Jennifer Lauren Handmade Mayberry Dress

The Mayberry dress by Jennifer Lauren Handmade is a companion dress to the Quincy- meaning all pieces can be interchanged! I love this concept and wish more companies did this- owning both patterns means you get a choice of pocket types (in-seam or slanted) , panelled or simple A line skirt, bodices (V-front or asymmetrical closure) sleeves (short, 3/4 or long) and plain and yoked back. I actually wish the concept had been pushed a little further- perhaps with an alternative to drawstring closure or a different skirt shape?

As I’ve made a few Quincy dresses this time I decided to make the straight Mayberry dress- overlapping front, 3/4 cuffed sleeve, simple skirt and back. The pattern includes multiple cup size which is such a bonus. I made a 6B grading out a little at the waist. I’ve made a lot of JLH patterns so I know this size combination fits me really well with no adjustments needed. The dress is quite simple to construct and the instructions are very good. The only thing I didn’t love was the way the sleeve cuff was sewn on- it seemed really fiddly and quite hard to get even gathers. Having said that I do love the result and the sleeve.

I used a plaid needlecord from Seasalt and it was such a great fabric for this dress- the dress is cosy and perfect for winter. It was my first time pattern matching plaid and it went well across the front overlap (one of the skirt side seams is a different story but as the fabric is quite dark I don’t think non-sewists notice at all!). I really love the finished dress, in particular I like the interesting neckline with the overlap! I will definitely make this dress again in the future- it’s pretty but very effortless to wear.

This was my first pattern from Jennifer Lauren Handmade and I loved her instructions, so easy to understand and it was a really fun make. Having cup sizes is a beautiful thing and it meant I had no trouble with the fit. I love that this pattern can look so different with fabric choice and has multiple sleeve lengths, and the gathered sleeve are so pretty. I’m definitely going to make another for the summer! If you want anymore details, check out my instagram @isewyousee

The Mayberry Dress by JenniferLaurenHandmade

I bought the PDF version of this dress during one of the flash sales, if I recall correctly, before Christmas but had to wait for my sewjo to come back after the festivities before I actually got around to sewing it. This is a lovely casual everyday summer dress with the essential pockets that most of us love in our dresses, with 3 sleeve variations - I chose to make the short sleeved option. Having made the Laneway Dress I knew that Jennifer’s instructions would be spot on and the pattern layout and printing (if printing yourself at home) would be straightforward. Again the pattern is sized for 6 - 24 and gives the option for A, B, C or D busts in the bodice and I knew that I would be a size 8 with a D bust. I am 5’1” and a size 8 and I made absolutely no changes to the pattern at all and it fit like a dream. It took me a while to decide on what fabric to use but I finally settled on a lightweight, very soft viscose which has worked really well and gives a lovely drape to the skirt and bodice. I had a bit of a black out when it came to cutting the facings and bodice front pieces and so ended up with the button placket on the opposite side to the pattern itself however this doesn’t bother me at all. As you can see from the pictures I used shiny black buttons and black ribbon for the waist tie – although I may swap this out for black woven tape at a future date as the ribbon has no give in it which means it cuts in a bit when I sit down. The construction is very straightforward and although the off centre button up section on the bodice looks complicated it isn’t at all and in fact the dress is so easy to get on and off over my head that I will probably miss off the buttonholes and just sew the buttons on through both bodice pieces next time. The channel for the tie at the waist is made by leaving a larger seam allowance when joining the bodice to the skirt and this again was an extremely easy process to follow. I feel this would be great for an intermediate beginner or indeed a beginner who has already inserted sleeves and added buttonholes. I can definitely see myself making a few more of these.