Tilly and the Button Bettine: so nice, I made it twice...
Remember a couple weeks ago when I made and loved Tilly's Bettine dress? Yep, I remember it like it was yesterday. Bettine is back. Well, she never went away, really.
I said in my last Bettine post that I was curious about how Bettine, particularly the tulip-shaped skirt, would work for me in a fabric that had a bit more body to it than the slinky rayon challis I originally used (nothing against the rayon, I adore it and have worn that dress twice already). I figured there was no reason to put the pattern away, so I grabbed some stash fabric and had at it.
The fabric I grabbed is cotton lawn from Japan, bought locally here in Bangkok. Once I started ironing it, I realized that it is the same print as the cotton lawn I used for my Fifi set, just a different colorway. Well, you like what you like, right?
I think I do like the shape of the skirt in the cotton lawn: definitely a crisper tulip shape than I got with the rayon challis! But overall, purely for the comfort factor, I would stick with the rayon for my next one. Secret pajamas, yada yada yada. I am also intrigued by Gillian's ponte Bettine...
Construction-wise, I made basically the same minor changes I made for my first Bettine: about 4 inches of extra length on the skirt, smaller seam allowances on the sleeves/shoulder seam, one-layer pockets.
This time I used a slightly wider elastic in the waistband (3/4") because I find it more comfortable. I think the way the pattern is sewn up, you could accommodate up to 1" elastic just by moving the casing line over a bit (you've got 1 1/4" to work with).
I also used the sleeves tabs this time, although I am not 100% sold on them. They seem a bit oversized? I realize now that none of my photos show them head on and you might not be able to see them anyway because of the busy print, but trust me.
Anyway, that's my second Bettine: comfy and cute and will be worn weekly. Now to move on to other patterns for a bit!
