What colour are we calling this? Purple? Burgundy? Magenta? Plum? Mulberry?
No, there’s nothing wrong with your eyes. This is a blurry photograph. Let’s call it an arty action shot, shall we?
Beetroot?
Still swirling.
Having made a rather slapdash and short-lived version of this old English Woman magazine pattern once before, I took a bit of time to get this one right. There was a muslining operation, there were fitting tweaks (narrow the neckline, lengthen bodice, futz with darts til they were right) and an all-important bilateral pocket installation. I was thinking of frankensteining a straight skirt, but at the last minute the deflated balloon won out. (I’ve used the skirt pattern before in this tropicale number and this Burda concoction.)
The fabric is this cheapie poplin from Spotlight which is wonderfully crisp. It makes a swishy noise when I move so it sounds like I mean business. And the colour is fabulous.
I made a very quick and easy belt with a wide strip of leftover fabric and a big belt buckle I found on the road. Really, I did. One side has asphalt marks on it from where it was run over by a car. I am the recycling champion of the universe!
Make it 'til you fake it 
I love this, the shape, the rich color, the belt buckle! Lovely.
So adorable. Love the dress! Love the color!
The colour is amazing and a perfect style for this fabric.
Love your dress, and the color is plum lovely. I’m just finishing up a shirtwaist dress myself. Can’t wait to wear it. The color is nowhere near as brilliant as your’s, but it’s cute anyway. I’m wearing it with a crazy bronze fake pleather belt that I made with a clear plastic round buckle.
Today I found a hubcap in the street to replace the one that was stolen from my car. Got home and it had fallen off somewhere. Recycle and recycle.
Oh well……
Wow. I really love this. The color, whatever it may be called, is sublime.
Love it. Love the look of that skirt, I really need to try that shape.
I’d call the color “poke berry purple,” as in the little gifts that birds who have recently eaten poke berries liberally deposit on my automobile and patio. But perhaps you do not have pokeweed where you live. It is Phytolacca americana, and has probably been exported as an ornamental plant to Europe, centuries ago. American colonials in the 18th century used it to make a permanent ink, that to this day retains the reddish purple color so beautifully illustrated by your lovely frock.
I love this dress and the fabric! Nice job!
This is awesome, love the colour and the fit seems perfect too. Where in Aus are you? We’re having a sewing meetup at GJs fabrics on the 19th of Jan so you should stop by if you’re in the area. Cheers.
Thank you! I’m in Melbs too. And so pleased you commented because now I have another local seamster blog to follow! GJs sounds fun, will try my darndest to be there.
Here’s the list of dates. How will I recognize you when I see you though? 0o Wait, were you at the Sewist’s meetup at Tessutti’s last year?
Turns out I can’t make it this time, but I’d be keen in future.