fiftyRX3: Finally Finished: Umbrella Dress

12.18.2005

Finally Finished: Umbrella Dress

I collected the fabric from blown out umbrellas on the street during a blustery, rainy day. I washed them and cut, draped and patterned them into this outfit. I believe the dress used two umbrellas, maybe three and the jacket one plus scraps. They were a big hit today and I was very happy!! See more photos here.

// posted by fiftyRX3 @ 12/18/2005

Comments:

Lovely--I like the little tucks (? or is it reflection?) along the center of dress and the little jacket addition! The first I'd ever seen of umbrella dresses (originally via Boing Boing)--your styling seems more wearable. How many "pelts" did you use?

Congrats on finishing!

# posted by

BeastlySum : 2:15 PM

This is really fantastic! Do you have a pattern for this? I'd love to try this out on my own.

# posted by

June : 11:54 PM

Hi June,

I drafted a pattern for the dress and draped the jacket on the form.

I didn't have time to test the pattern in muslin and just went for it. You could probably use any basic shift dress pattern that fits you. Just sew all the umbrella pieces together to make a bigger flat piece of "fabric". Or you could trace off the pattern and then divide it up, but you'd need to use drafting tools and follow the princess lines etc., then just add seam allowance around those pieces.

Good luck and send me a photo!

# posted by

fiftyRX3 : 10:07 AM

p.s. I folded the umbrellas in half (as I needed to cut 2 pieces) and laid the pattern piece along the fold (long straight end), sometimes I had to have little folds, so it would be flat. That is why you see the vertical patterns, which is really one long horizontal pattern piece, with the vertical seams of the umbrella in it. It also helps to use umbrellas as similar in weight and texture as possible.

# posted by

fiftyRX3 : 10:11 AM

How much Jill?
I want one!

Will you do a line of these? Please please pretty please?

# posted by

Jill Fehrenbacher : 2:55 PM

Dude -
Can I comission you to make me a raincoat from an umbrella?

Hows that for a project? Even better than a dress, no?

# posted by

Jill Fehrenbacher : 2:57 PM

Trust me Jill. A raincoat is already on the list of things to make.

# posted by

fiftyRX3 : 3:06 PM