Esther got her hack on with March’s Luxury Box viscose crepe and made an adjusted version of the Sew Over It Giselle dress.
Is it getting warmer where you are? I can feel the warmth at the end of the winter. As it’s getting a little warmer in the UK, I keep dreaming of a season where sleeves won’t be crushed by a heavy coat. This month’s luxury box reminded me that warmer months are coming and I am getting excited about filling my wardrobe with cute dresses and fun skirts.
When I saw this fabric, I instantly knew I wanted to make a dress but went back and forth on what to make. I thought about making the By Hand London Anna dress. I had enough fabric for the maxi dress so that would have been a good option. I also thought about finally making a shirt dress. But as I considered my options, I decided to push myself a little out of my comfort zone. I had a vision of the style of my dress in my head and I set out to recreate it.
This pattern started life as the Sew Over It Giselle dress pattern. A favourite of mine. But thanks to some alterations, my garment is quite different from the original pattern. I did my usual fit adjustments to the bodice – made a size 12 and an FBA, narrow shoulder adjustment, took out a wedge for neckline gape and shortened the bodice slightly.
To create this unique garment, I adjusted the pattern by changing the front bodice neckline to a square shape. I also reduced the width of the shoulders. The sleeves were lengthened and slashed and spread to more volume for balloon sleeves. I also slashed and spread each skirt panel to create an A line panelled skirt.
At this point, a good sewist would have taken time to breathe and create a toile but not me! I decided to live on the edge. Since the Giselle dress was one I had made several times and works for me, I wasn’t too afraid that these adjustments would need an initial mock up.
The fabric is a bit lightweight so I had to take care cutting out but things went without a hitch. When I went to sew the dress, I began to go back and forth on how best to finish the neckline. As a rule, I don’t add facings to my necklines. I’ll sooner line the garment than add a facing. I considered adding a lining to the bodice but as I thought about it, I realised that it would make an ultimate summer dress warmer than I would like. I considered breaking my rule and drafting a facing but I decided to still go for the bias binding neckline. I had to fudge some parts but the neckline is nicely finished and I am not afraid of a facing laying incorrectly.
Sewing the rest of the dress was nice and easy. I used the Vogue 8772 as a guide for the sleeves. As I wanted to finish the sleeves with a continuous lap and cuffs. I must have been tired when I attached the sleeves because I attached the sleeves the wrong way round. I noticed after I had overlocked the seam and I didn’t want to make the effort to try to correct it so I took the lazy way out and just chopped up the sleeves, attaching elastic at the hem. I made the hem higher than the pattern suggested but with the a-line skirt, I could still take the hem higher.
The dress is cute and I can’t wait to wear it when it’s no longer sweater weather.
