Give this one a go if you like loose fitting but stylish dresses

This one has been on my ‘to make’ list for a while and I finally got to make it after I found a really dark navy polyester triple crepe at Stitch Fabrics and some gorgeous buttons at Textile Garden.  I haven’t attached photos because the fabric is too dark to show detail.

I love the details of the drawstring back and the placket and buttons.  The skirt is very full – perhaps more than even I would like. Not completely sold on the draped pockets or the asymmetrical hemline.  I shall see how I feel wearing it but I might come back to it and straighten up the hemline – just not sure it’s me.

The bodice is true to size and fits very well – I made an 18 – my usual size at Style Arc.   I didn’t have any problem with the armscye restricting movement, as I have seen reported elsewhere.  I checked the width of the sleeves and widened them by 2cms to allow for my upper arms – a normal pattern adjustment for me. I also lengthened the skirt by 3 cms as I am 5′ 9″ tall and I like my dresses long.

Style Arc are known for giving you minimal instructions. Despite this, overall it was not difficult to sew. I ignored the instruction to set in the sleeves and attached them before I did the side and underarm seams – the sleeve pattern fitted well and no easing was required.

However, although extra diagrams are provided for the placket, I still struggled to get it to sit right.  It wasn’t exactly clear when to cut into the corners of the stay stitching.  I cut a bit earlier than I needed to (my advice would be not to cut until the last possible moment) and my crepe fabric was fraying like mad. (First and possibly last time sewing with crepe – what a mess in the sewing room!)

My interfacing was a bit heavier than it should really have been for the weight of the fabric, but this has given the neckline of the dress some body.  The weight of the voluminous skirt could have dragged the neckline out of shape without a decent weight of interfacing.   So my advice would be to go heavier rather than lighter.

It’s unlikely I’d need two of these – but I might sew it again, perhaps in a brighter colour?  There is an option to miss out the placket too which I might be tempted by.  Although recommended for wovens, this dress could also be nice in a stable but light weight knit fabric – ponte would be too heavy.