I am very happy to be participating in Heidi’s Knock It off series today.
When I recently saw a dress made from Liberty of London fabric on the J Crew website I new I wanted to make one.
The J Crew dress $148
Cute, but I wanted more details…
Sometimes you have to go”straight to the camel’s mouth” as they say.
I found what I was looking for online at The Liberty of London Boutique…
Liberty Childrenswear dress $148
Now I had to figure out how to make it…
I found this Liberty of London fabric in downtown Los Angeles at Micheal Levine and it’s available here at their online shop. It’s called Mauvey and is an identical print to the fabric on the dress from the Liberty of London boutique in London. But it’s a different shade; I liked it a little more.
That’s one of the great things about sewing your own clothes. You can change little details.
As someone who normally doesn’t pay more than five dollars a yard for her fabrics, I buy them in the garment district, it was a splurge for me to part with thirty eight dollars a yard for this fabric. But I think it was worth it. Don’t be surprised to see more Liberty fabric projects on the horizon!
Here is the pattern I used:
Before I decided to buy another pattern or make a pattern myself, I looked through my collection of vintage patterns and Japanese pattern books. I found a pattern in one my Japanese books that would work. I can’t tell you which book it is, because the cover fell off!
I made the ruffle a little wider, the waistband a little more narrow and the skirt a little more gathered.
And I turned the facing outward instead of having it inside the dress. This method is called a reverse facing.
I can’t wait to use the rest of this fabric. I love it. Next up, a blouse for myself.
Beautifully made Justine. I think I like your the best of the three shown in the post!
thanks Mie!
What a wonderful knock-off Justine! I love your fabric better than the original.
Gorgeous!
Your version is much better than the original inspirations!
I used the same print (another color) for a O+S ice-cream blouse I made my daughter a couple of seasons ago and I still love it (too bad it doesn’t fit her anymore).
I have marked the same dress in the book (a friend lend me her copy) and I think I’ll follow some of your mods (skirt gathers and wider ruffle).
So gorgeous! I have that Japanese book too. I can’t wait to make that dress!
The dress is absolutely darling! I love it. I agree that the shade of fabric you have is prettier. 🙂 Great job!
So beautiful! That fabric looks so soft and the print is amazing.
liberty of London is a dream to work with and is worth every penny.
Such a pretty dress! The fabric you used is indeed prettier than the original one.
I first saw the picture with the recorder on Pinterest, and I actually thought it was a pic from professional brand’s catalogue… So well done!
That is quite a compliment. Thank you!
I almost picked that JCrew up for my knock off, I but cancelled it since I can’t find similar fabric. I like your version, you chose right fabric. The dress is beautiful, I have the pattern and will make it too for my daughter :).
I’d love to see what you make.
i love it! that fabric is beautiful!
What a great knockoff…in fact, your version is better than the original I think! And your little girl looks adorable in it!
Thanks Marie!
Justine- such a beautiful little dress! Great job.
thanks jen!
She looks absolutely precious in her new dress, Justine. (Beautifully done.)
Love everything about the dress, Justine!!! Just beautiful…
Yours is so much prettier than the Liberty one! That fabric is to die for, and the dress is spot-on perfect. Great job.
LOVE this dress! Total home run. 🙂 This might be one of my favorite things you’ve made.
I just followed a link to your site for the first time, because of this darling dress! Can you help me, I am unfamiliar with “Japanese pattern books.” I’m sewing for my two granddaughters, and this is e type of pattern I’m looking for and have been unable to find?
adorable dress, great work!
this.is.perfection. I adore this, all of it: the dress, the model, the pictures. I love her marching with the recorder.
Oh it’s cute! That cute little dress look absolutely cute! The fabric looks soft and comfortable and the prints are awesome too. That is just a perfect little dress for the little girls. I would love to see my daughter wear that dress. It’s really cute.
– Lonnys.com
omg! love how yours turned out. so much cuter than the jcrew and orig liberty dress! i actually tried to wing this dress style earlier this year and failed pretty miserably. the neckline is horrible and i’m so so so sad to have wasted my precious nani iro fabric on it. 🙁
I would LOVE if someone could tell me where I can buy the above japanese book. i saw that a few of the commenters said they also have it. i have a yard of liberty fabric just waiting, but this time i’m not cutting into it without a pattern! but like you, i don’t usually splurge on fabric so i only bought a yard and must use it before my little one gets too big!
thank you!