Time to bundle up, ladies! PatternRevolution is sponsoring a women’s PDF pattern bundle,and you are the beneficiary of this awesomeness! The way this sweet deal works is you get to pick the set of patterns YOU want. In order to get the bundle pricing you need to buy at least 6 patterns, but that won’t be hard since yo have 13 to choose from. Pants, shorts, dresses, tops, a purse—plenty o’sewing goodness.
I joined the fun blof tour, and chose to make the Jenny Dress by Sisboom for my DD. She has <an almost> new job that requires her to dress up a little more than her previous job, so I am trying to help out and add a few items to her closet.
Originally I was going to make the Jenny maxi dress, but knee length is much better for the office, right? She preferred the sleeveless option, rather than the cap or flutter sleeve available on Jenny, so sleeveless we did. I think sleeveless dresses are really practical, even if you get cold, because it is so easy to add different cardigans or jackets to vary the look.
As usual, I was under a deadline to get this dress completed, so I raced to Stitches in Seattle and found several options that were within the right “weight” range that I thought she might like. The wonders of modern technology! I sent her a few pictures of fabric choices from my phone, and when she texted me her fave, I just took the bolt to the counter and paid. Nice, eh? 😉
I took a few measurements and made a bodice muslin, and it was a perfect fit. I really appreciate it when the pattern fit corresponds well to body measurements. I don’t expect perfection – too much variation in human bodies – but I do appreciate getting on first base at least. Nice work on this one, Jennifer!
This dress is really quite easy to put together. The only design changes I made were 1) to shorten the front and back waistband by an inch (could have taken another inch or so off to suit my DD’s preference), and 2) add contrast piping to the top and bottom of the waistband. Did I mention I was under time pressure to get this done? Um, yes, I do know how to complicate a project, thank you! The side zip keeps the back looking clean and neat, and I chose to put in an invisible zip. The 1/2 inch SA isn’t really sufficient to do a nice centered zipper IMHO, and besides, invisibles look better! I also like the two little bodest insets under the arm—you can’t really tell in this fabric—but a different (and nice) design detail.
Action shot! Even a little twirling!
If you hurry you can get in on the PatternRevolution Bundle Up Sewing Bee and Giveaway! First prize is a a Brother 1034D serger!You have until midnight Sunday, June 29 to enter, so get busy! Get some inspiration, and see what the other bloggers have been sewing on the rest of the blog tour.
Happy sewing!
Maris
Lovely job – the fit is perfection, and your daughter has great taste in fabric! Thanks for joining the blog tour!!!
Thanks Suzanne – it was fun!
Love the contrast piping – the devil is in the details anyway! 🙂
Amen. sistah! 😉
GORGEOUS dress!!!!! Lovely fit! I really love the contrast piping you did as well 🙂
Jeanine – THANK YOU! So sweet of you to say! I love piping, even tho it adds extra work I love that little sewing detail. Hope you get to sew something fun today!
I absolutely adore this Jenny!! That fabric is incredible. I will also be taking an inch or two off the waistband when I make it for myself.
Thanks Heather! I think my daughter will get a lot of wear from this dress.
Oh I forgot to ask if you used the skirt measurements the pattern calls for or did you make it less full? The bulk scares me a little but yours doesn’t seem bulky at all!
I cut it down a very small amount – maybe an inch per panel. My daughter wants me to cut it down further for the next version,and add pockets to the side seams. It will entirely depend on your fabric. If you use a quilting weight cotton (which I did), cutting some width off the panels is probably a good idea. Next time I will cut down about 5 inches/panel and see how that goes. I also want to try using my ruffler attachment – which creates tiny pleats instead of gathers. I think those will lie a little flatter and it will be a slightly different look. Have fun with it! You can always rip the skirt off and cut more out – not that much work if you do it BEFORE adding the zipper. 😉
Thanks so much! I am quite the expert at seam ripping, so that shouldn’t be a problem. 😉
Hahahaha! Such a good skill to have, non? 😉
Beautiful job! I love that print.
Thanks Melissa!
Your daughter is a lucky young woman -the dress is very flattering and fits her beautifully! Also, in case you haven’t had a chance to visit District Fabric in Fremont, the owner, Ashley, is delightful and the fabric selection is grand. She travels to LA and New York to buy. Her prices are very reasonable as well!
Thank you Karen! I know Ashley well – if you look on her bulletin board near the cash register you will see a pix of my wearing a dress I made with District fabrics! 😉
Love this! Inspiring… time to print out my Jenny pattern!
Do it, Meg!