Lovely dress, sloppy instructions

Apologies if the photo doesn’t upload – last time I used a screenshot it went wrong.

I made this dress in some fabric I bought from a charity shop labelled ‘vintage.’ It’s really lovely – like a lightweight poplin with a sheen and enough body to let the seams balloon out.

It went together beautifully apart from some stupidity on my part with the pockets (it’s not the highest notch but the next one down….). The seams are long and if you’re Frenching them you’ll need plenty of thread. I French seamed everything except the pocket seams which I will bind, and they all worked fine.  I’ve seen reviews complaining about the hem band being too tight but it’s exactly the same circumference as the dress hem so I don’t know how that’s happened.

The one star removed is – as others have said – for the instructions. I’ve used Style Arc before and had no problems although I appreciate that they’re not great for beginners.

However, there were several issues here.  There’s nothing on the hem band pattern piece about cutting one from interfacing, but then the instructions tell you to add the interfacing. Throughout the instructions the hem band is alternately referred to as a band and a facing – two different things. Furthermore, there are no actual instructions for attaching the band. Eye roll.

Also, towards the start you’re told to join the side seams and it’s not clear whether this refers to the bodice or the skirt. I chose tye skirt, which was wrong, and which causes confusion later on.

If the instructions are going to be scant they should at least be accurate.  But the dress looks fab, exactly the right length for me (5’8″) and I will be making another one.