Bundle Up Blog Tour: Jenny Dress by Sisboom

27 June | 2014

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