Actually Canada Day was yesterday (July 1). I barely left the house and didn’t put on makeup, and we were total hermit bums and completely avoided the fireworks and all possible forms of merrymaking. I helped my daughter sew shorts. It was heavenly. But that’s another story for another blog post, because today I’m talking about my Canada Day outfit. Which, as I said, I didn’t wear on Canada day, because that would’ve required changing out of my PJs. I wore it to work today, though, styled as above, though I don’t think that much of my belly was showing. I got plenty of compliments, anyway, even from the Mennonite ladies, so it can’t have been too scandalous.
I won’t exactly say this outfit feels “me” but it was pretty fun to make. The fabric is a quilting cotton, lined with white muslin, so basically heaven to sew. The pattern, of course, is Gertie’s Butterick 6354.
I was originally envisioning some kind of simple strappy sundress for this fabric, but when B6354 came out, my plans changed pretty quickly. This would’ve been the perfect outfit for spending a day at the celebrations in the park, eating cake and watching multicultural dancing and topping it off with fireworks. If only I weren’t such a lazy bum.
Anyway, the skirt was super simple and fun to sew. And it has a pretty cool shape, though maybe it’s a bit long on me.
The bodice was a bit more complicated but still not technically bad. I’d never done centre darts before—it was interesting to try but I don’t love them. And I feel like I should’ve shortened my bias front flap pieces a little as they stick out kinda funny. Oh, and did I mention how small I feel like my boobs are in this?
An SBA might have been a good idea. As it was, by the time I could really try it on it was fully assembled, so I wound up taking a couple of tucks out of the back to bring the whole thing in. Much better, for a last-minute on the fly fix. So if you’re minimal-boobed, like me, you might want to size down. Or add in padded cups. That would’ve been fun. 🙂
The back view.
And that’s about all I can remember, since of course I made this over a month ago so it could hang for a shop project. Happy Canada day, to my fellow Canadians—and happy Indpendence Day to anyone reading from the States. And if you have some other national holiday to be happy about, well, that’s awesome too. And if not, well, have cake anyway!
Tanit-Isis Sews 
Very nice. The pattern and colors appropriately reflect the design of the garment (and doubly clever that it features a maple leaf)
Happy Canada Day!!!! That’s an awesome outfit – hope you can wear it every year!
Ha, I completely understand making someing ideal for an event then never going…
Your fabic choice is fantastic, and super appropriate! And the skirt is, of course, darling.
Fab outfit, love the colours and think the length of skirt works so well with the top
I just wore an Issey Miyake Vogue dress I made for ‘date night’ yesterday. The dress was made …..about three years ago. Probably more. Date night has fallen on hard times.
So a month out is pretty impressive.
Maple leaves!!!!!!!
Happy Canada day after! This outfit looks terrific on you. I just love it.
That is totally adorable! Love the silhouette on you.
AAAHHH so cute! Look at you, sewing up a celebration outfit, and I love that you wore it to work the day after (better late than never, but nevermind that because it’s Canada Day WEEKEND). 😀 I knit an ugly toque for a shop display, though next to no one came by. I think your time was much better spent!
Gorgeous choice of fabric! Looks great!
Just in the throws of trying this myself, the flap/collar across the top i found soooo tricky and took 3 attempts to get it right for me. Also small in the bust department, i found i had to reduce the angle of the ‘V’ if that makes sense? I found initially it protruded too much from the dress and looked distorted. Reducing the angle makes it sit much better for me. Happy to send a photo if you’d like ☺ If so, send me an email xx
That sounds like a smart solution for the small busted! If I attempt this one again, I will definitely think about it. 😀