Hazedale – my happy ending!

A Hazedale is what happens when you cross a Colette Hazel with a Sewaholic Lonsdale and I couldn't be happier with the result!


I'm so happy it warrants a silly picture, although I hasten to add that this is also proof that I can move around very comfortably in this little dress ;o)

Of course I mainly have you guys to thank for this happy ending as you really came through for me with quality suggestions after my disastrous first go at Hazel. So I chose to replace the original gathered skirt with the Lonsdale skirt as the no-fuss, A-line shape and nifty waistband is pretty flattering on me. Initially I only went for the blue linen as I didn't have enough of my stripy cotton left, but I think it's turned out even better because of the darker, solid colour! 


I couldn't salvage much of my old Hazel as I'd overlocked it to an inch of it's life, so I just started again. This time I lined the bodice for more stability and shortened it by a couple of inches to accommodate the waistband. I kinda fudged the sizing a bit, cutting out some bodice pieces in a size 2, others in a 4 and then adjusting the seam allowances as I went along. Thankfully and finally it all worked out pretty well!

I love the contrast pockets and the angle of the stripes too

I'm also really pleased with the way my hand-picked zip turned out, the matching up of my waistband at the back and how neat the inside of this dress is too!

Close up of the stripes on the bodice - this cotton is surprisingly hard to photograph! 

My successful Hazedale has given me the exact confidence boost I needed to keep me going, so thank you all so very much for your help! I know future makes will still have their challenges, but now I believe that with a little extra effort, I can overcome or work around them.


P.S. Ironically I think that a regular Hazel could have actually worked for me if I'd shortened the bodice and graded the skirt up. I'm determined to make myself the breezy little Hazel that I crave, probably next summer though as the weather in the UK is beginning to turn...

66 comments:

  1. That's such a pretty dress on you, no wonder you're so pleased with it!

    Fabulously neat finish too, that waistband is perfectly matched.

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  2. It's lovely!
    I think the contrast pockets probably help break up the blue of the skirt and make it look a bit less like separates too. (and might even be quite flattering?)

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  3. Gorgeous dress Marie! Great use of the fabrics too :)

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  4. Gorgeous. And a great save! The Hazel bodice really suits you :)

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  5. That is AMAZING! I absolutely love it and you look gorgeous. When are you going to release the pattern?! Um, oh yeah - I already have both in my collection. The contrasting solid is an inspired choice. Marie, this totally rocks.

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    1. Haha, thanks Karen...the great thing is that most people have both of these patterns in their collection!

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  6. lovely! hope we get a good september so that you can wear it this year! it would definitely work well with a cute cardie.

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    1. Yes, I'm definitely hoping to wear it with a cardi and tights when it gets a little colder...

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  7. I think the word I am looking for is.... adorbs. Love the fabrics and your shoes are so cute too! Way to salvage that sitch Marie.

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    1. Thanks very much, I was so relieved I managed to pull this off!

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  8. This is so lovely, fits a treat too, a perfect outcome to a Hazel headache! I struggled with my Hazel too, I think I may have to steal your combination next summer… if you don't mind!

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  9. Marie, I love this! I really like the skirt portion of the Lonsdale dress - I'm very tempted to try my hand at this myself - did your pattern pieces match up okay on the bodice and the waistband, or did you hvae to do any tinkering with it to make it work?

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    1. Thanks very much Roisin, I think this would look lovely on you! What I did was I fitted the bodice so I had it spot on. Then I pinned the Lonsdale waistband pattern piece (matching up the middle of that to the centre front of my bodice) onto the bodice to determine what size waistband and skirt pieces to cut out. It worked out pretty well this way, though I did have to use a bigger seam allowance on the centre front of the skirt pieces, to get the sides to line up, as the Lonsdale skirt comes up pretty big. But a doddle all in all ;o)

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  10. I'm so glad you were able to save this - it's SO cute! I don't care much for the original Hazel skirt, but I am loving all these Hazel mash-ups that keep popping up :) Also, I cut my sizing the same way - I think you can get away with that sort of lazy grading when you're sewing something that is strappy. At least, that's the story I'm sticking to :) Anyway, you look great! Great job :DD

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    1. Well, I love your Gazer, so I guess we both addressed our issues with the Hazel skirt in a similar way ;o) And yes, you are totally right about being able to 'fudge' sizing with strappy tops...love it!!!

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  11. Marie, this is perfection! You look adorable, way to salvage Hazel!

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  12. Such a cool hybrid dress idea. You look beautiful. The contrast pockets are rockin'.

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  13. wow , very gorgeous.. the pocket contrast is killing me.

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  14. wow - just gorgeous - inside and out! great save - it looks perfect on you :)

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  15. Oh hon that is ACE!!! You look absolutely amazing in it and it looks so damn perfect! Your inside is as good as the outside. Glad you've got your mojo back. I agree, the blue solid skirt maybe looks even better than the bodice fabric would've at the bottom. You are such a skilled sewer xxx

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  16. That's really lovely Marie, you've surpassed yourself with this one my friend! I think the striped bodice and solid skirt look stunning, probably way better than a whole solid dress or a whole striped dress. Very stylish indeed and you look beautiful too. Hoorah! x

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    1. Thanks so much Jane, I feel I needed a win like this to get my confidence back up ;o)

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  17. This is sooo cute! Great job!

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  18. It looks awesome! I'm glad you were able to salvage the Hazel bodice.

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  19. I LOVE THIS!! Sorry, I got carried away. But it's truly adorable and such a clever way to save the dress. Love the darker skirt and contrast pockets. Eeek I want one!

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    1. Thanks Andrea, I love that you got carried away...what nice feedback for me! I think you would totally look cute in this dress, do it ;o)

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  20. What perfection you have there! I read your post on my phone and couldn't wait to get to my laptop to tell you how beautiful and flattering you and your dress look. Great job pairing it with the Londsdale skirt. And the fabric choices are to die for. No. Really. Beautiful work!

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    1. Aaaaaw, thanks so much Mela! Your comment has really moved me, you're too cute!

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  21. This has turned out lovely, go you!! I love the contrast skirt and with the pocket fabric it really brings the dress together. Great job!!

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  22. WOW! that is one fantastic garment! I love the hybrid, its as if the patterns were meant to be united. It fits and suits you perfectly!

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  23. Gorgeous! I'd buy it :)

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  24. It's fantastic! Love your fabric choices too !!

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  25. wolf whistle! This is amazing, and totally unique! And the contrasting fabrics are beautiful, and i'm going to write everything in italics because it's just that awesome. Nice work on pushing through, Marie! xx

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    1. haha, you crack me up lady! Thanks so much...loving the poignant use of italics ;o)

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  26. This looks fantastic, how clever! I can't wait for summer here in Australia - I just can't seem to motivate myself for winter sewing. Bring on floaty, breezy dresses and skirts. Maybe there is a Hazedale in it for me too :)

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    1. Yeah, summer-sewing is so much more fun...definitely give Hazedale a go! I think as we're going into winter I'm probably still going to sew for summer...hehe!

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  27. Oh, Marie, this is AWESOME!! I LOVE it! What a perfect little dress!

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  28. Your dress is definitely a winner.

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  29. Love it! So cute, and very flattering. mmmm Now I will daydream about sewing all day instead of working... ha!

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    1. I wish we could literally just daydream aabout sewing and sew all the time...why does work have to get in the way!?!

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  30. So Pretty! I particularly love the contrast pockets, what an inspired choice.

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  31. Looks beautiful! Especially love the contrast pockets... and those SHOES! :)

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  32. What a great hybrid dress! Love the pattern in the pockets!

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  33. Yay!! It looks fabulous Marie and fits you like a dream....wonderful combination of solid and sweet pattern....I'm so glad you persevered!!! Totally worth it, a truly uniquely perfect sundress....
    Funny name though always reminds me of the character, " saxondale" :-)

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    1. Thanks Winnie! Haha, love the connotations the name brings you ;o)

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  34. Oh my, this is so professionally made and you look great in it!

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  35. Marie, this is such a great outfit! I thought I was in a fashion blog or sth. Well done, this dress is awesome!

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    1. Aaaw, thanks Vivika...that's a very nice thing of you to say!

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  36. This is the best dress I've seen in a long time! It suits you perfectly, and I love the contrast between the stripes and linen. Inspired!

    Also, where are your awesome shoes from?

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    1. Wow, thank you very much! I love my shoes too, they were from Office - http://www.office.co.uk/

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  37. This is so beautiful! It really suits you and the combination of the two patterns works so well :)

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  38. Oh my word - look at you! Talk about a perfect fit!
    Just perfect!
    And your eye-make up is spot-on too! ;)

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    1. High praise indeed, thanks so much Roo!

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  39. Yey!!! It's fabulous!! What a great idea to mix the two patterns together. :)

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  40. Oh yay!! It worked!!! This looks gorgeous and is so very flattering on you! Huzzah! Fab choices on the contrast pockets and stripe direction!

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  41. Marie your Hazedale looks amazing! I love the contrasting fabrics, it works really well. And the fit looks perfect. Plus I agree with Roo - love the eye makeup!

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  42. Oh, I thing this is your best piece ever! I bet that the moment that you decided to put together two different fabrics and patterns for your dress were one of those times a light bulb goes on above your head. Eureka moment!
    And it was a perfect execution. Even I got excited with how good it turned out, Marie (neat job and matching), but most of all, you look fabulous in it. I also love your hair (it's very nice worn up) and your shoes. Hot, hot, hot!
    Clap-clap!

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  43. Yay for salvaging it! Too cute :) Congrats!

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  44. it looks great! you were right to frankenstein both patterns! I'll try to remember that next time I encounter a skirt part of a dress that fits me very well. The inside looks perfect too!

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  45. This is brilliant Marie! You should wear this dress as much as possible because it looks absolutely gorgeous on you and your figure is amazing in it! I SO love the pocket insets as well. I am inspired because although I loved the Hazel bodice , the skirt was just so so .

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  46. Totally fabulous!!! The combination of these two patterns is simply brilliant, and those fabrics work so well together! The dark blue is smashing with the stripes and flowers. I think the silly photo of you might be one of my favorites :) Lovely, lovely work!

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  47. Those pockets are to die for! Beautiful work!

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  48. Hi, I just discovered your blog. This dress is gorgeous and so inspiring! I love the little flowers pattern peeping out of the pocket.

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  49. It looks so good! Fits you beautifully, super cute. :)

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