Versatile and rewarding

Although I came late to the Cielo Dress and Top party, I’m glad I eventually did because this pattern is so enjoyable to make and the result has been rewarding to wear. I was looking for a simple linen dress to wear in hot, humid weather so I chose this one for its clean lines and generous pockets which are intriguingly constructed.

The instructions are extremely clear and the pieces all fitted together perfectly. The construction is very straightforward and the pocket and shoulder details keep it interesting. I would recommend this to a beginner looking to practise or develop their skills. Setting in sleeves is always a particular challenge for me and I avoided it completely here as the sleeves are sewn in one pass along with the side seams.  Choosing a medium-weight pure linen fabric worked well as it gave the dress some body.

The pattern is versatile so you get good value for money; I had a length of cotton lawn in my stash and used it to make the top version with three-quarter length sleeves. This again was easy to make and amenable to modification: I lengthened the body by a few centimetres. The only tricky part for me was finishing the cuffs neatly. I stitched in the ditch, but next time I will finish the cuffs by hand to get a tidier result.