed for decent weather.
ReplyDeleteLove your dress Vix! The sheet was a great spot & no one would guess that your maxi started life as a bedsheet!
ReplyDeleteYou look lush!! your dress looks gorgeous and its totally unique :) xx
ReplyDeleteIts a week for peacock-esque isn't it, after your splendid feather head-attire.... totally brilliant frock you've whipped up there. I only saw the bikinis when you posted the pic of the patterns Helga had sent you - and indeed, that IS a frock for wafting around in whilst being supplied with rum & cokes! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing Vix - you find the best things. It's perfect as a maxi, the pattern on it is amazing. I'd join you for a rum and coke but sadly my stomach has gone on strike and I'm feeling rather delicate. Chai and toast only for the last couple of days.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to the punch on that curtain couture! (I'm in the market for SOMEthing for my kitchen window....I'm close to cutting up a table cloth but might give the sheet bin at local thrift shop a whirl first.)
ReplyDeleteYour maxi-dress creation looks comfy & chic at the same time. I'll bet Jon had quite a time keeping up with your demands for rum and cokes!
This blog is awesome,you are looking gorgeous with fashion accessories, I recently came across your blog and honestly can’t have enough of this. A good read with sufficient information, written very nicely with catchy fashion vocabulary,thanks for valuable tips and secrets for fashion blogging.
ReplyDeleteYou clever cat! The dress looks fab. I wish I could produce a frock in a few hours work, it's amazing! And you really do shine in that fist photo xxxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantasmical upcycle. That sheet has such a stunning design and what you've done with it is nothing short of miraculous. You look sensational, as always.
ReplyDeletex
Such a beautiful outfit!
ReplyDeletexxxx
Haha, excellent. I find sheets and duvet covers a very abundant source of dressmaking fabric. When you consider the price of buying new fabric its often SO much cheaper to buy a double duvet cover (new or 2nd hand). I once made a set of hospital scrubs out of a green sheet to wear to a fancy dress party, they were not bad considering how rubbish I am at sewing. It was Halloween so I splattered them with fake blood with no regrets because the old sheet was a hand me down for free.
ReplyDeleteV
xxx
That's quite a sheet! I love the fact you were swaning round your house in your lovely dress, you are clearly of hardier stuff than me I was swathed in layers and a jumper freaking freezing!
ReplyDeleteahhhh, you just kill me vix. first of all the sheet itself is amazing and then to be able to whip it into such a fab maxi just floors me. you look so beautiful today, as always.
ReplyDeletei'm so glad we've virtually met b/c you make me re-think everything.
xo
janet
That dress is amazing ! you talented lady! wish I could make awesome dresses like that one! xx
ReplyDeleteWell done, and what gorgeous fabric too :)
ReplyDeleteThat's it you can't say you just mess around with your machine you are a seamstress love, a hot one at that. This dress blows my mind like a killer California sunset when it happens in Oregon. The sheet how could this have ever been a sheet it was born to be a maxi! I love it VIX!!!!! The headband your ear rings your pretty pink lips all make this a perfect summer look, that sun will come round. WE have been having rain and cold and then a bit of sun...do you think I could survive an English winter :) I could with curry and booze.
ReplyDeleteGive Jon a hug for me.
Iloveyoubunches!!!!
Krista
P.S. I finished your Jubilee gift and it has nothing to do with the Jubilee outside of the fact that everything I'm sending you is fit for a queen.
You're rocking that curtain my dear - far better as a maxi!
ReplyDeleteWowzer, that is one funky bed sheet. Love the dress you made from it too and, as always, you look a-may-zing modelling it.
ReplyDeleteWow!! A wonderful sheet turned dress. I'd have a hard time passing up that fabric and I can't even sew. Mostly because I don't get along well with the sewing machines.
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous!
That was one amazing sheet but it looks even more stunning as a frock! This way, lots of people get to see the wonderful print. You've done a great job, and I think we can forgive you the 40p expenditure on the new item of haberdashery!
ReplyDeleteSheet chic indeed!
Glad Jon obliged with the supply of rum and cokes - he IS good to you! xxxxxx
Love! Love! Love! You have become an amazing seamstress! I always notice and admire your patchwork curtains....I have made a similar pair, will have to show you sometime.
ReplyDeleteHope you get some good weather to wear your maxi!
Fantastic dress, the fabric is gorgeous! xx
ReplyDeleteWoah, that fabric is incredible! Well done you, you have made it look even more stunning! x
ReplyDeleteHi my dear!! Sheet chic looks and sounds so very chic indeed-you look amazing and what a gorgeous sheet put to fabulous use!! Thanks so much for your lovely comment, although I haven't been commenting, your blog has been and always is a must read even though I haven't left you comments. I love seeing your jumble and boot sale finds, they never cease to amaze and astound me! Your holiday looked so divine as well, wishing you a great week and lots of rum and cokes too, hehe!! xxx
ReplyDeleteYour sewing talents know no limits! I love what you did with the sheet! What a great paisley print on it and now it is a fab maxi. Love your earrings too.
ReplyDeleteLove that you made this beautiful maxi from a sheet! Keep those rum & cokes coming.... Oh wait it's 11 am where I am!
ReplyDeleteCurtain Couture, love it!
ReplyDeleteAh what a great dress, I'm in a bit of a sewing rut at the moment but you've inspired me to get the machine out again. I have a pair of 60s curtains which are just dying to be made into a dress!
ReplyDeleteSo clever - and it looks great on you, Vix! Now we just need some sun back... xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou are such a talented lady! The print and dress is gorgeous. XO
ReplyDeleteThats amazing Vix, the pattern on the sheet looks great as a dress.
ReplyDeleteX x
This is just amazing. I love those dress patterns, I see them all over carboots and charity shops but I can never visualise how it'll look on me from the pictures so I've yet to brave it! Maybe I'll make it my next challenge x
ReplyDeleteBRILLIANT!! I've got that duvet set!! and i love it! looks great as a dress too x
ReplyDeleteI rarely met a peacock and paisley print I didn't like. Well done for helping this sheet find its true calling.
ReplyDeleteFantastic match of sewing pattern to fabric. And what amazing material in that sheet! I have often thought that bedding is great value for money, considering how much it costs if you buy it by the metre. Very 70s! Great with your tan too. Luckily you got it in India and don't have to rely on the weather here.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosemary www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com
Shockingly cool. Hope the sun shines again soon so you can show it off.
ReplyDeletegosh you are awesome. That patchwork curtain is equally as awesome xx
ReplyDeleteFirst off, that dress does not look like sheet on you. Hahahehe. It looks terrific!
ReplyDeleteLoulou
This sheet made an amazing dress! And for just pennies! The price is right.
ReplyDeleteOOO I love it! You look immensely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI can't even tell it used to be a sheet!!
Qh i love this!can`t belueve you made that - i would sow my hands together shut!
ReplyDelete>'.'<
a divine maxi dress, and i´m already a fan of his new curtain couture, me too i already made dresses or skirts out of sheets or tablecloths, sometimes the prints are just to gorgous to just stay in your home they have to see the world on you;)
ReplyDeletekiss,mary
perfect sheet chic!! I love this it looks amazing! I wish I had your dressmaking skills, the only things I can ever make are cushion covers! xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeletethat sheet was made to be a beautiful frock!! it fits you like a dream. Sheet chic it will definitely catch on. xx
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing dress! I always see fab patterns on bedding and curtains in charity shops but alas I have no seamstress skills to upcycle them.
ReplyDeleteVixcita,
ReplyDeleteYour my curtain Queen amor!
I love this curtain print so beautiful.
You need to to be some cover of a magazine.
Besotes
You just can't go wrong with peacocks & paisley - your new frock rocks and no one would ever believe it was a sheet (though so many of the retro ones DO have amazing patterns like this -- mmm you should start something, Vix, if not a trend, then a sheet-chic fashion empire!). :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the price of your outfits and yet they look way better than high street where you could spend x100 times more! Clever lady x
ReplyDeleteCherrylulu86.blogspot.co.uk
You can't beat a good old sheet :) Looks grand!
ReplyDeleteYou are brilliant! The sheet fabric is indeed beautiful and how you created this with such ease appears magical to me. You master one innovative project after the other! I agree with Besotes - you are destined to appear on a magazine cover.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely print!
ReplyDeletehttp://theas-vintage.blogspot.se/
I am seeing lots of curtain dresses on utube,too! I love this fabric! i did sheet maxi skirts a while back, and must dug them out,now!
ReplyDeleteyou look mahvelous!!!!
big hugs
Reva
Genius and groovy too! The design on that sheet is so romantic and you found the perfect pattern to use it. You look great in it.
ReplyDeleteMy hat goes off to you, you inspiring and talented creature! A funky patterned bedsheet plus Vix's imagination and sewing skills, and voila - a super-fab maxi dress! Damn woman, you are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWell Scarlet in gone with the wind new how to work the curtain!! and I think you have her beat!! Looks fabulous love the dress....the pattern on the sheet looks great, you did a good job! xx Heather
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful dress.Just love the print.You always make amazing dresses.xx
ReplyDeleteOh what a glorious job you made of the delicious fabric and Helga's pattern - more peacocks!! Eeeeeeeeeep!!! I adore the pic of you in front of the fireplace - I'm having a right ole' perve at all the amazing details in your lounge room, including you!!!! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeletegreat dress. i love the peacock print!
ReplyDeletehttp://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de
Brilliant!! Now that's dross into gold!! You look like a million bucks too. XXOO
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I have some old sheets that are waiting to be turned into dresses if only I could sew! Sigh... I just love your DIY outfits xx
ReplyDeleteThis is truly one of a kind and so you. The print is fabulous and of course the final outcome is a dress to be admired xxx
ReplyDeleteStunning, what a great use for an old sheet xx
ReplyDeleteAmazing pattern. It actually looks quite similar to some of the SS12 stuff I have seen in paisley. A fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteI still love it!
ReplyDeletex
Love the sheet refashion! Ive got a shower curtain in mind for new life as a skirt! Beautiful print too!
ReplyDeleteLove the sheet refashion- beautiful print! I've got a certain shower curtain in mind for a new skirt!
ReplyDelete