This is my second version of the Wilder Gown by the Friday Pattern Company. My first make was a full length prairie style dress with two tiers on the skirt. This time around, I sourced some beautiful quality washed linen, at a bargain price and decided to make the blouse version. It only took an afternoon, such a quick sew that the next day I wore it for our family day out in Bridport…
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you don’t sew I have sourced some similar prairie style alternatives from the high-street and added them to the end of this post.[/perfectpullquote]
Prairie Style
Prairie style has been sneaking up on us this summer and is hotting up for autumn and winter. All those tiered maxi dresses you may have spotted on Instagram, they have their origins in the prairie style dresses of Laura Ashley from the early 1970’s. As someone who was a teenager in the 70’s and wore them the first time around, take it from me nothing is new!
Prairie Style Wilder Gown Top By The Friday Pattern Company
Another strong influence for this trend is the new film of Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig. We will have to wait until December 26th to watch it but, I am very much looking forward to seeing this one. The costumes I saw in the trailer looked amazing.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]As someone who was a teenager in the 70’s and wore them the first time around take it from me nothing is new![/perfectpullquote]
The Friday Pattern Company
Designs sewing patterns for the modern woman that are minimalist and easy to sew. 5% of all proceeds go to a rotating collection of charities. What a wonderful way to give something back, it also makes for guilt free sewing!
My Sewing Details:
I cut out a medium size version for this top, as I felt the dress I made was a little roomy. For the wilder gown top you only need to use 3 pattern pieces. I lengthened the blouse by an extra 2 inches, I’m glad I did because I have a long body. Next time I will lengthen it even more.
Wilder Gown Top Pattern available from the Friday Pattern Company here
It took me an afternoon to sew, including adding optional french seams I also overlocked/serged some pieces to stop the linen fraying when washed.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Sewing patterns for the modern woman that are minimalist and easy to sew.[/perfectpullquote]
Linen Fabric is perfect for my Wilder Gown top
I probably don’t need to mention that linen can be very expensive to buy by the metre. Depending on the quality, the one I liked was a medium weight for £20 per metre, too expensive for me. So I came up with the bright idea of buying a linen table cloth that was 3.5m long and only £20 in the sale (from H&M Home online) After cutting out the blouse I still have enough left over to make another dress. Win win I say…!
Linen is more sustainable than cotton.
Flax, the plant from which Linen is made, is also extremely versatile. Every part of the flax plant has traditionally been used to create a worthwhile product – nothing is wasted, and production is cost effective. A common by-product of flax is Linseed Oil, which is great for wood preservation, especially in varnishes. Flax is resilient and can grow in poor soil, using far less water in its consumption than cotton
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] Flax is resilient and can grow in poor soil, using far less water in its consumption than cotton [/perfectpullquote]
This linen blouse kept me cool, whilst walking around Bridport and kept me cosy when strolling along the breezy beach front…
Broadchurch
Do you recognise the cliff behind me in the last image? If you are a fan of the TV show ‘Broadchurch’ you will recognise it as the fictional town where the series was filmed and the beach where a lot of the action took place.
Similar prairie style blouses from the high street that I like:
Some links are affiliate links.
Older posts you may have missed!
How to wear a Vintage Blouse & make it Look On Trend for Autumn
My 5 Most Popular Style blog posts of 2018 + Outtakes
Gingham Shirt Dress Perfection from Marks & Spencer
That Austin Dress In a Dorset Field