Jersey dresses are the quickest to make when it comes to flattering and comfortable garments. Especially when you pick the right pattern and fabric!
As soon as Tilly and the Buttons’ latest book was released I was looking forward to sewing the Joni dress (yes, it took me quite a while to start this project!). It seemed so elegant and flattering. The only thing I was worried about was the raised waistline. I’m not a fan of this feature and I was seriously considering lowering it. At the same time, I really wanted to give this pattern a go in its original design… And I’m so happy I did! It doesn’t give any extra inches around the waist, which is something I wanted to avoid. It looks amazingly flattering around the waist area and I really love the 3/4 skirt. For some reason, it’s not often you see patterns with a full skirt. I guess it seems to be a less affordable option since you need more fabric comparing to a bodycon version? It might be, but Joni’s full skirt is definitely worth it.
It was a very quick and easy make and I managed to finish it in a couple of days, even though I was still busy doing other things.That’s more than quick for a slow seamstress like me.
As for the quality of this fabric…It’s too good to be true. It’s the softest cotton jersey I’ve ever touched. It almost feels brushed, that’s how cosy it is. It worked well after washing and spinning, but I’d highly recommend to lay it flat to dry (be it during pre-wash or after washing the completed garment). It’ll prevent it from stretching which is a normal thing for any jersey fabrics.This fabric is of the highest quality and is absolutely worth its price. It can be used for any sewing projects and if it’ll be your first Art Gallery jersey fabric I can assure you…it won’t be the last one.
I used:
Even though summer vintage sewing usually associates with colourful 50s dresses, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of modest 1940s garments.
Button front dresses can’t be underestimated in a casual spring wardrobe. They can be made out of many different fabrics, but linen is the most breathable and cooling one.
It feels impossible for me to have too many shift dresses. There are plenty of reasons for that, including the fact that they can be worn for so many different occasions. For as long as I’ve been sewing, I was searching for the perfect shift dress pattern. I must say that I never came across the best onethat can be used over and over again, but it wasn’t the main plan I had in mind. The idea was to try different designs and fill my wardrobe with lovely dresses.
Traditional tailoring is something I wanted to try last year. It’s a completely new world of sewing, which is full of hand stitching and other couture techniques. On top of that, it’s one of those areas where RTW prices are too high to be mentioned in magazines, which was an extra motivation behind my project.
Sewing outwear is considered to be a serious task that's only available to advanced seamstresses. In reality, all you need to consider is that it's a very time-consuming process that brings a brilliant result!
