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8.22.2013

The Hanami Dress

Sometimes I like to compartmentalize.  My life.  Into journals.  I currently have three separate journals going, each with their own distinct categories.  One of these journals is my "inspiration journal".  (If my big kids were here they'd insert finger quotes for you.)  When we get magazines in the mail, I rip out the pages that inspire me and tape them into my journal.  Kind of like a Pinterest board... pre-Pinterest.  If you were to page through this journal of mine, you'd see little girls' dresses with dropped waists and peter pan collars.  I've been drawn to that style lately.  So you can imagine my delight when I saw this new pattern, the Hanami by An of Straight Grain.  And even more so when I had the opportunity to be one of the pattern testers.

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Is there anything I could I love more than a dress with a dropped waist and peter pan collar?  Why, yes.  Yes there is.  A dress with a dropped waist and peter pan collar in dots.  (Dots happen to be another currently obsession of mine.)

hanimi dress

This pattern really was a dream to sew.  It was relaxing and fun.  The instructions are comprehensive and easy to follow.  I've been sewing a lot of buttonholes lately, which always make me hold my breath, at least a little.  So it was nice to install a zipper for a change.

hanimi zipper

Zippers really are a piece of cake to install. They're one of those things that look harder than they actually are.  I used to struggle with zippers myself, back when I tried to install them with an invisible zipper foot.  I actually found that to be more challenging than using a regular old zipper foot.  I say, skip the invisible zipper foot.  

What makes installing this zipper even easier is that you cut off the bottom of the zipper where the bodice and skirt join.  So you don't have to get all picky picky trying to match your center back seam with the bottom of the zipper, hoping to avoid any puckers.

hanimi back

Since I'm on the topic of zippers, this pattern has the slickest zipper finishing I've ever seen.  No handsewing for this zipper.  I was so impressed and will keep that trick up my sleeve for future zippers as well.

hanimi dress

The only change I made to the pattern was to finish the dress with a blind hem.  I really love the look of a blind hem (or the un-look of it?).  It seemed fitting for this dress.

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Best of all, Tarikua loved the dress... and so did Indigo.  So I already have another Hanami dress underway.  I think I really lucked out in that my girls and I share similar taste in clothing.  Coincidence... I wonder?  Or was it all my jedi mind tricks which I started when they were just wee babes?  We may never know.   But I will enjoy it while it lasts!

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30 comments:

  1. This is lovely! I've seen a few versions of the hanami dress this week, but yours makes me think I need the pattern.

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    1. wow, suzy, thank you! that's a huge compliment. if you like this look, i think you will love this pattern.

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  2. she looks so beautiful.... I love the color of the collar with the polka dot fabric. You make gorgoues things, Rachel!

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    1. thank you so much, erin! that really means a lot to me! <3

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  3. Oh! I love the polka dots and mustard collar! Adorable.

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  4. How fun that there were 2 Rachels on Straigtgrain's Hamani testers blog tour today. So nice to see one with a collar (not too many ones have been made with collars) and love the mustard color! I love polka dots, too, in fact I'm working today with polka dots!

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    1. ha! i feel like there are so many Rachels, right? who ever knew our name was so popular! ;) dots are the best! :)

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  5. Waaaauw, I absolutely lòve it! I tested the pattern as well, and for a moment I thought about skipping the sleeves... Now I see your version I'll be definitely doing that next time.

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  6. Rachel, I LOVE you fabric combination on this dress. Mustard is my favorite color anyway, and the combination with the polkadot fabric is just brilliant! Your photography is beautiful as ever (then again, how could anyone take ugly pictures of such a gorgeous model?). Happy to read that I converted another soul to the blind zipper religion ;-p Thanks for all your help and support!

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  7. I love polkadots + I love mustard = I love this dress!!!

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  8. So perfect, love the color you picked for the colar. And now I'm definitely going to add this to my pattern stash to sew up, I love the drop waist too and am excited to see how the zipper works! I'm still in the "scared of zippers in clothing" phase of my sewing : )

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    1. thanks so much! if you have any trouble with the zipper at all, i would recommend watching a youTube video tutorial. they are always so helpful when learning a new skill. at least for me. once you know how to do it, they really are very easy. oh and i used this fabric for the collar: http://quilthome.com/product_info.php/products_id/9002 :)

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  9. Love the polka dot fabric and the pop of yellow. Great job!

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  10. Your dress came out gorgeous (just like your model). I love the contrasting collar. I have to try the collar version next.

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  11. This is so gorgeous!! I love dots too. I say anything is better with dots :) And paired with that mustard collar!? For sure one of my favorite Hanami dresses I've seen so far!
    Heidi @ handmadefrenzy.blogspot.com

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  12. I'm a fan of polka dots too! Love your version :)

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  13. I like your version of this dress. Looks great!

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  14. ugh i am in love with your photography skills. This dress is lovely & is complimented so well with your photographs. That last photo was just breathtaking!



    Mae

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  15. Lovely dress and I agree the last photo of the two girls is marvellous!

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  16. Yes, that last photo is a treasure. How beautiful they are together! Ok, so now I know where I went wrong... I was lazy with the Jedi mind tricks ;)

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  17. Peter pan collar, drop waist, dots, mustard yellow ... yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! LOVE. And I want to see this inspiration journal! Sounds deliciously old-school, low-tech.

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  18. beautiful dress, gorgeous daughter and stunning photographs (esp. the second to last one!). Really, this post was just full of eye candy:) And love Tarikua's finished hair braids!

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    1. aww thanks so much lucinda. i have to say, we are loving t's little dreads, too. they are so awesome! (i didn't put them in, so i feel i can say that, right?!) :)

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  19. Tarikua looks so cool with that broken arm and darling dress. You are making me want to attempt my first zipper installation! Beautiful!

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  20. Amazing dress! I love the fabric combo you chose and the simple silhouette. I'd never have guessed it was that pattern. It looks so different from the other tester's versions. I just love your version, though. Even though I've never tried a zipper before, it looks like I might have to get a hold of this pattern! Hugs xoxo

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  21. This is beautiful! The mustard yellow collar is just perfect. I just got the pattern and can't get over all of the fun options. Excited to try this one out.

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