![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4X3I7rrVgRpz8NFiX_WzucDBbhrod6LOgGeiMV8rmXfe1vvQk-trIVri6MmdSZMhATaUuun-ycuSe7POzDv1ntcNAlljyFASRNNlnEIDl7JFjeNPW-BKSkHAv7-2zU0JXgkMFaS_e9ilV/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+2.png)
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_a9Voc0HnrI6zASX9Wou1_KZKYN5Nk_ZYITRpM1bUr3ytZpl_A8kkkb3x0NlWLgL_ovdJhSXBwgdoB_xcvZOZYm9tid4zbKPPsQ7SeEMAqV-In3CrqpvTKHXe_F2hqT4V-HL67mDj0KX/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+10.png)
The pattern is Simplicity 4900, and it has both a waist tie and button version. I used the robe view, but I shortened it to knee length. This also works really well for my changing measurements, as the wrap silhouette is really adjustable.
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93DpkEDXBXWMpbsHzczgvzOdxZKwolr5APa3B5Y3rV6ujoHAwLNYFdSUUsPap8czYbj4aiBzIcDeHlIWtPHcyc1HoBCUBwO3x8aOtc-_u1YZyjDsXFgy0DvGN31RvrWt1WXQnym4mTG0L/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+1.png)
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lcxM3S0driQP0KS40Cj798p7HvbCWpgugMmP3iMgE0clbAMA8zZ-7L_D3STBGOasj1Cs4zS8T7F8A8Es986JkHQMW516CLVvs_0nMs_r8gRSRdt4x7EsI1tQyZpZHYvPK5992agrbQBz/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+3.png)
I sized down and used a 30" bust pattern though I'm a 33" bust in actuality. As you can see, it still isn't tight and I've got a comfortable amount of ease. The only thing I changed in the pattern was to remove 1" from the shoulders of each of the front bodice pieces and add about 3" to the hips overall. Everything else I kept the same, and the proportions actually worked pretty well for me.
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbUx4LbmmrICbGUUwNIGby906aF_mtjB25JPhceqmzU2HIoaPE5vUwZNRi0WS-wWuLekkIkXrTQgbxjMGBnoaOzy7RdNyuWl6bPHLYKRyYr6qP-46M2hLn7cUemv-7OfsN0C599PNN4x1/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+4.png)
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y_1IuRmP1Wpu1E4zUZa35n2BWwIFz-E5GCAxVI4hpOF39bxpszhVtqipldP3WZ6oIphlxybVKfMVIsoJRPxN2E71o3Vh4kG9SNPTDE3dkRFwL4CiWNbkvpSaftZtCHRe4Ac4V5TzzC4a/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+6.png)
The only other thing I changed was to add a ribbon tie to the inside layer of the dress. Just a bit of added security and it helps keep the inside layer in place.
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEgP5XxkNPqPchS0_NM1WPjpy1GZURg01_uz5ZYUFJABgQDpVLhdcu4otQ8K-uh7XEmc5rb3-7YNpxmZOZsD511b2WpW6g142gRal3O-ssdjaNyno8zn1TuuVs2QRXI5TOHyD9W7RTW9q/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+9.png)
This only took me a couple of days to make, and it was surprisingly simple. The hardest part was actually the ruffles! I did them manually (no ruffler foot in my sewing room, sadly) and I will not be making ruffles again for a long time. Too much work! It looks good on this dress and I'm glad I did it, but I'll have to work up the motivation to do them again in the future.
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSDfGK7L0_d2-IW7SiKinInQ9BF6gN91jtXQK86LDBm6WLBU9aie1VCumr6SCayjKP8WD1ag5t-kJ04Z_AcHp6vzinjGtPCcBB-BkWTJ6xPYerzwPWifXT2aQgxtMyMEAjXLy_4KgLIDG/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+5.png)
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nPA6Rav0kjDvs_YbL5aqwQ6ZWv7fy13mCS_-SEYQIaEE9Ax_aePzUVag4qbYSUQPQyGqX_NO3lZKOojCXPM5_PtP2WqZ5VqKU6AfutqL14LOkLu959iCQ7EX0YX-o11a5gNAcg2bROS8/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+7.png)
I wore this dress for a Monday work outfit, to meet my friends' new baby, then to grab a late lunch and coffee with Jacob. It was really comfortable all day, and I felt ridiculously festive for the Christmas season!
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTX8JlAjmOE7zAlUdbq4sJ0w6tFyswqHIQzOf4-WCBcradA_HpbX1qxf5o8PhyphenhyphenMVE_DzmsvgaLvNsMrco-xsCt5THF4G9k72nrJy_hXvuXjIwDcVXpaeUJH6W0ZKSlHrgNg72bfUN1LtF/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress+8.png)
![Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900 Flashback Summer: 1940s Poinsettia Dress - Simplicity 4900](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixsdX8gjnuRo-MdoJDC7YA2nCOijJKMEnnYdWn-Vwze3nzz9rdpRulmH72QDk_CVeh7aMIxqOeZroXjzQQdkw8a5r0m99Bmi5bu420TQv5m9hfbzndx-YEXjjCsFtVOod1PMfn2IjXpgw/s1600/1940s+Poinsettia+Dress.png)
TLDR sewing details
Fabric: cotton Poinsettia & Holly on Ivory
Pattern: Simplicity 4900
Year: 1940s
Notions: none
How historically accurate is it? Cotton is always a 1940s winner, but I doubt there were many poinsettia dresses floating around back then!
Any tricky parts to the pattern? Not really! I had to read the waist sash and ties instructions a couple times, but once I looked at the actual pieces it wasn't hard to figure out.
Did you change anything? I took 1" off of the shoulders of each front bodice piece and added about 3" to the hips. I also added a ribbon tie to the inside as well.
Time to complete: two days
First worn: December 11, 2017
Total cost: I used about 3 yards of fabric and the pattern was given to me, so less than $20.
Notes: This is really comfy and versatile for times of changing measurements or weight fluctuations. I also like the sash or button options and ability to mix and match some of the pieces. You'll be seeing a lot of different versions of this!
Fabric: cotton Poinsettia & Holly on Ivory
Pattern: Simplicity 4900
Year: 1940s
Notions: none
How historically accurate is it? Cotton is always a 1940s winner, but I doubt there were many poinsettia dresses floating around back then!
Any tricky parts to the pattern? Not really! I had to read the waist sash and ties instructions a couple times, but once I looked at the actual pieces it wasn't hard to figure out.
Did you change anything? I took 1" off of the shoulders of each front bodice piece and added about 3" to the hips. I also added a ribbon tie to the inside as well.
Time to complete: two days
First worn: December 11, 2017
Total cost: I used about 3 yards of fabric and the pattern was given to me, so less than $20.
Notes: This is really comfy and versatile for times of changing measurements or weight fluctuations. I also like the sash or button options and ability to mix and match some of the pieces. You'll be seeing a lot of different versions of this!
That print is so pretty, and the fit looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed ridiculously festive - nothing wrong with that! You must have so much patience to tackle ruffles...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I had patience as much as ignorance when it came to these ruffles! Now that I know how tedious they are... you probably won't see ruffles for a while, haha!
DeleteThat looks fantastic! Very, very festive too. What a great pattern too with both a button and a tie option. I can't wait to see what else you do with this pattern.
ReplyDeleteJennie from theuglydame.blogspot.com
Thank you, Jennie! I'm excited to try some different options!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous Christmas dress!absolutely perfect for the festive season!
ReplyDeleteWonderful dress! Love that fabric! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning dress. Glad you bothered with the ruffles, they really make it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! This is too adorable and perfect for the holiday season! Marvelous job!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
-Janey