Introducing Pattern No.3 - The Dalloway Dress & Skirt

Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Here it is folks - The Dalloway Dress & Skirt pattern
available for purchase and instant download right here!








With the Dalloway Dress & Skirt in your wardrobe, you’ll be ready to host your own party at a moment’s notice. But which view will you choose to make first? At least in this story, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Five horizontal pleats run the length of the skirt creating the illusion of a tiered peplum while adding body and detail. Small soft pleats then gently shape the skirt around the waist and hips, giving the impression of a fitted pencil skirt with all the comfort of being able to eat your way around the buffet table. 






The Dalloway Dress is constructed with a fully lined and enclosed bodice to hide away raw edges. The skirt underlining can also act as a lining, leaving you free to wear it without a slip when the cold weather strikes and both versions are finished with a lapped zip. For extra shaping, the bodice is designed with 2 waist darts on either side.

Dalloway is aimed at intermediate to advanced sewers, but if you are a beginner, taking your time may be all you need. What makes Dalloway a tad challenging are the horizontal pleats that run around the entire circumference of the skirt. They are attached invisibly to a skirt underlining and can be a bit fiddly to sew in.

Another thing that makes Dalloway a bit harder is the fact that the skirt is one length of fabric - there are no side seams. This can make grading the hips a teensy bit harder than your traditional skirt, and while I have allowed for plenty of ease in that area, you can still grade up or down if you need too and I will be posting a tutorial on just how to do that right here.

While I do instruct you to use a lapped zip for the pattern, you are more than welcome to substitute it for an invisible zip if that is your preferred technique. You can also easily opt to leave the horizontal skirt pleats out completely by using the underlining pattern for your skirt.






I'm not going to be running a sew-a-long persey for Dalloway, but I will be posting a series of tutorials on specific aspects of the construction of Dalloway. These will include -

  • Grading the hips on Dalloway
  • Easy Tailor's Tacks for Dalloway
  • Pressing in your horizontal skirt pleats
  • Stitching in your horizontal skirt pleats


xx
Jen
27 comments on "Introducing Pattern No.3 - The Dalloway Dress & Skirt"
  1. This looks lovely and the construction sounds interesting!

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  2. Don't know when I'll get some sewing time, but this is going high up on my to-do list. It's lovely, getting a 20's/30's feel :D

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  3. Loving this. It is stunning, especially the dress, the fabric works perfectly with it. This pattern is definitely going on my postwedding sewing list

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  4. VERY, VERY CUTE! I love this new pattern and am excited about trying it.

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  5. Super, super cute! Definitely my favourite of all your patterns so far and so different from anything else I've seen. Heading over to your Etsy shop now!

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  6. "...giving the impression of a fitted pencil skirt with all the comfort of being able to eat your way around the buffet table."

    You just made my dream skirt. BAM.

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  7. Another lovely and unique pattern! Congratulations :)

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  8. Love this! Straight into my etsy cart :)

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  9. Oh! I love the skirt version! Both versions are pretty though!

    Gorgeous!

    Brigid
    the Middle Sister and Singer

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  10. Beautiful, love the effect on the skirt! Can't wait to try it out :)

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  11. How cute are you?! This looks great!

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  12. love those pleats! fabulous as both skirt and dress!!

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  13. Gorgeous, perhaps you'll do a sew a long in the spring? I would be in to that!

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    1. Hey Mags, I'll definitely run a full sew a long if people are interested :)

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  14. This is so beautiful. It's lovely to see some new patterns being released that really are new designs and not rehashes of countless other patterns. I'll definitely be putting the dress on my "to make" list for next Spring.

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    1. Awww, thanks Sam! I'm so glad people like that it's a little different to what's out there at the moment :)

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  15. SUPER gorgeous! I especially love your mint green dress version, absolutely charming. And I'm so intrigued about the skirt construction.

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  16. I want to buy this just to understand how it's constructed. Obviously, I also love the look of it! I have small hips relative to my waist though, so will almost definitely need to grade down. Sounds like an interesting challenge!! Thanks for yet another great pattern!!

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  17. I also love that it's a little bit different - and a huge thumbs up for comfort ;) I adore the green dress, lovely drape - nice work ;)

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  18. Super cute. I'm adding it to my wish list.

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  19. You are a very talented lady. Another knock out pattern.

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  20. Lovely and different, would love to try it for summer. Congratulations on pattern 3!

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  21. What a fantastic pattern. I can't believe I missed its release. I'm so sorry!

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    1. No worries Donna! I'm glad you like the pattern, means the world to me :)

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  22. you think yhat with my big hips that cup me look good? the dress is beautiful
    http://mandarinacosturera.blogspot.com.es/

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    1. Hello - I'm so glad you like the pattern.

      I had a bunch of ladies of all sizes test the pattern for me and they loved it. I told them how to grade the hips and they had no problems with it - in fact, the hip grading tutorial is coming tomorrow :) So I think you probably won't have have any issues with the hips, especially if you love the style :)

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