Jennifer Lauren Handmade Sorrel Dress

Sorrel is the first dress I have attempted, and it went well. I decided to try this because I'd been losing patience with shopping even before the  pandemic, so at the time of purchase I'd never used a pattern before and didn't even know my measurements.  So the first thing to mention is that despite buying the cheapest possible supplies in anticipation of mucking it up, nothing went wrong and I can tell you Sorrel is achievable for a beginner. That said, I'm particularly grateful to Sewing Lab for the Sew Along.

I stumbled across Sorrel while browsing The Foldline for a minimalist dress with structure, a pear-friendly shape, free round the armpits, and most importantly, with big pockets.

After measuring myself using The Foldline guidance I could work out my size and found that Jennifer Lauren patterns are friendly to my shape. So I went ahead and downloaded the PDF (also a first for me), turned off all the other sizes, and managed to print, glue, pin and cut out the fabric without any confusion (again I should thank Astar's Place for showing me exactly how to pin and cut). Then I worked through without any trouble - I was careful with the measurements the darts and buttons all lined up.

It's an unfussy-looking dress with sharp lines. The collar and grown-on sleeves give it an understated vintage appearance, and the pleats bring a very good shape not only for me, but for everyone I've seen wearing it in the various reviews and tests. It's very comfortable and I love the pockets. All the effort Jennifer Lauren made meticulously testing the pattern has paid off. The only change I made was to lengthen the pleats at the back of the bodice and skirt.

The whole experience has given me confidence to attempt more garments.

Oh how I ummed and ahhed over which way to have the stripes on this Jennifer Lauren Sorrel Dress – talk about indecisive! – but I got there in the end and I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out, not to mention how well it fits. Apparently, traditionally, shirt dresses have vertical stripes and jersey dresses have horizontal – why is that?! - but I've gone against tradition and used the stripes horizontally.

It’s a really great pattern, the drafting is excellent, as are the instructions, and the sizing is spot on with the measurements. I went with a size 10, graded to a 12 at the bust with the D cup option (I’m currently 37″, 29, 39″, 28GG). Having looked at other Sorrels, I added 10cm to the length of the skirt, as I wanted it to come over my knees.

I made sure to be really accurate on matching the stripes at the side seams, as well as across the front of the bodice. I love the open-ended darts at the waistline and of course the pockets on this dress! The ‘collar’ isn’t really a collar at all, it’s just how the dress folds out there, so it’d be brilliant for a new sewist who wants to have a go at making a shirt dress.

Read more about it on my blog: https://norfolkdaphne.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/jennifer-lauren-handmade-the-sorrel-dress/

I bought the Sorrel dress pattern in December 2018 as part of Jennifer Lauren's kickstarter campaign and I'm absolutely furious with myself for taking so long to make it! It's a versatile pattern that suits a wide range of fabrics and it is really easy and enjoyable to sew.

I used a beautiful needlecord for my version of the dress. It's very lightweight and has good drape, but I think a more medium weight fabric would work just as well, giving the dress more structure instead of a softer look. I chose to use snaps instead of buttons because the antique copper looked so perfect with my fabric, but I think either method of fastening would look amazing!

The instructions are excellent and each step was explained clearly with good diagrams. What I absolutely love about Jennifer Lauren's patterns are the different cup sizes. This enables you to get a really good fit without having to make any adjustments, which is fantastic!

After looking carefully at the finished garment measurements I opted to make the size 8 with the C cup bodice. Sadly I can only dream of being a C cup, but this combination was closest to my measurements and I think the finished garment fits really beautifully.

I opted for the grown-on button placket and I chose to top-stitch all the way around the edge when this was suggested in the instructions. The only thing I would do slightly differently next time is wait until the dress was hemmed before adding the top-stitching, because I found it made my front corners a little untidy when I turned them through.

I'm absolutely delighted with the finished dress - it's the perfect combination of pattern and fabric and it fits me so well! Although I'm annoyed I waited so long to add a Sorrel dress to my wardrobe, I'm delighted that I have such a great pattern in my stash ready for my next version!

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I cannot tell you how much I love wearing this dress!

This is a 12, using the C Cup option (one of the best things is not having to do an FBA!) and View 2 (not a separate button band).

I made no adjustments, other than to put a panel at the bottom because it was a little short for me to wear to work (and I also had a little accident with the overlocker when I wasn't concentrating as much as I should have been!). The fabric is a high quality cotton (which I wish I had bought more of!) and its perfect. I think a Cotton Lawn or a Linen would be lovely too. Something with some drape would give a different look and I personally like the little bit of structure the cotton gives it.

It's really flattering and comfortable, I will be making more. I bought this pattern as part of the Kick-Starter campaign to raise the cash required to produce Jennifer Lauren Handmade printed patterns. Personally I'm a PDF person, I knows lots of people aren't and I wanted to support this so everyone had the opportunity to make Jennifer's patterns.