Simplicity: 3833 (Misses Dress)  - Type:Dresses  | | Viewed 408 times
| 40 more reviews | Review rated Very Helpful by 3 people | | Reviewed by: | rmusic1 | 
| About rmusic1 | | UNITED KINGDOM | | Member since: 7/3/10 | | Reviews written: 60 | | Sewing skills:Advanced Beginner | | Favored by: 5 people | | patterns reviewed: 48 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 1/21/13 3:05 PM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | 
Simplicity Pattern Info | | Pattern Rating: | Easy & Great for Beginners | | See other patterns in this category: Dresses | Available for sale on PR: $15.95 (See envelope)  | | | | Fabric: | Wool Felt [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description:
Misses'/Miss Petite Dress in Two Lengths
Mine: find your inner sixties vibe and consider all the potential with this versatile dress!
This is my first attempt to really play around with a pattern and do something different with it.
Pattern Sizing:
6-14
I made 12 (bust/shoulders) and graded out to a 14 from the underarms down.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
I've made some changes, but I think it looks more "sixties" my way.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
I've made this before, but looked through them once more to ensure I was doing the right thing. Really simple dress to make. I added an invisible zipper so ignored the zipper instructions.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This has so much potential! I think it really lends itself to more colour blocking than what they have gone for.
The bust shaping is very flattering and I can attest to the comfort factor, having stuffed myself in the first version of this dress on Christmas day. It has plenty of room for one's digestive enjoyment.
The back dart shaping is excellent (I normally have to tweak to get rid of excess fabric).
Be warned, it does have more ease further down, a happy coincidence for me as normally I have to grade out to a 16 for my waist. Very well suited to pear shapes like myself.
Fabric Used:
Two types of wool felt like fabric. Alas, I found out later they stretched at different rates making matching of seams joints a challenge. Lined with acetate (also colour blocked).
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
For the dress
Cut the front bodice in two by adding a seam allowance. Cut the back piece in to two (upper bodice and skirt). Colour blocked by cutting out the pattern pieces double. Please pay more attention that me when doing this. I didnt figure it out right, but luckily my fabric was similar on both sides! So I could reverse some of the pieces to create my desired look.
For the jacket
Added 5mm to sleeve heads, shoulder seams and graded out from under arm to hem on jacket to give more ease. Lets face it, the pattern was never designed for 2 layers of wool felting! As advised by the shop where I bought the fabric (so value advice like this).
Cut bodice pieces double, then added to front upper section of front skirt to create bodice shaping. Used lengthen/shorten line to help figure out where to cut, then trimmed after sticking it on my dress form (done by eye, not sure this is recommended method!). Didn't have enough fabric to do a proper traditional hem for the jacket, so trimmed both lining and jacket with ribbon. Added frog closures, they've worked really well as I hadnt used them before. Buttonholes would have been too bulky anyway with the overlap.
Lengthened the jacket sleeves by 5cm.
Added lining to both dress and jacket
The lining is colour blocked too as I didnt buy enough midnight blue for both dress and jacket (only decided on jacket after getting home). On return to the shop they'd run out of the blue so I got some dark green. This should give it the fun factor inside as well as out.
Attached lining to dress by sewing round neckline and arm holes (leave lining side seams and back opening unattached). Do NOT stitch the shoulder seams of you lining before attaching, as this is where you can turn everything the right way out. Then slip stitch the lining should seams together.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
You know what? I think I would, there are lots of things you could do with this pattern.
Conclusion:
This has been road tested (literally) in the coldest weather we have had so far this winter here in the UK. It has held up very well and is pretty warm. Accessorised with red hand bag, red wool scarf and dark blue gloves with red decoration (can you tell I have a thing for red?). You can spy the scarf and my red umbrella in the photos.
Will try and get some photos added later of the lining after all the work of colour blocking it too. Best taken in day light though, which I dont get to see much of after work at the moment.
I am really proud - I would never have deviated from the pattern instructions in the past but now feel confident enough to go my own way a bit more. I've read in envy how other people have seemingly effortlessly redesigned patterns and now think I have a chance of possibly doing this in future.
Who says workwear cant be smart and fun? not me... | Buy this pattern for $15.95 Add to Bag  |
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4 Comments
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I love your color-blocked dress! And red + black are always a winner. Nicely planned out!
1/3/13 1:32 AM
Nice color blocking!
1/3/13 8:07 AM
You look so cute!! Nice work on your color-blocking!
1/21/13 8:59 PM
Cute dress :) I enjoy the color blocking! I know what you mean about always thinking of the next dress project! Seems like I always have a few ideas. So much to sew, so little time! :)
1/21/13 9:33 PM