Gorgeous with a few finicky things

A review of By Hand London Jenna Dress

Reviewed by beckymarkus on 20th May, 2019

I made my Jenna dress as a pattern tester, and I chose a gorgeous, slinky rayon satin (I didn’t even know such a thing existed) – Jenna is made for slinky fabrics, but this one caught a lot of puckers in the bust dart area which were highlighted by the shininess of the fabric. The skirt is cut on the bias, which makes it a bit difficult to install an invisible zip without it poking out like a little tail when you move your hips. You want to make sure to stabilize the zipper seam with some interfacing.
In terms of fit, I found Jenna to be very well drafted and didn’t have to make any fit adjustments (though I think I would need to make the neckline a bit more open, as the jewel neck option pulls a bit and I have very prominent collar bones). I love the versions that use a bit of a more crisp fabric, and I especially love the tie sleeves. A great pattern just be thoughtful with your fabric choices!