Peony in Florals

The Fabric Godmother Peony Dress has it all – statement sleeves, the right amount of ruffle, and a gorgeous vintage vibe.

The fit is easy to tweak thanks to the 12 (yes, 12!) darts, and the design has just the right amount of ease to skim without feeling tight. I selected my size based on the size chart and was happy with the fit, but you could definitely size up or down if you preferred a slightly closer/looser fit. The illustrations are clearly illustrated and photographed, and I think they are detailed enough for a newer sewist to tackle if you’ve sewn an invisible zip and darts before – the trickiest part is really just aligning all of those darts!

My favourite feature is the sleeve puff – this is a lovely couture technique that adds some structure and height to the sleeves, but can easily be left off for a more casual vibe. I also like that the sleeve/hem ruffles balance out nicely with the proportion of the dress.

I sewed this up in a Tana lawn, and have made two other versions in linen and viscose. I love that each dress has a such a different feel depending on the design variation/fabric used, and this pattern can easily transition from a wardrobe staple to glam statement piece!