Breezy Linen Dress with Contrast Sash (M6553)

Close-up of Dinosaur Designs resin fish necklace by Miss Upsewlate

Close up of sash by Miss Upsewlate

Here's a dress I finished not last weekend but the one before - can't believe it's taken me this many days to post it! At this time of year the days just seem to fly past - one minute it's October, the next it's Christmas! Well that's a slight exaggeration, but last weekend was a sewing write-off since we were living it up in the Yarra Valley sans kids, doing degustation meals and wine tastings left, right and centre with 14 other friends. 

Anyway, food and wine are off topic, and I would hate to make anyone really, really jealous.

Big loose pleats in the back

So to the M6553 dress... to which Mr Upsewlate seems rather partial, despite its lack of body-skimming properties... and whose colour and twirling potential Miss Upsewlate covets:

The sash goes through some side seam holes to leave the back billowing

Back view on the dummy. The sash is what's sitting around the neck.

Side view - here you can see in an inseam pocekt and one of the sash openings.

Apparently this is what I look like mid-conversation! Note the pocket :-) 

Too big. Maybe even 2 sizes too big (I made a 14, thinking of Vogue sizing) - it's extremely loose on the upper bodice and bust. I did eyeball the pattern pieces before cutting out and I probably didn't realise where the various pieces started and ended, because once sewn up it looked much bigger than my normal size. Luckily the sizing is quite forgiving :-). Interestingly I would say that the dress on the pattern cover is also too big for the model!

Too short too. Oops. I know the up-down hemline is fashionable but I didn't really mean to show this much above-knee - I do not love that above-knee section. Please avert your eyes from that area so I don't get embarrassed. Not so bad though when I wear it without the belt (like today - incidentally a real scorcher of a spring day, expected to get to 35C). If you're wondering how long it would be on you, I'm just under 5'9".

Photo by Miss Upsewlate, who made me change shoes

If you're thinking of making this pattern, I'd suggest you measure the widths carefully - what with the wide neckline, separate facings, top stitching (ahh - I decided not to do that) and varying hem lengths it'd be a pain to size down later on. The pattern uses a lot of fabric, far more than your average knee-length no-sleeve dress, so check the fabric requirements rather than just guessing (like I did - hence the contrast sash).  Although it's recommended for double knits, cotton knits, gabardines and suiting, mine's made from a heavy linen which I think will be perfect on sticky summer days. Fingers crossed the linen will shrink some more, though only in the width (please washing gods).

Next up I am going to try to force myself to make an adult swimsuit. Scary! I know another dress would be more fun but I've only got one (old) pair of swimmers at the moment and the weather is heating up! Wish me luck...

see you
G x