01 Jul New Lilly Inspired Dress and Contest Winner!
Lilly Pulitzer introduced a fabulous collection of navy dresses this season, and I wanted one too. 
The Lilly dresses are available in every fabric imaginable bringing about many possibilities. My decision was based on the piece of Theory Navy Cotton Rib Knit I ordered from Mood Fabrics in March. (Now sold out but I highly recommend the navy stretch pique.)
While Lilly refers to many of its dresses as ‘shift dresses‘, they look like tunics to me, and so I made a tunic from The Tunic Bible.
Since this is at least the 40th tunic I’ve made during the last two years, I was interested in trying something different. I selected the wide-split placket and angled collar variation which I’ve only sewn with wovens, but the knit fabric accommodated the structured details of the pattern variation beautifully!
The Theory Knit is a heavier knit making it necessary to eliminate potential bulkiness in the collar and armscyes. To do this I sewed the under collar and seam bindings in Navy Silk Crepe de Chine from Mood.
The collar was interfaced with Pellon EK130 Easy-Knit, a fusible knit interfacing and supple stabilizer, and the seam bindings were cut on the bias and starched.
The trim is from M o r o c c o ! Before meeting up with the Amy Butler group, Julie Starr, Dorcas Ross (a.k.a. Art Attack and Lone Star Couture) and I hired a private tour guide. When asked about any special requests we quickly responded “Take us to the Fabric, Trim and Tunic souks!”
We found a tiny souk loaded with trim. I bought 5 meters of the metallic braided trim for $3/meter and certainly wish I bought more. 😉
The trim was temporarily applied with Gunold KK100, a temporary adhesive spray before attaching it to the tunic with a zigzag stitch. The adhesive is supposed to disappear within 3 days…. If you look closely you can see the zigzag, but it truly melds into the braid due to its texture.
Sewing The Tunic Bible bodice pattern with a knit generally results in a more relaxed fit,
and eliminates the need for back darts.
The gold trim dresses up the tunic but Lilly also trims this same style in white for a fresh, casual look (this Oscar de la Renta lace from Mood being one of my favorites for a great summer look.)
As always, a huge thank you to Mood Fabrics for allowing me to experiment with quality fabrics and learn something new each and every time. Rib knit and metallic trim ~ a winner in my books!
_____________________________
Believe it or not there were over 400 entries for the Thread and Bucket Hat Giveaway! Many thanks for the wonderful response 🙂
Congratulations to BARABARA O winner of the giveaway!!! Please send your contact information to goodbyevalentino@gmail.com by Monday, July 3rd or a new winner will be selected.
Some of you asked questions which I could not answer in order to keep the response numbers in order, but I will do so once the giveaway is officially over and the winner has responded.
Happy Saturday!
Lone Star Couture
Posted at 07:06h, 01 JulyI love how this turned out and remember that great trim! Very versatile in the navy…casual chic to dressy. Love! D
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:09h, 01 JulyThank you, Dorcas! Please tell me why I didn’t buy 25 meters at this great price…. 😉
Cindy Symes
Posted at 07:40h, 01 JulyWow, your tunic looks exactly like it could be one of those Lily Pulitzer shifts! And I love being able to wear my memories from a trip! This is a very memorable shift tunic!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:10h, 01 JulyMany thanks, Cindy, and that was the goal! Still kicking myself for not getting more of the gold trim ………
Toni Morse
Posted at 10:18h, 01 JulyAnother knockout!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:50h, 02 July🙂 🙂 Thank you, Toni!
Connie FL
Posted at 10:46h, 01 JulyLooks beautiful on you! I’m making another tunic today…maybe 2 🙂 I love this pattern and how it accentuates beautiful fabrics!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:51h, 02 JulyYou’ve made my day, Connie! I’m delighted you like the pattern 🙂
Gayle
Posted at 11:12h, 01 JulyBeautiful! Thank you for the tips!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:52h, 02 JulyMany thanks for your comment, Gayle! ….anything to help out fellow sewists 🙂
Lisa Lacy
Posted at 11:20h, 01 JulyAbsolutely gorgeous….you and the tunic. One of my favorites you have sewn. So classy.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:53h, 02 JulyThank you so much, Lisa! It is truly one of my favorites to date 😉
Teri Stich
Posted at 13:38h, 01 JulyI truly want this!! LOL I love the relaxed fit of the knit and the collar is perfect, will definitely have to try something like this.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:57h, 02 JulyWe discovered stable knits make great tunics but the collars can be tricky when applying heavy trim. I’m thrilled the tunic turned out so well 😉 Many thanks for your comment, Teri!
Irene Mischkinis
Posted at 16:21h, 01 JulyAnother winning version of your lovely tunic!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:58h, 02 JulyAhhhh….. you make me blush 😉 Many thanks, Irene!
Betty Morgan
Posted at 18:18h, 01 JulyAs are all your thing very classy
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:04h, 02 JulyThank you, Betty! What a lovely comment 🙂
Maggie ecger
Posted at 20:03h, 01 JulyThe dress is wonderful. You look like a Million in it. Great pics. AMaggie
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:05h, 02 JulyThank you, Maggie!
CarolinasCallin
Posted at 22:47h, 01 JulyLOVE this! Terrific job, and what fun to have sourced that trim where you did 🙂 Always love a garment with a great story behind it. You’ve given LP a run for her money with this one!
Hope you’re enjoying your summer – and sweet little Birdie! Those hats were divine!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:07h, 02 JulyHi Cheryl!!! When I bought the trim I did not have this garment in mind but funny how things work out 🙂
Marion
Posted at 05:33h, 02 JulyI Love your new tunic. I definiately have to des one like this!
Greatings from Germany
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:08h, 02 JulyThank you, Marion! Well, I know your tunic will be a stunner – send a pic!
Jane M. Green
Posted at 09:16h, 02 JulyJust stunning!!!! You have inspired me to get back into my sewing room! Thanks for sharing…and keep posting!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:29h, 03 JulyThank you, Jane…… Knowing I have inspired you inspires me 😉 Good luck!
Kathie Bennett
Posted at 09:23h, 02 Julybeautiful!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:28h, 03 JulyThank you, Katihie!
Joan Collins
Posted at 12:58h, 02 JulySarah, your tunic is stunning and and I have so enjoyed your blog since the very first one. I have your Tunic Bible and am making my first one – with the ruffled neckline. I have the ruffle sewn in but the back of mine
seems to be drooping over a bit! In your instructions you did not say to clip the curve. I think I did automatically put one or two clips at the back neck curve. Could this be my problem?? For my trial one, I did use a 100% cotton that seems so limp after the pre shrinking and then handling it and I may have put too much fabric in my ruffle which may have made it too heavy. And do you put a facing of any kind on it????
I’d appreciate any thoughts on this.
Joan Collins
Dallas, Tx
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:27h, 03 JulyJoan,
I have replied to you by email, but thought of one more thing. Make sure you staystitch the neckline ASAP.
Rhonda Preece
Posted at 02:52h, 03 JulyI always wash my fabrics before sewing. Do you wash your trims beforehand?
Just working on my first tunic from The Tunic Bible, which I LOVE!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:26h, 03 JulyThank you, Rhonda! I pre shrink the trims by either placing them in water or using a steam iron.