I’ve got about a thousand hundred things to do, but all I can think about is making several hundred new bikinis and beach outfits (dresses) for a trip to meHico in 23 days (BUT WHO’S COUNTING)? Here is my most recent (almost finished) coral linen a-line dress. A-line? Did she just say a-line?! I did. Gross. But not this time… This time the pretty little flounces and a-symmetrical skirt make sewing (and wearing) an a-line dress totally worthwhile. The dress isn’t completed yet (hem to go), but my pattern review is below.
Pattern Sizing:
I cut a size 10, and aside from taking in an inch here or there on the torso, it fit well.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Kinda. My shoulders ended up more narrow than the picture, and the back of the dress looks waaay longer in real life. It feels like a tail. And the lines aren’t as smooth as I had imagined they would be, the transition from front to ‘tail’ is pretty severe, and I hope to alter that with the hem, once I decide on how much I should remove.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
It was okay. The shoulders were a little weird, and the description/picture for underlining the facing is ridiculous and would throw off a new sewer who hadn’t encountered it before.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Princess seams make getting and excellent fit uber easy. I don’t like how severe the tail looks.
Fabric Used:
Coral linen… Mistakenly marked to 4$ a meter!
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I’m going to fix the back a little by taking in the back side seams. Pattern suggests linen but this isn’t a lined dress, so be careful. I’m wearing it on a beach, probably with a bathing suit underneath, so I don’t care *as much* about my ladies bits showing.
Would you sew it again?
Maybe! The style isn’t that flattering on me, so it may not happen. Also, this baby is a fabric monster because of the looong princess seams and fat cuts on the bottom of each piece (which is too long anyways).
Conclusion:
This is a sweet dress, and if I can get the proportions right without screwing up the skirt, it might just be one of my new favourites! I will post a finished picture when I get to that point!
That's Sew Kimmy 
What a great blog idea Kim! I love the name! that dress looks really nice! Can’t wait to see all your outfit while in Mexico! Counting down the days!!
Thanks Kelly! I will definitely try to have something finished for mexico but most of my patterns have been a big flop lately. AND i’ve been sick (excuses excuses). IT’S SO SOON!
I think I have a beach dress floating around your house somewhere… hmm?
You also have a harem pant jumpsuit. Can’t wait to see it on!
Are you going to do retroactive posts? Would love to have seen your Cinderella dress as it came together.
YES! Some of my posts will have the be retroactive, including a few top-secret DARLING things I have been working on lately, that can NOT be seen until MAY. I’ll just leave it at that.
(p.s. it’s for your baby)
Yes, very cool blog idea indeed! I too would love to see the progress of your Cinderella dress!! And the one you wore on Kyle’s birthday too! I still cannot believe you made that and these…you are extremely talented!!
I will definitely try to update on the costume and my birthday dress, especially since those were ones that proved to be the most successful out of my creations. It seems the more I stick to a pattern the less happy I am with the results. Both of those dresses were made from partial and incredibly altered patterns, and both came from distinct ideas that I had in mind. I think that is the key to a successful project for me!