Double Gauze Playdate Dress

While I had a big enough pile of black and white fabrics to play with, once the Oliver + S monochrome sewalong started I kept seeing more black and white fabrics everywhere I looked.

I couldn't resist some double gauze from Spotlight. I had long wanted to sew the Playdate dress but could never figure out what I wanted to do with the yoke section, with this double gauze I found my answer and just had to make it immediately!

The Playdate dress has this lovely yoke. It is most often sewn with a white yoke, patterned dress fabric and the two frills with a row of buttons down the middle. Completely adorable, but often a bit too old fashioned or church-y for my taste.

Of course, Brittany of A Stitch A Day had already made the white yoked version that I really did like (she always makes the dress I wish I'd thought of!) and I was most particularly fond of this other chambray version that Liesl herself made. - I love the raw edged frill and Japanese pattern vibe of that dress.

The double gauze was perfectly reversible and that gave me the simple solution to the yoke. I would have been tempted to leave it plain, or maybe pin an off-centre raw edged fabric flower (like this one), but A liked the ruffles idea.

The flat piping is kind of subtle for being black but it is better for being there and defining the yoke's edge.

In among the stash of  individual buttons salvaged from old garments that my mother in law sends my way, was the perfect button.

The double gauze was nice to sew, although a little shifty at times and the edgestitching on the yoke definitely isn't my best work.  But I'm happy to say it washes and wears well, and feels so fluffy and light, it must be a delight to wear.

Of course now I think why on earth did I wait so long to make this dress. It is an absolutely darling pattern. The fit through the shoulders and chest is perfect and then the dress has this lovely coccoon shaped skirt.

The inverted pleat of the dress front is echoed at the sleeves where they tuck into the cuff. Just gorgeous. Plus there are hidden in-seam pockets which you can fill with treasures, or sand...

Now that I know how much I love the shape and fit of the dress I will find a way to make this pattern again. I can see myself being tempted to do cross stitch or embroidery on the yoke but I think the one I will love to see her wear would be an all chambray version.

I made a straight size 5 with no modifications whatsoever. I haven't measured her in quite a while so I'm just going on her being a relatively tall, healthy sized  four and half year old. Not very  precise of me, I know.

I'm very glad for the monochrome challenge as otherwise I would have continued to let this lovely pattern marinade on the shelf. It's out of print now, but you may find paper versions on Ebay, or it's available as digital download pattern.

There's more black and white to come, just as last month was all animals, this month is Octonochrome!