Curated By You: Dilakshi Waidyaratne Makes an Anna Allen Anthea inspired Linen / Cotton Mix Dress
Anna Allen Anthea Inspired Dress made with FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
I am a Kiwi-Sri Lankan living in Auckland, with my partner Alex. I am your average urbanite with a corporate 9-5 job who enjoys a good soy latte every morning. I have what most people would call an unhealthy love affair with running and spend most days dreaming about travelling the world, pursuing passion projects and cooking epic vegan dishes.
Why do you sew?
To me, sewing is a form of self-exploration. What started off as a hobby has quickly evolved into my creative outlet. It is now a place where I tap into my imagination, mirror my strengths and weaknesses, learn to be persistent and venture to do better when things do not go my way.
These days I sew to be present, to relax and experience the true elation of finishing something you put your absolute everything into for days on end.
But in short, I sew because it’s darn cool!
Anna Allen Anthea Inspired Dress made with FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
What do you like to listen to when you’re working (and why)?
You would find me listening to a country music playlist or a true crime podcast while sewing. I actually envy people who are able to finish a whole Netflix series doing this. That is some serious multi-tasking skills I wish I had.
As a child, what was your first encounter and memory of beauty?
My earliest most vivid memory of beauty would have to be watching my mum get ready for work. The way she pleated her saree and draped it over her shoulder was so mesmerizing to me.
Where is home and how does it affect what you do?
I am one of those lucky ones who can proudly claim to have split their life between two very different countries, cultures and people. Being born in Sri Lanka, I spent the first half of growing up in the vibrant city of Colombo. New Zealand has been my home for the past 15 years, and I feel both homes continuously inspire and influence my lifestyle and bold ideas in the most colourful way possible.
Anna Allen Anthea Inspired Dress made with FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
Name a book that you’ve recently read which inspired you and why?
I finished the book Disaster’s Children by Emma Sloley last year. I thought the main character Marlo in a way depicted a lot of us today. The way she navigated her way during uncertain times with her lust for life & naïve courage was somewhat inspirational to say the least. In a way, the story made me re-think that actions, however small, are much greater than no action at all.
What was the first thing you ever remember making on your own? Tell us about this memory.
Friendship bands! In primary school, we used to make braided bracelets to share with friends. Wearing it around your ankle was ‘cool’ back then. Would you believe me if I said I still wear them today?
Anna Allen Anthea Inspired Dress made with FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
Who are your muses and inspiration?
My family and close friends have always been and will continue to be my inspiration.
Do you have a community of crafters/ makers around you or do you find you are on your own?
I started sewing alone, knowing nothing about it. This community of makers have been absolutely pivotal to my journey in getting to where I am today. They single handedly taught me how to sew! I am grateful to be surrounded by the most genuine and uplifting bunch of people.
How important is it to make something with your hands?
Here’s how I see it… We live in a world where we can buy/ order anything with a press of a button. So, to create something with your own hands, that previously did not exist in its current form, is extremely liberating!
Anna Allen Anthea Inspired Dress made with FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
What does success mean to you?
I was conditioned through a variety of personal factors and societal expectations placed on me to get things right – whatever it was. So for the longest time, I tried to excel in everything, at whatever the cost.
But as of late I have started valuing the power of being content, showing up and living in the moment. I often feel successful when I am being true to my own narrative, having multiple attempts at trying, learning from my failures, being present and enjoying the journey.
I always come back to this Rupi Kaur quote when I think of success… “I will never have this version of me again. Let me slow down and be with her..”
FS MIX NATURAL Lightweight Linen / Cotton
What have you chosen to make out of FS linen and why?
I have chosen to make this heavily hacked version of Anna Allen’s Anthea blouse/ dress using this gorgeous IS003 Mix Natural from FS.
I wanted to make a dress that would ‘wow’ me. So one weekend, I started illustrating what this would look like – which ended up having big sleeves, lots of gathers, fabric covered buttons, lace and pin-tucks! I wanted it to showcase skills I have already learnt in my 11 months of sewing and also have a couple of things that challenged me, like pin-tucking and inserting lace. I think it turned out better than what I had in mind.
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18 Comments
Kelly Morrissey
This is the most breathtaking dress I’ve seen in ages. I’m just gob-struck. Right away I went to your Instagram, followed you there, have watched your year of makes about 23 times, and am now working on my own dream dress with 3 yards of this delicious cotton-linen mix in natural and five yards of that same simple insertion lace. May I ask how tall you are? I’m finding I’m too short for all those tucks and a flouce on the skirt. Just curious. Thank you for sharing your process. I can’t remember now where I found it, but I appreciate your sharing how you zig-zagged the lace on, etc.
Jeandre Cordier
I am in love with this dress! It is absolutely gorgeous on you!
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Thank you so much Jeandre!
Candace Strong
Beautiful dress full of fabulous details. I love tucks and gathers! You and your creation are very beautiful together!!!
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Thank you so much Candace! I had a vision of how I wanted the dress to turn out and added as many details I could to make the dress. Really appreciate your comment ?
Marsha Rule
Lovely dress – great work! Masha, I really enjoy the FS Thread articles and would very much appreciate more detailed information about the specific garment each sewist created. For example, how many yards of fabric, what changes were made to the inspiration pattern; why he or she chose to make the changes; challenges/improvements for next time, etc. I’d also love to see close up photos of garment details. The photos are always beautiful but I want to see those tiny fabric(?) buttons, pintucks, and lace inserts up close! And I’d really like to know more about each sewist’s experience: how did they get started sewing and why; who taught them; how much sewing do they do & what kinds of things? I want to know it all – especially when somebody who has only been sewing 11 months makes such a fabulous creation! Thanks!
Masha Karpushina
Marsha hello, thank you for your response. Why don’t you ask Dilakshi directly. 🙂 She is on IG: @deemade__
Marsha Rule
Thanks!
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Hi Masha, I absolutely love your questions. I’m hoping to do a post on my instagram @deemade__ soon to explain all the modifications I made. Including how my inspiration ended up on a sketch and then onto the dress itself. I will also include close ups of the details in the post as per your request ?
I also love the questions about how I started sewing.. honestly it was something I just thought of one day last year (2021) as I was browsing through really expensive yet beautiful dresses in a RTW website. I just told myself I could possibly try and make this, just to see if I’m capable and then I saved up to buy a sewing machine March, learnt how to thread a bobbin on YouTube and got to work. All of what I have learned is from YouTube or other sources I can find online. It’s amazing how amazing people share their wisdom online for others to learn off of. I’m forever grateful for the creative community.
Thank you so much your lovely comments. It really motivates me to create even more ??
Candy Avila
Absolutely stunning!! I love all the details like pintucks, lace inserts and covered buttons. The photography is stunning as well! Your post is very inspiring – thank you for sharing ??
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Thank you so very much for your lovely comment Candy. I am so glad you like it ?
Kate Renwick
What a beautiful dress for someone young like you. And you do look lovely! Inspiring.
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Really appreciate your comment – although I wouldn’t call myself that hound these days hehe
Lesia McQuade
Kiwi-Sri, your dress is beautiful and looks so comfortable. I like all the modifications you made to the pattern (very creative). All your attention to the details of your design modifications really sets this dress off.
Masha Karpushina
Dear Lesia, Dee is a Sri Lankan living in New Zeeland (Kiwi), her full name is Dilakshi
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Thank you Lesia ??
Corinne Skulmoski
Dilakshi – Hard to believe you’ve only been sewing 11 months! The dress is beautiful & looks beautiful on you. it’s a great color for you too.
Dilakshi Waidyaratne
Thank you Corrine. I have to thank the amazing creatives who add their wisdom up on the internet. As I learnt it all through them.