I made version 2, with the cute little front pockets, but missed off the sleeves. This was partly because I realised I had just enough of the pretty needlecord fabric left from the Hollyburn skirt which I made earlier this year to squeeze out a sleeveless version of the dress, and partly because I quite like layering sleeveless pinafore-type dresses with long-sleeved tops/jumpers in the autumn and winter anyway, so I knew it would definitely be worn a lot.
To finish the armholes and the neckline, I followed the suggestion for the sleeveless dress from the Laurel extras booklet and used bias tape to create a facing, which I machine stitched to the outside and then flipped over and hand stitched to the inside. It's not especially invisible hand stitching from the inside but you can't see a thing on the outside so it's all good in my book!
I used the same size 12 as I used for both of my Laurel tops (here and here), and then graded out to a 14 for my lovely pear-shaped hips, but as it turned out I didn't need to do that and I ended up taking some width back out of the side seams and using a slightly larger seam allowance down the centre back. If I make another dress (which is quite likely at some point in the future) I think a straight size 12 would work fine. I added a couple of inches to the length so that I could wear it with tights as well as leggings - the hemline still falls well above my knee but for some reason it looks longer in the photos!
I used a regular zipper instead of an invisible one, purely because my local shop didn't have an invisible zipper in the right length and colour combination and I wanted to buy something there and then so I could get it finished all in one day. Me, impatient?! Never! I think it works fine with this dress and material combination.
Overall, for a dress that cost me a grand total of £1.70 for new supplies (the binding and the zip), I think this is a pretty good day's work - it's a great casual dress, and nice and cosy when layered with a long-sleeved top, and really comfortable so perfect for wandering around enjoying all the beautiful colours of the autumn leaves!
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This is very cute! I love jumpers, too -- so comfortable!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so comfy. I love needlecord, though I haven't made anything with it yet . You've tempted me now. I feel a fabric shop coming up.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, definitely comfy - that's a priority with pretty much everything I make!
DeleteBrilliant version, it looks great! Needlecord and pocket are a double win for me!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I know what you mean, pockets are always good and needlecord is great for this time of year.
DeleteIt just amazes me how you keep coming up with such great sewn clothes and I think your boots are pretty fab too!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm quite pleased with the boots too - they're new this season from Clarks and are really comfy!
DeleteLooks fab, I wish I was better at sewing clothes!
ReplyDeleteThank you! This would be a good pattern to use if you want to get better at sewing clothes - the instructions are really clear and easy to follow. :-)
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