Seren Dress - DIY Half Bleached Summer Dress

Hi, friends! It's hot this summer, and I wanted an airy summer dress. I made this dress from Seren Dress by Tilly and the Buttons

I bought two patterns ( SEREN DRESS and STEVIE TUNIC ) on sale. I've already made both patterns, so I would like to review about Seren dress (my previowes review about Stevie Tunic: here). The pattern has three bodice options (plain, tie-front and flounce neckline) with a knee-length or midi hemline. I chose the flounce neckline and midi length version that the model is wearing in the picture. The instructions are very clearly written with great pictures. The pattern calls for a light- to medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton lawn, chambray, linen...etc. I managed to make the dress using a light dungaree.

I reviewed about bleached overalls before (Burnside Bibs - How to Distress Denim Overalls?), this time I tried to make the half-bleached summer dress. Before sewing the dress, I bleached the hem of the flounce and skirt to turn them white, and after that I bleached whole fabric again.

Here’s the step-by-step on how to do it! Enjoy!

Instructions:

Note: You will need fabric, bleach, rubber gloves and a bucket. Please don't wear your favourite clothes😁 I wanted to make fringes, so I cut the selvages from both sides of the fabric.

Step 1. Do trial. Hang out a small scrap fabric on something and bleach it. Leave and check it every 1 minute. It took me around 10 minutes.

Step 2. Cut your fabric and press the wrinkles out of it. Otherwise, it'll cause unevenness.

Step 3. Sew the both sides of the skirt before putting clothespins. Fold the flounce and skirt lightly (don't crease them!), and make sure the bottom lines up neatly. Put clothespins on the fabric where you want the bleach to stop.

Step 4. Attach strings to the clothespins.

Step 5. Pour the bottle of bleach into your bucket or large wash bowl (I used 2 liters of bleach), and then place the fabric in the bowl gently. Put a glass on the fabric so that it doesn't float. Move the glass regularly and check the progress every few minutes. If you would like to make fringes, put the selvages in the bowl too.

Step 6. Once you reach the desired colour, rinse them in cold water quickly.

Step 7. I wanted to lighten the fabric from navy to blue, so I bleached the fabric again. I used 2 liters of bleach with 20 liters of water. Stir the water with bleach, and check the progress every 10-30 minutes. It took me about 3 hours.

If you would like to make half-bleached dress, skirt or jeans, I strongly recommend that you sew the front and back skirt before bleaching. It's easy to match the bleached sections on the both sides. 

This flounce neckline is so lovely, but when I bent over in the dress, my chest was exposed under the weight of the flounce. I inserted an elastic into the facing in the back of the neckline.

I attached the selvages to the wrong side of the flounce and the hem of the skirt as fringes, because it's too difficult and hassle to make fluffy fringes using light dungaree.

My size is between a size 3 and 4 based on the finished garment measurement. Bleaching fabrics cause to shrink, so I cut a size 4. If you try to make bleached clothes, I recommend that you add the seam allowance about more 1/3 inch than the pattern calls for.

I shortened the shoulder straps a little, because the straps are slipped off my shoulders.

This project was a lot of fun! I have some bleached tops and jeans, but the half-bleached dress is a new style for me. I’ve been enjoying wearing the dress with the colour contrast. Seren dress makes everyone look lovely. Next time, I will review about Stevie Tunic. Thank you for reading!

Total Time Spent (not include cutting time) : 14 hours
Fabric 60" 2 3/4 yd