24 July 2010

201. The World Needs Another Mociun Tie-Front Dress Knockoff!

I am telling you!  I had once upon a time thought about buying the actual Mociun dress (on sale).  But I changed my mind last winter and decided to buy The Boots That Changed My Life instead, which I have not yet shared with you but oh, their time in the blog spotlight is coming.


For now, back to the Mociun dress.  I liked the tie front and the deep v but with the rest of the neckline and decolletage generally concealed, and the version I'd considered buying had a band at the bottom, creating a real tulip effect.  I succumbed to the peer pressure after Cindy revealed her version during Week of Dresses and Meg posted hers the same week.  Turns out a gracefullady was kind enough to share some detailed notes of how she knocked off this dress (how she managed to eke it out of 2 yards of vintage 36" wide fabric, I'll never know) -- and the instructions were spot-on for me.  Behold, Another Mociun Knockoff:





A few notes/ changes should you want to try this yourself:
  • You'll never believe what pattern I used!  The Citrus Dress pattern, McCalls 5879!  I blended the top (altered from the Citrus Dress to take one inch from the bust) pattern pieces with a shirt pattern to extend the shoulder in both directions, and simply changed the skirt pleats to gathers.
  • My neck sash was 8" wide, and then folded in half and sewn to the neckline with 3/8" seam allowance.  The sash extends approx. 12 inches from the dress on each side and is completely cut on the bias (two long pieces sewn together).
  • I used a twin size bed sheet from the thrift store, knowing that I would probably not be able to cut the neck sash on the bias from any of the 2-yard cuts in my stash.  I'm not sure the sash has to be cut on the bias, but for some reason it was a requirement in my mind.
So easy to wear -- I made it through a long day at the Texas PTA conference and felt like I was wearing a nightgown!  To be truer to the original, it could use some changes to the front bodice, including more ease around the shoulders, a higher empire waistline, and shoulders that fall off the edge a tad more:




It was a 4-hour project: 1 hour to mess with the pattern, lay out, and cut fabric, and just under 3 hours to sew.  I'm tempted to make another version someday, in a nicer fabric, but yesterday I needed the mental challenge and a short project to get my sewing mojo back.  Not sure where it went...  ???  It feels good to be back in the saddle, which is good because there are a lot of sewing projects in the queue.

19 comments:

  1. that is super-cute! it looks so nice and breezy for the texas summer, too!

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  2. Ooooh! I love this. I agree, the top on the bias gives it a nice zip. It's by far the swankiest bedsheet I've ever seen. ;)

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  3. I really love this! I have set aside some vintage sheets for some cute dresses.

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  4. I adore your version. I didn't cut on the bias but like the effect. My ties were so long! A sheet is a great idea. Enjoy it. I want to make another is a batik!

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  5. I like your dress too, it's out of the ordinary.

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  6. Such a cute dress. Nice fabric, too! I've been wanting to make one myself but was too intimidated by the tie-front detail. Thanks for the link with the notes! Another Mociun tie-front dress knock-off coming up...:)

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  7. hey, great refashioning - the check looks super cute in this dress - better than the bed, I bet!

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  8. looks super comfortable! it looks nice on you

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  9. that looks so comfortable and quite flattering! I need to google this Mociun dress. Hey I have a men's shirt for you ... should I mail it or would you have room in your luggage to take it home with you?:)

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  10. Awesome! It's really cute and not at all like a nightgown! I would've never guessed that it was a bedsheet... what to go on the thrify!

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  11. holy crap! it looks fantastic. you might feel like you are wearing a nightgown because you make it out of sheets, silly. It surely doesn't looks like one!

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  12. I love how the geometric pattern on the fabric works with the shape of the dress.

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  13. oooh really super cute! i can't wait to try this when i finally get to unpack my sewing machine!

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  14. oooo. i love this! Especially with the saltwater sandals! Cute Antoinette

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  15. Wow, I wouldn't have guessed the citrus dress was the starting point for this one! I've never heard of this dress before--very neat design!

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  16. This is a wonderful plaid womens dress and you can pull it off so well. I love how you matched the dress with the shoes. You really have a great sense of fashion.

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  17. Haven't been keeping up with all my blog watching so missed this first time round. Great dress and very clever adaptation of the original pattern. Must look up Mociun - it is not a brand I've heard of.

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  18. very very very very VERY very cute antoinette!!

    i just discovered elsie marley through you too! fun. i want to do the kids clothes week thing in september!!

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  19. I like! Another ingenius application of fabric + sewing pattern. Why is your left foot disappearing in the photos? Cute shoes, though.

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