This outfit is actually my third for the Earth Day theme; I really struggled with this one. But making 8 items and then only using the last 3 was totally worth it, as this is my favorite entry so far. (And I did a smocked dress tutorial for it – keep reading!) I wanted something that referenced my favorite things about this planet, like fields of flowers, as well as using upcycled materials and maybe hinting at the era in which Earth Day was founded.
The dress is from a men’s size XL t-shirt, on which I used an old technique, hand smocking, made modern with unconventional materials (knit fabric and beads) and a trendy color – mustard. It took over two days to do the front. I didn’t want to overwhelm the detail with a complicated pattern, so I went with a basic tank dress style, with a racerback and front pockets. I added one tiny smocked flower in the middle of the racerback. I got so addicted to smocking while doing this that I also smocked a headband, (worn 70s style to reference Earth Day’s inaugural year, 1970). And for a pop of color, I mod-podged turquoise fabric onto these fifty-four cent shoes. Then my lovely model and I went to enjoy our nearby Fields of Gold. See more pictures on my blog, Melly Sews.
Here are some close up views of the smocking; find the tutorial for this HERE. Or just click on the picture.
And as for the other 5 pieces I made? Well, you’ll still get to see those over the next month in other blog posts. But for now, let’s enjoy some more pictures from the gorgeous morning in the wildflower field.
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Melly, you are amazing!! That smocking is gorgeous!! Wow. I mean, wow.
Love this – what smocking pattern did you use? did you do it with smocking dots?
No smocking dots – I just had to google and see what those were! I used a flower smocking stitch; I’ll have a tutorial up about how I did this on Wednesday next week.
Please, please tell me you are going to post a smocking tutorial! I want to learn!!!
You smocked. You won my vote! (Though for the record, modern smockers DO often use beads in their smocking!) I also LOVE your 70′s vibe. But you had me at smocking!
So pretty! Love the color and smocking
awesome, melly. i love the color and the smocking..so fun!:)
Awesome little dress!!! Love the flower smocking…
This is my favorite you have made so far! Smart to go with a simple silhoette with all the smocking details. So pretty!
Love the smocking, so cute!
Your smocking is really amazing! I should learn… guess I’ll be back for your tute
I love your design this week! I am excited for the tutorial.
Love the pictures and the perfect smocking!
I love everything about this – the use of another shirt into an adorable dress…the smocking (amazing!)…the relating to the roots of earth day…love it! You got my vote!
Bring on the smocking tutorial! Love your look this week!
Your smocking is amazing and must have taken forever!! It looks gorgeous
This is gorgeous! I’ve never done smocking. I will have to checknout your smocking tutorial this week. Thanks for linking up;)
Ohhhh man, that SMOCKING! Completely gorgeous and awe-inspiring. I really love that you took inspiration from the origins of Earth Day this week, too.
Oh. My. Goodness! I’ll be honest, I can’t stand conventional smocking, but with the knit, the beads, the floral design…it’s incredible…truly gorgeous!
Thanks so much for linking up at Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL!
~Abbie
This dress is amazing! It must have taken a lot of work. Can’t wait for the tutorial!
And I’m pinning it.
This is amazing!! You got my vote:)
Shannon@SewSweetCottage
Love the smock! I’m excited to see your tutorial!
You are so inspiring!
I just cannot even believe that you made 8 things!!! I could barely get one finished! I love what you ended up with. Its so sweet and detailed but simple and lovely all at the same time. Great job!
I really think this is so lovely Melissa. So much time and effort and just down right work went into this dress, I was blown away. Well done!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the top of that dress, amazing!!
This so pretty! great job on the smocking and I love the color!
It’s so adorable.
Hi Melissa, I’m Connie at http://hotflashncraftn.blogspot.com/, your new GF friend. I would love it if you stop by and be my friend too.
Thanks for sharing, I love dresses with smocking.
Cute dress! found you on Funky Polkadot Giraffe party!
Amber
recipeswelove.net
So beautiful. I love the smocking and the pockets. Stopping by via Sew Much Ado.
This is adorable! Oh if I could only sew like you… someday maybe I’ll get there! I would love for you to share this at my link party
http://thewinthropchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/05/share-it-link-party-9.html
Absolutely amazing! Way to bring hand smocking back. That is so gorgeous! Great job.
WOW!! Gorgeous as always