Marfy: 2759 (Shirt dress) - Type:Dresses  | | Viewed 442 times
| | Review rated Very Helpful by 14 people | | Reviewed by: | clothingengineer | 
 | About clothingengineer | | CT USA | | Member since: 5/7/10 | | Reviews written: 130 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 51 people | | patterns reviewed: 121 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 11/28/12 8:27 PM | | Last Updated: | 11/28/12 8:28 PM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | Pattern Info provided by clothingengineer | | | | Fabric: | Wool gabardine [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description: This coat-dress has raglan sleeves and square neckline with pleats left open and inner pockets. Suggested fabrics: pinstripe with buttons in a contrasting color.
Included is a pattern piece for the belt, which I did not make as I did not happen to have a 1" belt buckle in my notions stash.
Pattern Sizing: 42-46. I made a 42.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? No instructions but this was definitely an easier than usual Marfy.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Likes: It was EASY to sew! I also liked the raglan sleeves , the unusual neckline, and the slimming vertical lines. The contrasting buttons also give a cute pop of color.
Dislikes: I wasn't a fan of the pockets so I left them off.
Fabric Used: Pinstripe worsted wool suiting (fabric.com), a stash fabric purchased in Dec 2011. Buttons are from Farmhouse Fabrics. This dress took about 1 5/8 yard of 60" fabric.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Design: I lengthened mine a few inches so I used 10 buttons instead of 7. I spaced them a little bit closer than Marfy indicated as I wanted to minimize gaping. It looks like from the pattern drawing there's bound buttonholes with bias cut pinstripe strips but I just did regular keyhole buttonholes on my machine. I just did not have the patience today to learn how to do a bound buttonhole, and then have to do 10 of them!
I interfaced the front facings, neckline facings, and both the sleeve and skirt hems. I've recently started interfacing all of my straight skirt hems and I really like the additional structure it gives. Since I was already going through the trouble of interfacing I decided to miter the bottom of the front facings as well.
Marfy recommended "finish with narrow bias" for the neckline. A bias strip facing for a square neckline? I thought it was way easier to just draft a couple of facings. To do this I made all of my alterations and traced a facing for the back, then pinched out the pleat in the front and traced to the fold. I made both of them 2" wide. I then trimmed a scant 1/8" from the seam allowance of the neckline edge to allow for turn of cloth. When attaching the facing to the neckline I folded back the front placket and placed the facing on top so that once turned inside out the neck facing would be sandwiched between the fabric and interfaced front facing. After I stitched the facing to the neckline I clipped the corners all almost all the way down to the stitching, turned it out, and understitched it in place.
Alterations:
- Lengthened the skirt 2.5"
- 1/2" broad back alteration (both width and length in upper back)
- Lengthened waist 3/4"
- Added 3/4" to the width of the sleeve hem
- Added 3/4" wedge at the bottom back hem for my full rear
- Took in the CB seam 1/2" (removing a total of 1") at the waist
- Added 5" total to the hips, though after fitting I ended up letting out the side seams at the low hips/thighs all the way down to the hem 1/4" (total of 1") for a little bit extra ease in this area, as even though it fit I didn't want to take a chance on buttons gaping open while sitting
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I probably won't make it again because like most Marfy patterns it is a pretty distinctive style and I prefer to have just one in my wardrobe rotation at a time. I would recommend it to others that are looking for an easier Marfy pattern. If you've done a a dress with darts and shirt with front facings you can handle this dress.
Conclusion: Great work dress that's quick to make. I cut my out in the afternoon and had it done by 8pm, even though I took a couple of breaks to eat dinner and take care of my animals for the night. |
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 Pattern with more than 5 reviews!
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12 Comments
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OMGosh kudos to you for doing all those alterations but it looks like your effort paid off, very nice.
11/28/12 8:31 PM
Love the buttons, they really make the dress, and your fit id great.
11/28/12 9:14 PM
That looks stunning on you, your alterations really make it look even more fabulous. I agree with you about the facings, sometimes Marfy skimps a little on the facings. I have this pattern and you are really inspiring me to make it up. FWIW, it is very slimming and I LOVE your contrasting buttons.
11/28/12 9:20 PM
Wow, that looks great!! You have the fit perfect!
11/28/12 10:11 PM
Beautiful dress! I like the contrasting buttons.
11/28/12 10:20 PM
I've never made a Marfy yet, but your beautiful and beautiful on you results are inspiring. Even better, your review is so thoughtful and encouraging, I imagine this is something I could handle. Love the way you timed yourself- sewing + dinner + animal care = dress done.
11/29/12 1:05 AM
really sharp, love the way it looks on you...
11/29/12 8:14 AM
Your guideline is very helpful: If you've done a a dress with darts and shirt with front facings you can handle this dress. I like the bodice detail on the pattern. Kudos on the execution!
11/29/12 10:07 AM
What a fabulous dress! Very sharp look! Your review is great, so detailed and well written. Thanks!
11/29/12 10:31 AM
Gorgeous dress!
11/29/12 2:14 PM
Pinstripe anything always looks so classy, and it's such a whimsical choice here in such a ladylike dress. The contrasting buttons really bring it all together.
12/2/12 7:58 AM
Fantastic-looking, perfectly fitted, and so flattering! I'm impressed that you made it up so quickly. You've become a Marfy expert! Though you said that you don't intend to make this again, this classic style is such a wardrobe staple; I think you should consider making another, perhaps in a print? With all the alterations you make, the great fit you achieve, the beautiful sewing job, using terms like "turn of the cloth", and the fact that you are sewing patterns that lack instructions and for which you are drafting pieces, why do you rate your skills as intermediate?? Thanks for the review!
1/21/13 8:32 PM