Edelweiss Patterns 
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas!” Well, I was planning on posting my 1950s Christmas dress pictures a few weeks ago, but it just so worked out that I am posting it only a day before Christmas Eve! So here are pictures of the party dress I made from a shiny black and red checked material, and trimmed with black velvet at the collar and cuffs. Like the blue silk 1950s dress I made this fall, I used the Butterick retro pattern 5556 – more or less (I’m afraid it was less this time!).
The fabric is a mixture of red lame and black cotton/poly, which meant that it would melt if you tried to iron it! So when it came to pressing all those skirt seams I just had to settle for flat-felling them, minus actually using an iron. And since velvet cannot be ironed under any circumstances (unless you want to ruin it), I spent a little extra time to “finger press” the seams.
For this version of B5556, I omitted the front darts in favor of my favorite type of “tuck”, which is really easy to do but gives a much more flattering finish.
When I came to the bodice I didn’t like how tightly it was fitting, so I initially made plackets from the black velvet down the center front which I intended to close with buttons. But somehow it was still too tight and straight for my liking, so I added a “v” shaped black velvet panel down the center. On one side this panel is sewn to the inside of the placket, and on the other side it closes with snaps.
And since a looser fit meant the dress fit differently than the blue one I sewed, I decided to add some rayon Venice lace to the neckline to add a couple of inches. I’m not entirely sure what era this lace came from, but it was in a collection of Edwardian laces that I inherited from my friend’s grandmother. I think it was sitting in a cedar chest for at least sixty years, but it’s still in very good condition. As with the velvet “v” panel, the lace is attached on one side and closes with snaps on the other to allow for a front opening. (I omitted the side zipper altogether for this rendition of Butterick 5556.)
I have so enjoyed wearing the dresses I’ve made from this Butterick retro pattern, but if I make another version I would lengthen the bodice by a couple of inches. Right now the bodice hits me a good two inches about the natural waistline, which means you don’t have to wear a corset with it, but it makes you look a little shorter and stops well above the narrowest part of your waist.
So once I finally finished sewing this “vintage” party dress, I had a plethora of festive occasions to wear it for! I first donned this 1950s dress for a Christmas party earlier this week, and the next day I wore it for the photo shoot in a retro-looking kitchen!
So my sewing is done for at least a couple days, and I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas! I am so thankful to the Lord for all the things I’ve been able to sew this past year, and I look forward to seeing what sewing projects are in store for the coming year!
Have a Merry, Merry Christmas,
Katrina
Your dress is AMAZING!! Merry Christmas!
Ooh, how lovely! SO fifties… love it! 😀
Thank you, Marlene!
Greetings,
What a lovely dress!! So pretty, it fits you perfectly.
I like that you added the black panel in the front, it breaks up the festive red in a flattering way.
It reminds me of White Christmas… 🙂 like a gown on the ladies at the end would wear. (during the party, before everyone sings “white christmas) anyway…
lovely sewing work..
and Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Brielle! Have a Merry Christmas too!
What fun! I love how you were able to take some pictures in the retro kitchen – it really makes the photos come to life. It’s wonderful that you had some fun events to wear this dress to – that is my biggest hinderance to vintage sewing. I hope you had a lovely Christmas too!
Thank you, Annabelle! I did have a wonderful Christmas. And even though I don’t usually have occasions that call for dressy dresses, I just wear them to average occasions anyhow. : ) Back in the 50s Lucille Ball always wore high heels (ouch!) and beautiful dresses for housework, and Ricky was always in a suit even for relaxing after work. Dressing up is such fun!
Happy New Year,
Katrina
I love the dress after modifications.
You should do a sew a long to show how it can be done, as I’d like to know about the ‘tucks’ you mention etc.
I keep looking at the pattern and wondering how it could be modified (a notion came into my head to make the top and skirt seperates as I haven’t found a 1950’s blouse pattern for sale here at all but a bit scared about making modifications on my own.lol!)
Hello LadyD,
That’s a good idea! I will have to keep a sew-along in mind for Butterick 5556. If I do have one would you prefer for it to be made the way I made the Christmas dress or how I sewed the blue one?
You could easily make a skirt by sewing the skirt as instructed in the patterns, and drafting a waistband yourself to sew it into. A blouse could be made from the bodice pieces by lengthening the bottom edge (and adding width as you go out, of course.)
Happy New Year!
Katrina
I like the christmas dress best. The wider neckline like that I think would be more comfortable for me. And I really don’t like the thought of a side zipper. I’ve worn..well tried to wear dresses with side zippers and struggle to get in them.
Yes, I am not particularly fond of side zippers myself! I like to avoid them whenever possible.
I’ll keep your idea in mind!
Happy sewing,
Katrina
This is a very beautiful dress! I’ve bought this pattern, and I’m going to alter is so the top and skirt are two stand alone pieces.
I have an ironing tip for you.
You CAN iron this fabric. EVEN the velvet haha. Use a wet napkin or handkerchief and put it on the fabric. Then gently iron over the napkin at a low to medium temperature. The wetness of the cloth makes sure you wont melt the glittery things.
Good luck!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for the comment! It was such a fun dress to sew. I’m afraid though that this lame is such a high plastic/metallic content that steam wouldn’t make it less wrinkly, it would just melt the fibers.
And as far as velvet goes, I would have to say that it’s not recommended to iron it or even put any pressure on it. All the professional bridal and couture sewing books warn against pressing velvet lest you have permanent watermarks or crushed velvet pile which will never recover. If you must press velvet, you need a special needleboard to do so, or in a pinch a terrycloth towel on which you place the nap-side down. Once velvet is ruined, it’s ruined for good, so I just steam mine from a few inches above and all the wrinkles come right out!
Happy sewing!
Katrina
This dress is fabulous! I love it. You look like you came right out of a 1950’s magazine. I would love to have the pattern. I am new to your website but, love it! Thank you! Happy New Year 2013!
Teresa
Why thank you, Teresa! This was one of my favorite dresses that I’ve made so far. I’m so glad you found the blog, as I have a lot of fun with all my sewing projects. 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful 2013 as well.
Happy sewing,
Katrina