1950 Cherry Print Dress...I'm So Afraid!!!

I don't think I have ever felt this feeling before in my costuming "career".  Since I started following several vintage dress blogs, I have really started falling in love with vintage dresses.  I even found two fabrics that really made my heart happy and the only eras that would fit them were the 1940s and 1950s.  I am still deciding what pattern to use for the 1940s fabric, but I think I decided what pattern to use with the 1950s-esque fabric.  That decision has taken me quite a while to come to.  By quite a while, I mean I struggled with this decision for 4 days.  I know what you're thinking..."That's not a long time you know".  But for me it is a really long time.  I have spent hours pouring over images on Pinterest, the internet, Facebook, Vintage Blogs, and the fashion books in my collection.  Usually, when thinking of what Victorian-1920s dress to make, I have a ready selection of ones that are on my "Will Make Before I Die" list.  However, this new era and venture is causing me a whole lot of anxiety.  I mean a lot.  I really want this dress to be happy as I am so seriously in love with the fabric!!

I purchased the pattern from Antique World Mall in Boise.  It is dated 1950 and I simply adore the scallops and buttons.  I especially adore the scalloped pockets on the skirt.  A fun bonus:  While I was checking over the pattern pieces, I discovered that a whole different pattern was also included in the envelope (Simplicity 4087)!!  There are just the pattern pieces and no instructions, so I am hoping that it is an easy put together!!

Anyhoo, after looking and rejecting all of my 1950s patterns (reproductions) and the few original ones I have, I decided on the pattern below with the scallops.

I am so thrilled that I found this pattern in my size!!  Whoot!!  I have about 10 patterns from this era that are adorable, but the bust measurement is 32.  I don't think I have ever been a bust measurement 32!!!

A month ago, I was at a local craft store, Crafter's Warehouse, and they had flat fold cottons in their quilting department.  This cherry one literally jumped off the table, tackled me to the floor and screamed, "BUY ME AND TURN ME INTO A 1950S DRESS!!!!!!!"  I'm not even kidding you.  Ask the ladies at the cut counter.  I am sure they see this sort of behavior from their fabrics all the time, but for me it was quite disconcerting.  I did some research on fruit/cherry print dresses from the 50s and found quite a few.  Nothing looked like my fabric, but I just fell in love with it and really want the dress to look good!

I bought some cotton curtains at Goodwill that matched the dark part of the cherries exactly and am wanting to do the accents in that.

Again, I can't express how scared, nervous, anxious I am to start this project.  Ridiculous I know.  I have made over 100 dresses/outfits from the Regency Era to the 1920s, and even made a blue and white polka dot 1950s dress for Coco last year, but this dress...

We shall see how silly I feel after the dress is complete!

Blessings to you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!

g