Pattern Description:
Unlined dress (close-fitting through bust) has seam detail, back zipper and narrow hem. Pattern Sizing:
14 - 22 Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes I think so. Mine has a more dominatrix look to it, haha. Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes. Very. In theory. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
There are EIGHT corners which have to be sewn which join the upper bodice front and back side panels and the lower front and back skirt side panels to the strips which run off the front and back centre panels. These corners were absolutely horrible to sew. I think it is the way the pattern has been drafted (although it could also be my lack of expertise/ choice of fabric). The alignment dots seem to be placed too far off and away from the seam allowance. There is just too much fabric to allow you to get a nice, neat, sharp corner. I don't mind the overall shape or fit of the dress. Fabric Used:
Ponte knit with faux leather. Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I eliminated the back zip and cut the back central panel as a single piece. I sewed the pattern as it came out of the envelope: usual bust size and going up a size at the waistline, and for the skirt portion. I also made the sleeves a little narrower. Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Neither. IF I was ever going to sew this again I would probably get rid of the strips that run out from the front and back centre panels and cut the bodice side panels in one with the skirt side panels. Eliminate the horrible corners. But it ain't gonna happen!. Conclusion:
It fits ok. It is comfortable. I think I will wear it. But I didn't like the pattern.
Buy this pattern for $18.75 List Price: $25.00Add to Bag
McFeather said... Your dress looks fabulous, despite your trouble! It's on my to-do list. Thanks for the review! 1/3/13 12:02 PM
stitchywitch said... Ooh, I hate sewing corners. Thanks for the warning! I still might try it, but I'll turn those corners into nice gentle curves. 1/3/13 1:32 PM
ArtAttack said... Wow...this is a cool dress! Looks great on you and super job on the corners. 1/3/13 1:57 PM
lainiemay said... This is so trendy. I love it! 1/3/13 2:00 PM
Novy said... Great job.....Love it! 1/3/13 2:24 PM
guineveresmom said... It may have been a pain sewing it up, but it looks fabulous on you. 1/3/13 3:24 PM
Nancy1955 said... You look beautiful in that dress. Black definitely works for your complexion - and the dress fits you beautifully. 1/3/13 6:53 PM
KensingtonCrab said... Get out the whip! That is a great dress! 1/3/13 7:58 PM
cmcarr said... Wow! Very nice. 1/3/13 10:57 PM
barbcl said... Very sharp dress! 1/4/13 0:46 AM
wendyrb said... You've whipped this dress into mighty fine shape! Thanks for sharing your pain, it will be someone's gain. You look grrrrrrreat. 1/4/13 1:18 AM
NJcowgirl said... Despite your difficulty it was worth it. It looks great 1/4/13 9:37 AM
lauraborealis said... I love your fabric choice... totally changes it from a nice dress to fashion. Wear it proudly! 1/4/13 3:31 PM
SewWil said... Amazing dress! 1/4/13 7:08 PM
ReginaLit said... Love it, love it, love it! Very flattering, you look gorgeous! 1/4/13 9:22 PM
arianamaniacs said... Great minds think alike, I'm doing this in leather as well :) Love how yours turned out despite the pain with the corners. 1/5/13 4:40 AM
Fictionfan said... Great dress, love your blog. At first glance at your dress, I figured "S and M" must mean "Satin and Matte", right? After all, this is a sewing site, where BDSM stands for binding (or bias), draping, stitching, and measuring. Thanks for the review! You worked with some challenging fabric and challenging sewing for a fantastic result. 1/21/13 10:36 PM
Miami Susan said... Your dress is beautiful on you but your excellent review has warned me against it. Love your blog, too. You have sewn some lovely things! 2/16/13 5:46 PM
emr said... Thank you for reviewing the pattern. I am planning on purchasing it and am glad to know that the fit is pretty dead on and the zipper can be eliminated. Pattern is too interesting for me to pass up! 2/18/13 2:37 PM
InglesideBelle said... The dress looks very nice on you and fits well!
Your rating of the pattern as mediocre seems to be mostly due to the problems you had sewing those corners. Actually, a good bit of the difficulty was most likely due to the fabric you used. Neither ponte knit nor faux leather have the soft 'hand' (feel and flexibility) of the recommended fabrics: crepe, silk tweed and jersey. You were trying to make your fabric do things that go against its natural tendencies.
The style looks so nice on you that you might consider sewing it in one of the recommended fabrics. Just sayin' :) 5/1/13 10:39 AM
love it!
1/3/13 11:39 AM
Your dress looks fabulous, despite your trouble! It's on my to-do list. Thanks for the review!
1/3/13 12:02 PM
Ooh, I hate sewing corners. Thanks for the warning! I still might try it, but I'll turn those corners into nice gentle curves.
1/3/13 1:32 PM
Wow...this is a cool dress! Looks great on you and super job on the corners.
1/3/13 1:57 PM
This is so trendy. I love it!
1/3/13 2:00 PM
Great job.....Love it!
1/3/13 2:24 PM
It may have been a pain sewing it up, but it looks fabulous on you.
1/3/13 3:24 PM
You look beautiful in that dress. Black definitely works for your complexion - and the dress fits you beautifully.
1/3/13 6:53 PM
Get out the whip! That is a great dress!
1/3/13 7:58 PM
Wow! Very nice.
1/3/13 10:57 PM
Very sharp dress!
1/4/13 0:46 AM
You've whipped this dress into mighty fine shape! Thanks for sharing your pain, it will be someone's gain. You look grrrrrrreat.
1/4/13 1:18 AM
Despite your difficulty it was worth it. It looks great
1/4/13 9:37 AM
I love your fabric choice... totally changes it from a nice dress to fashion. Wear it proudly!
1/4/13 3:31 PM
Amazing dress!
1/4/13 7:08 PM
Love it, love it, love it! Very flattering, you look gorgeous!
1/4/13 9:22 PM
Great minds think alike, I'm doing this in leather as well :) Love how yours turned out despite the pain with the corners.
1/5/13 4:40 AM
Great dress, love your blog. At first glance at your dress, I figured "S and M" must mean "Satin and Matte", right? After all, this is a sewing site, where BDSM stands for binding (or bias), draping, stitching, and measuring. Thanks for the review! You worked with some challenging fabric and challenging sewing for a fantastic result.
1/21/13 10:36 PM
Your dress is beautiful on you but your excellent review has warned me against it. Love your blog, too. You have sewn some lovely things!
2/16/13 5:46 PM
Thank you for reviewing the pattern. I am planning on purchasing it and am glad to know that the fit is pretty dead on and the zipper can be eliminated. Pattern is too interesting for me to pass up!
2/18/13 2:37 PM
The dress looks very nice on you and fits well! Your rating of the pattern as mediocre seems to be mostly due to the problems you had sewing those corners. Actually, a good bit of the difficulty was most likely due to the fabric you used. Neither ponte knit nor faux leather have the soft 'hand' (feel and flexibility) of the recommended fabrics: crepe, silk tweed and jersey. You were trying to make your fabric do things that go against its natural tendencies. The style looks so nice on you that you might consider sewing it in one of the recommended fabrics. Just sayin' :)
5/1/13 10:39 AM