Sewing Circle: Prep and stripes and spring!

Sewing Circle: Prep and stripes and spring!

• 3.13.2012

I love this dress.  Obvs, so did this reader, who sent me this Sewing Circle question!

Q: So one of my girlfriends and I found this dress while we were out shopping yesterday. We actually went into the store only because we saw it in the window! Unfortunately, when we looked at the price tag, the dress was $400, way too much for us poor, starving college students. Do you know of a similar pattern?

A: Thanks so much for reading, and thanks for your email! That is a super cute dress, and I know I’ve seen patterns for ones like it, with the bias meeting in the center front of the bodice… and the skirt is basic inverted pleated skirt; you don’t need a pattern because it’s just two panels of the fabric, in rectangles, pleated with inverted box pleats.

So: the bodice. Here are a couple I found that get the look:

• Vogue V8789.  You might have to adjust the neckline a little, but without the sleeves, it's very similar--just has princess seams instead of darts on the bodice.  I think this one is probably the closest.  Just cut the armholes and neckline down, maybe using another tank-like bodice pattern overlayed on top as a guide.

• Butterick B5455 has a very similar look!  Same silhouette for the neckline but has a midriff panel and pleats at the neck edge.  Again, do the skirt differently--just two panels of fabric to the length you want, pleated.

• You know, you also could try a regular dress pattern--ignoring the center line and diagonal stripes for a moment--and instead of cutting the center front on the fold, cut it on the bias, aligning your center stripes.  Something like Simplicity 1873 has the right darts and basic bodice shape; just make the neckline a V and cut each front half piece on the bias.

Do any of those look good?  None are perfect, I know, so hey, readers--have you seen the right thing??  Do share!