Hello friends!
Just in time for Halloween is my new Dracula dress!
I am a huge classic film buff, with my favorites being from the 20’s and 30’s. I’ve always especially loved classic horror flicks and Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is the epitome of awesome to me. The only classic horror “villain” I love more Boris Karloff’s The Mummy. I grew up watching probably every incarnation of the Mummy movies as my mom has many of them in her collection. 
[source: Butterick]
This is yet another version of one of my TNT pattern’s — Butterick 5982. This is my fourth version and probably my favorite! Nothing much different from my other versions, except that I did not line it and altered the back bodice of the pattern with a little tuck. And of course, it’s graded up. I love having TNT patterns like this that I can sew up pretty quickly. These one took about 5-6 hrs from cutting to finishing. I don’t time myself, but that’s my guess-timate. Admittedly, I also am not the fastest sewer, so perhaps others may take less time to sew this up.
This favorite is the Dracula print fabric from the Robert Kaufman Classic Horror Films Collection. I picked this fabric up from Stonemountain and Daughter in Berkeley. It’s a quilting weight cotton, but not too stiff as other quilting cottons can be. I’m planning on getting the Frankenstein print to make Mr H a shirt with as that is his favorite movie monster.
Since I didn’t line this dress and don’t like facings, I finished the neckline and armscyes with bias tape. The seams are finished with my serger.
I got a lot of compliments when I wore this dress the other day, with a few people wanting me to make them one. Um…. no….. I also don’t think that they would want to pay $70-$100 for a dress….
I wore this dress over the weekend on a visit to Yosemite. Mr H took these photos in front of El Capitan and he hates taking photos…. thus the reason why I took some more at home.
And look who I found in Yosemite?
That’s Laurence (Quirky Pretty Cute) who is visiting Northern California from The Netherlands. We (Mr H and I) had a nice lunch and a long chat with Laurence and her husband. It was super fun to hang out with them in my “backyard”. They sure are getting to see a lot on their trip from the Napa Valley to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the eastern Sierras, the Sequoias and San Francisco. 🙂
Speaking of San Francisco, I was there the other day and got to meet another awesome sewing blogger — Shams (Communing with Fabric)! We were at Britex for a meet and greet with Patricia Field. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a pic of us! I can be bad about that…. It sure was a fun weekend!
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: Butterick 5982 in Robert Kaufman Dracula fabric, made by me
- Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens cork wedges
- Sunglasses: ModCloth
Anytime I wear my really kitschy dresses, I always get a lot of compliments and “will you make me one?” too. I am always the same as you, like…trust me, you won’t pay what I would actually charge you! People are too used to Forever 21 prices…
This dress is SO fun and perfect for October!!!!
Has it cooled down yet where you are? It’s slowly cooling down here and I am ready for fall!
I really need some more kitschy dresses in my life!!! It’s still in the 80’s here, but supposed to start cooling down very soon!!
wow. you and shams together?…my two favorite blog seamstresses…now if you all just have a tea party with Marcy Tilton and La Sewista I’ll be in fabric heaven! 😎
Ha ha, Cara!! 🙂 It sure is cool meeting other sewing peeps!
While someone would EASILY pay $80-100 for this dress (especially in NZ), you would have to charge much more – remember you have to add in an hourly rate! This dress is amazing though, it’s no wonder you got plenty of compliments
Thanks, Sophie! Lots of compliments and stares! Definitely the loudest dress I’ve ever made!
Great dress! Looks great on you too.You visited Yosemite just in time! Fires there now!
Thank you, Denise! Yes, we’ve had a lot of fires here this season. Hoping for some rain!
This dress is incredibly kitschy cute! I think your hubs will look fantastic in a Frankenstein shirt! The two of you will be the best dressed at any parties you attend this season!
Thanks, Michelle!! The month is waning, so I better get a hold of that fabric, pronto!
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
/calms self
I love this dress so much! I’m a huge classic horror film fan, too. I love the fabric, love the pattern, love how it looks on you! 🙂 So awesome!
<3
Thanks, Andie!! I think you need one, too!
Cor, I would pay $100 for that dress! It is beautiful. I am a classic horror film buff too. The fabric is to un-die for. 😉 xx
Thank you!! Yes, I guess if you look at online offerings, this would be about $100. 🙂
This dress is great, but I so need those sunglasses. Are they vintage or vintage like?
They’re retro shades from Modcloth. Cheap and cool looking with light lenses. They aren’t polarized like my other sunglasses, so I don’t wear them much, but they sure up a retro inspired outfit!
Great fabric! I’ve found that the better quilting cottons (Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller, etc) tend to have better drape than the non-name brand ones. Love the pics in Yosemite!
Thanks, Michelle! Yes, I think you do “get what you pay for.”‘I have a cotton + steel print and that also has a lovely drape.
Awesome dress! Yes, gotta love a TNT. And boy howdy, that would be much less than I’d charge someone to make them a dress, hahaha! It must have been the weekend for great meetups — ours was awesome here too. Getting together with other sewing bloggers is just one of my favorite things in the universe….it’s so fun and inspiring!
Thanks, Susan! Yep, TNT’ s are the best! Sewing people are the best people, I think. Especially ones who sew clothes! Envious about your TX meetup!
Haha, great fabric! I’m laughing because I was expecting to see you in a long black dress looking like Elvira or Morticia from the Addams Family! But I do like the fabric, great job! 😀
Haha! Maybe next time, but without the gaping neckline!
I love this so so much! I’m very attracted to both necklines on this pattern too.
Thank you! I love the v-neck, too, and will have to make another one!