Pattern Review ~ Socialite Dress
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Amy from amy a la mode can sew a cute Cabo, whip up a fantastic tutorial and today she shares a great review of the Socialite Dress pattern from Anna Maria Horner. Visit Amy’s introduction and blog, and enjoy the review! |
| Description | |||
| A loose-fitting retro-style sleeveless summer dress with a modest V neck in the front and scoop in the back. The unbelted version allows a lot of freedom of movement (park with the kids?), while the belted version is a bit more sophisticated (drinks on the patio at the wine bar?). | |||
| Materials | |||
| Fabric: 2 3/4 yards of 44″ wide fabric, or 2 yards of 54″ wide fabric Light to mid-weight cotton or cotton blend fabrics are suggested. Extra yardage is recommended for matching or centering fabric prints and if adding length to the dress. Suggested Notions & Tools:
Front + back views. |
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| Fabric Recommendations | |||
| I purchased 3 1/2 yards of Amy Butler Lacework in Brown from the Lotus collection (this included an extra 3/4 of a yard so that I had one more pattern repeat). I also purchased MoMo’s Metamorphosis in Jam from the Wonderland collection to use for the front and back yokes and facings. If you want to do contrasting yokes/facings like I did, get 1/2 yard (the package does not have yardage suggestions for this). You can cut the dress from 2 1/2 yards of 44″ wide fabric if you don’t make the belt, but you’ll need the full 2 3/4 yards if you want to make the belt (the length of the belt is your waist measure + 30″ and is 3″ wide). Or try a contrasting fabric for the belt!
This dress is perfect for light and breezy fabrics, but remember that this dress is unlined. Don’t pick anything too light or sheer; it would be a shame to have to wear a slip! The quilting weight cotton I used worked out really well. The package has information for 54″ fabrics, but since these tend toward heavier-weight home decorator types of fabrics, think carefully before buying these. The gathers and draping might turn out pretty stiff in a heavier fabric. Consider Hawaiian fabrics for this dress– I think they’d look smashing!
Unbelted, front + back views. |
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| Overall Design |  |
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| This dress is cute and modern, with a retro vibe. Though the only variation given in the pattern is to add the belt, this actually produces so different a look that it’s like getting two dresses in one. The first two things that caught my eye with this pattern were the pockets and the lack of fasteners. Definitely a win-win combination! Great coverage for bra straps and a nice fit under the arms make this summery without exposing more than you meant to. |
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| Written Instructions |  |
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| Detailed instructions are included, as well as a glossary of basic sewing terms and a metric conversion chart. The pattern gives finished garment dimensions but does not provide any recommendations on how much ease to allow for the intended fit. The size I opted to make should have provided me with 3 1/4″ of ease in the bust, 8 3/4″ of ease in the waist, and 3 3/4″ of ease in the hips. In the end, this was not enough in the bust (see Modification #1 below). You can judge the final fit in the photos and add more or less ease as needed.
The pattern also recommends purchasing more fabric if you want to make the dress longer, but does not provide a finished length as a guide. I made the XS, and on the hanger from the top of the shoulder down to the bottom of the hem is 37″. I was a bit confused by the cutting instructions for the front yoke and pocket that indicated, “Cut 4 of Front Yoke/Pocket (2 from right side and 2 from wrong side).” I have never seen it worded like this, but it simply meant to fold the fabric in half as you normally would, matching the selvages, lay the pattern pieces on top of the folded fabric, and cut through both layers at the same time (and then doing this twice to get a total of 4 pieces).
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| Diagrams / Images |  |
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| There were some tricky bits to the sewing, and I felt that a few more diagrams would have been nice. Look ahead in the pattern if you are confused, because a later diagram may show you what you need to know. More labeling on the diagrams would also be nice, as many have no labels at all. |
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| Pattern Pieces | |
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| There are a total of 6 pattern pieces– back, front, back yoke, front yoke, armhole facing, and pocket– printed on white tissue paper. Measurements are given for cutting the belt piece. There are 6 sizes included in this pattern, which means that occasionally the markings are so close together that it can get difficult to see the ones for your size. |
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| Overall Level of Difficulty | Intermediate or Patient Advanced Beginner |
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| While there are no fasteners of any kind to deal with (which is great!), the curves make this dress more complicated than it looks. There is a fair amount of easing in and fussing in order to attach the back and front yokes, as well as the armhole facings. Also, the front and back facings have to be stitched down to the inside of the dress by hand, and it’s a bit fussy as well. Keep this in mind if you hate hand sewing!
Hand Finishing: View of inside of front yoke after hand sewing the |
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| Tips + Modifications |
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| Tip 1: Marking Mark the centers of the front, back, front yoke, back yoke, front facing, and back facing pieces. The centers are not marked on the pattern pieces, but are very helpful later on when the instructions indicate for you to match the centers. Once the front and back are gathered, the centers are much more difficult to find without markings. Tip 2: Gathering
Pinning Yoke These three images show how the front and front yoke pieces look when pinned together for step 11 in the “Prepare Pockets, Front and Back Pieces” section. View A shows the yoke on top and view B shows the front piece on top. Notice that the yoke is pointing down with the center of the V at the top, while the front piece is bunched up inside the curve. The tails of fabric sticking out on the right and left are the tops of the shoulders. View C shows what this looks like from the wrong side if you flip the pieces up to where their final position will be (if you turn your pieces like this, be sure to flip them back to the way they are in view A/B to sew). Tip 3: Sewing Curves Tip 4: Trimming Tip 5: Try it on before doing the armhole facings Modification 1: Bust Modification 2: Belt
Small belt, front + back views. |
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| Conclusion | |||
| I admit that this is not a pattern I would ever pick out to make; it’s just not my usual style. But in the end I think the final product is cute, comfortable, and stylish, which is a pretty amazing feat! I think the biggest surprise for me was the level of difficulty, despite not needing to do buttonholes or a zipper. A little patience is called for, but I managed to put this together on a Saturday with plenty of time to spare, and I think you could too. I love the versatility of the belted versus unbelted versions — from beach to a nice dinner by the beach in the time it takes to put on a belt!
Wide belt, front + back views. |
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[tags]sewing pattern review, Socialite Dress pattern review, dress pattern review, women’s dress pattern review, Anna Maria Horner pattern, Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress sewing pattern, Anna Maria Horner dress pattern review[/tags]
425 Responses to “Pattern Review ~ Socialite Dress”
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Great review. I think all of your tips and modifications would be really helpful for anyone attempting this dress. This dress is also not really my style but it does look like a cute dress. Thanks Amy!
Wow! Really excellent pattern review. So detailed and well documented with pictures, no less! The dress is really cute and I might try it. I love that it’s a sundress that you could actually wear a bra with! I think I might try adding a wide obi type belt.
Thanks so much Amy! Great job!
Thanks for the Review! Very helpful tips! I have this pattern and have it on the to do list. Can’t wait to try it for myself.
I love this dress. I am going to have to try this pattern out!
Positively beautiful with this Amy Butler fabric!
Thanks for a wonderful review! I have purchased fabric for this dress and copied to pattern pieces, I just need to get going!
Oh wow that dress turned out great!
OOH-LAA-LAA
Thank you, this is just in time for summer weather! And I love the look of this dress with the wide belt!
Excellent review! Wonderful detail and fantastic tips. I think it looks great all the ways, but I love it best with the wide belt. Thank you!
Judging from the pattern cover image, I never would have chosen this pattern, but after your review, I think I might give it a try. Thanks!
I love how the dress looks on slender gals but I was thinking it wouldn’t be flattering on my curvy figure, but the belt totally cinches it in and its ammmmmazing! Your review is so wonderfully written!!!! thanks so much!
Great review! I made this dress last weekend and found many of the same things to be true.
Great review! I like that you have the tips along the way giving a heads-up! Thanks!
I think you’ve found a new style. You rock that dress!
Fantastic review! Thanks for the tips and detailed photos.
Off, to purchase the pattern.
Great review! Love your dress!
That looks nice, it turned out really good. Love it with the belt it adds interest.
What a fabulous dress for summer. Thanks
What a super cute dress! I really want to make it.
Thanks for the review! I strongly dislike handsewing and I am so glad to know about that before starting this pattern. Fab results!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for the review. I am always a little leary of new patterns, worried they may be too complicated, etc… for an intermediate beginner like me. Thanks for the tips, and I think I might try to give it a go!
What a great tutorial. Thanks!
I love seeing this dress in different fabrics, as it was hard to picture it without using Anna Maria Horner fabrics. I am so glad to have these tips to go to when I (eventually) decide I want to make it
Thanks for the review! Great looking dress.
Your dress is lovely. Thank you for the great review!
Thanks for the pattern review, and I love your fabric choice with the momo butterfly fabric!
What a great review. I love the photos of the dress with the belt. It looks gorgeous!
What a cute dress, great fabric choices too! Thanks for the review.
love it! might actually now attempt such a project thanks to your good tips and step by step instructions – super
What an absolutely fabulous dress! I love the unbelted version but I ADORE the belted version more!! Can’t wait to try my hand at making this! Thanks for the tips~~
Great detail in the review. I don’t think this style would be very flattering for my body type, but it looks great on you. I especially like the belted options.
this is a fabulous dress – i love the fabric selection. Will have to give it a go!
Wow! That is so perfect for summer. I can’t wait to make one.
Thanks for the review and the tips. Nice dress, I prefer it with the belt. Nice fabric too!
Thank you for the great review – really makes me want to get going!
Thank you for such detailed review.
Beautiful dress!
I love the addition of the belt. Great review.
What a great review – very helpful. I really need to devote more time to garment sewing.
You know when I first saw this I thought “not my style” but I’ve seen a few of these done in solid colors and those kind of appeal to me so I’m still on the fence…
Thanks for the pattern review! It is always nice to see a real opinion on the difficulty and the strengths of a pattern before I try it!
What a thorough review. I wish there was one for every pattern I attempt!
Fabulous review! I really do like how there is the option of wearing it with or without the belt – it really does give it two different looks! I’m not really a sleeveless kind of girl, but your review has made me consider making it.
Very nice review! And very helpful and clear advice. Your dress looks great!
Great review. Very detailed and honest. I don’t usually make clothes for myself but this dress is great, especially the pockets!
Great combo of fabrics. Thanks for the heads up on the attachment of the yoke to dress. That will be very helpful when sewing this great summertime treat.
So cute, and I love your fabric choice!
It’s so nice this dress. I love the version with the belt, is more elegant.
I love all of the detailing of this dress. Fabulous!
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
I want to make this dress!! Thanks for the review!
Great review! Beautiful dress!
I’m always too scared to make a pattern without a review, so thanks!
I love this! Must start sewing now!
Fantastic review! Thanks for the tips!
Great review but yuck to all that hand sewing around the neck lining! Oh well, it’s coming into winter here so no neew for summer frocks just yet!!
Great fabric choices! I think it really improved the overall appeal of this pattern for me. And this dress would be lovely with some of the new fabric collections in the SMS shop!
It is so nice of you to give such a detailed and pretty tutorial. Thank you.
Love that contrasting yoke. All your tips and insights are great, I wouldn’t have realized this pattern was so complicated (by my standards anyway).
What a sweet dress! It would make such a chic cover up for the beach this summer…
What a cute summer dress! Love to dress like this in the summer.
Thanks for the detailed review. I love your fabric choices!
Wow, the choice of fabric is amazing. Would love to try this one out. Many thanks for the pattern review.
That looks really great. I love the idea.
thanks for the great review – this is a beautiful dress, and the tips would be very helpful!
What a cute, cool summer dress! I’m going to have to try out the pattern.
Your dress looks great! Great pattern review. Thanks for the heads up on the fussiness of it….I would have probably ripped my hair out trying to figure what I had done wrong!
The review was great! I feel like I would really know what to expect if I purchased it. Thanks for being so detailed. The dress is adorable!
This dress looks fabulous! Can’t wait to try it!
Very cute dress. Thank you for the tips! Great tutorial!
I love Anna Maria Horner’s designs! Thanks for the great review.
cute dress! i like it with the contrasting belt. It could be a little more form fitting, but couldn’t everything?
Thanks for the review. So true about sewing around curves needing patience.
Great review, always good to see how someone else did it before you go and try it out yourself!
This is a super cute dress. Thanks for the insight!
Thanks for the detailed review! Seeing as I’m still afraid to install a zipper, this might be the perfect dress for me…
Love, love, love Anna Maria Horner! I like your fabric choices. You are so right when you said the belts change it. It really does look like three different dresses!
Cute dress.. I love it with the belt.
Thanks for the review! I’ve been wanting to get the pattern and make this dress. The tips are very helpful.
Excellent review! The dress looks great on you! And the fabric combination is *perfect*.
Great review. Thanks for showing it with the belt, too, that looks great!
Great job and great review. i think it looks smashing.
I love this pattern, made it for my daughter & it went together quickly & easily. Looks darling on her too! thanks for the review
I love the addition of the belt- very chic!
I love the neckline on that dress! How cute!
Love the big pockets on this dress! Seems so easy even a beginner like myself can make this! And how cute would this be in a Heather Ross Mendocino print?
Thank you so much for this review, and for the tips on completing the project! I’m still fairly new to garment sewing and was hoping to make this dress, so I know I’ll be coming back for your excellent tips and modifications to keep my cursing to a minimum
Thanks again for taking the time to do this terrific review, and thanks to Sew, Mama, Sew for sponsoring/hosting these reviews! So helpful.
Excellent review, and a great dress!!
Cute! And it looks like it would be easy to add sleeves, which are a must for me. Thanks for the review!
I haven’t made clothing for myself in years. It might be time to begin again. Thanks!
great review. love the look with the belt and the fabric choices.
Oh my goodness! I love this dress! Maybe this can be my first non maternity clothing conquer once this baby gets here! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the pattern. . . .
I am not sure I could pick out the right fabric for this. Great review!
Thanks for the great review! I want to try that pattern, I was a little scared, but now I think that I can do it! And I love your choice of fabric!
Great review! The pattern is cute as is your dress.
Beautifully done article! I so appreciate the detail and thought that went into this review/article!
Thanks for all the tips! Great fabric choice!
Great review! Kudos on working out the neckline…looks tough! I like it best with the wide pink belt, followed by the small belt. Super cute!
Thanks for the great review! All the little details are so helpful for a newbie like me- this looks like it would be a fairly simple project, but after reading this review, I think I might need a little more practice (and patience!) before attempting it. It’s so nice to know that *before* I started!
such a helpful pattern review. thank you!
What a wonderful review! I am much more likely to try this pattern now that I’ve seen your version.
Fantastic review! I had seen this pattern in the store recently and wondered if it would look correct made in the smaller sizes. I’m an XS also, and sometimes this style of dress isn’t fitted enough to make you not look preggers
This looks super cute with the wide belt you have shown. Thanks so much for all the great tips on this one!
Cute dress. Wondering how I can con my mom into making it for me… She has more patience when sewing than I do!
I really like that dress and I might have to make one for myself. Love the wide belt with it.
What a cute dress! Perfect for summer! Please enter me in the fabric giveaway- thanks!
love this dress, hopefully my skills will evolved to a point where i can tackle this!
oooh! I’ll look great in this! =)
thanks!
m
Love it! So cute!!!!
VERY cute dress…LOVE it!!
This would make the perfect summer dress, and it looks simple enough to throw together one night after the kids go down to bed. Of course that would mean unpacking my machine, and I promised I wouldn’t do that until we moved. BUT, that is only a couple of weeks away.
This is it. This is the one. I am going to make it TODAY!
Thanks for the review! I love your fabric choices – I need to start being more bold mixing designs. It looks great with the wide belt – like you’re ready for a summer night on the town.
The belt makes all the difference! What a great dress! Thanks!
Wow! Would love to make this dress
Thanks for the review! I’ve been wanting to make this dress, and have just the fabric. Now I need the time. Sigh.
Looking forward to trying my hand at making clothes for me and not just my daughter
I love this pattern! I have fabric cut and I’m ready to start sewing it, and your review will really help me proceed. Thanks!
Thanks for all the specific instructions you added. I would feel much more confident to try this after reading your review.
Thanks for the review–the tips and modifications are really helpful and give me hope for making a dress like this that doesn’t make me look pregnant (maybe just curvy?). I like the fabric choice, too.
Darling fabrics, I really like it with the belt. Thanks for all your detailed instructions. I hope one day I can sew like this!
Thanks for such a detailed review. I love the dress with the wider accent belt added.
Super cute! thanks for the review. I might not have made it from the picture on the pattern, but I think I may give it a shot now, if I can find some good material. Thanks!!!
Not really my style of dress – but I LOVE the way the belt just transforms the dress.
I love this dress! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern – I may be confident enough in my sewing skills to make it sometime soon….
I’ve got to give this one a try. Looks like a good all purpose dress to have for summer! The reviews are always so helpful! Thanks.
This is very helpful for the beginning sewer who wants to venture out of the safety of the basic bags and aprons. Its like crossing the street but still having a hand to hold. Thanks.
i love the contrast fabric. great review!
Great review and nice work on the dress, I love the belted and non-belted options. Also great idea for a Friday giveaway, I had no idea Lotta was coming out with that book, very exciting!
I love the dress! It looks very versatile (appropriate for casual Fridays at work, as well as Sunday brunches).
The cinching/belt really did wonders for the silhouette. I’m inspired to modify some patterns I have that I didn’t think would be flattering!
What I like about the review is the detail you get about construction. It makes it a lot easier to know if I want to try the pattern or not.
WOW! What a great dress. I love the fabric combinations used also.
Thanks for the review! it looks great for the beach or just a fun dress for the summer!
Great review. I have been wondering about this pattern. It seems the pattern is in line with Anna Maria’s book. Your dress is great.
I really enjoyed the review and think I might actually get the pattern! I love that I can do the park to dinner out change with just a belt! The v-neck is also lovely – totally worth the extra work at the yoke. As for the fabric giveaway – I like the Del Hi by Valeri Wells!
what a cool and comfy looking dress pattern! I LOVE it.
Thanks for the really thorough review! Your comments were very detailed and helpful.
That is such a cute dress! The review is so detailed which will be a great help when I make this dress …. I hope!
This is very helpful. I considered purchasing this pattern, but was unsure about the level of difficulty. I like your fabric combo too!
Thanks for the review. Great dress.
Just saw the Lotta J book giveaway, I would love to win that. So many cute things.
Great review. Thanks.
I love the dress – what a classic look with a vintage feel. Thanks for a great review! Can’t wait to try it out. A girl can never have too many dresses!
I really appreciate all the care you took in writing this review. Thank you!
I wasn’t very excited about this dress until I saw how it looked with the belt. Love the shape that the belt gives it! Thanks for the review and pics!
Super cute! I love it with a belt!
LOVE this! A dress with pockets is perfect, and this one seems comfy for the summertime. I might have to be brave and try it!
What a cute dress and a great review!
Loved your review and the dress is awesome!! Thanks!
I’ve been looking for a really cute dress to sew for summer. I think I’ll be adding this to my list of possibilities! Thanks for the thorough review!
wow, so cute. thanks for the honest review!
Great Tute! I love the fabrics you chose…..Love Amy Butler! I really want to try and your review convinced me to get started!
Wow, this dress looks deceptively simple. Thanks for breaking it down so we know what we might be getting into. I think it is adorable and I’m a sucker for any dress or skirt with pockets, so I may just have to tackle it. I like the fabric combo you chose.
It’s nice to see this made out of different fabrics for comparison. Plus, as a fairly new sewer, I especially appreciate learning more details about things like the hand-sewing and the gathers. Thanks!
Great review & cute dress!
I must make this now!
Very cute. Not sure how it would look on my body (plus sized), but very cute.
I love the v-neck of this pattern. The pictures of pinning the yolk to the front piece are really good. I might have to try to come up with my own pattern piece and make a shirt with this type neck!
I’m definitely going to have to check this pattern out! Thanks for the review Amy!
Thank you for the great pattern review! Please do more. I hate buying patterns that just confuse me when I sit down and try to sew.
This dress turned out great! I really want to make this dress.
Hmmm…..I think my sweet Second Grade teacher daughter would LOVE this. thanks for the in-depth review. What a great help to all of us who still love to sew clothing. XXX Annie
That was a great review. I love seeing tips from someone else who has attempted the pattern before I begin. Thanks!
Thanks for the helpful pattern review. The belt makes the dress!
Great review, I may have to try this one out!
The dress looks great on you! Thanks for the review! I’ve been wanting the pattern and your review helps!
Lovely dress – and I’m so pumped about the giveaway, since my son just turned one.
This is such a great and simple dress! Easy to make and pretty versatile if you pick the right fabric.
Thanks for your review and tips. I think I’ll add this pattern to my list of thing sto make. It would be a perfect dress to slip on when running weekend earns.
Thank you for the review, the dress looks great!
I love the way this pattern looks and, well, pretty much anything by Anna Maria Horner but I am glad to get an honest take on the pattern because I am not sure I qualify as Intermediate or Patient Advanced Beginner yet! I HATE facings (I would rather sew in a zipper!) so I think it will have to wait until next summer while I practice with something a touch easier!
Nice review! I particularly like the fabric recommendations.
Great review! I like it best with the wide belt.
Hmmm… I really like this dress. The only clothes I’ve sewn so far are Bible costumes, which aren’t terribly difficult. I haven’t attempted anything wearable for myself yet, but this looks doable… maybe! But I should probably wait until I have my patient pants on.
I agree that this dress isn’t something I would tend to try to wear. I’ve never really made clothing. This looks really nice though and the belt vs no belt is really cool. I have some dress material, so maybe I might try this out and see how it works. We’ll see.
I love this dress – I love V neck dresses but they are always SO low and I am thrilled to see this one. It looks so simple and down to earth but could totally be dressed up. Thanks for the review!
Great review! The belt is definitely a 100% improvement and makes the model look skinnier. Please enter me in the drawing too!
i like how the f/b necklines are different, Yea! for Amy Butler fabrics!
Thanks for the great reveiw… I think I prefer the unbelted version.
Love this dress!! Thanks for the handy pointers.
p.s. I love this blog and your fabric store! I don’t know what I’m addicted to more – quilting or blogs about quilting!
I love the neckline on this dress – the fabric is awesome for a neckline. Nice choice!
thanks for the review! the dress is way cute with the belt!
Thanks for a great review. I was curious about Anna Marie Horner’s patterns in general, and not specifically this one. Thanks for all the detail.
The dress looks super comfy. Thanks for the review!
I’m scared to make a dress for me because that was my first sewing project and it turned out terrible. I think I might try this one now.
Very cute! I even like your version better than the one on the pattern cover! Can’t wait to sew some dresses after I have my baby and am ‘back to normal’ size-wise!
Thanks for sharing your review!
That is one gorgeous dress!!! I Love it!
What a lovely dress, I love the fabrics you chose.
This is absolutely beautiful! If only I looked decent in sleeveless anything….
Cute dress. Thanks for the review!
Cute dress! I’ve never been much of a garment maker but this is one that I’d love to try!
Fantastic review! I had hoped to not want to buy this pattern, but now I just may have to have it.
Thank you for taking the time to review the pattern. I’ve been excited and inspired by Anna Maria Horner’s contribution to the sewing community.
Great review. Very helpful. I really love how it looks with the wide contrasting belt.
I really love this look with the belt. Not sure if I will try this pattern b/c handsewing and I don’t really get along, but great review nonetheless.
Thanks for the tips!
Love the retro look. And the review is so detailed. Thank you. Can’t wait to try it myself.
Great review. I like the fabrics you chose much more than the fabric pictured in the dress on the pattern.
Great review! I could see making this for my daughter. She has a straighter figure than I.
Wow! Great review – very detailed!! I love the dress.
Ditto on any comments about this probably not being flattering to my body type. But it was nice to see someone review it! I do have the multi-tasker bag on my to-do list though.
This is an awesome review. I’m always so intimidated by making clothes, your review and tips help make it a little less scary. =)
Great review – I love the dress with the belt. And that butterfly fabric you used around the collar is perfect – girly, but not cheesy.
I’m glad to see this dress in another fabric. I couldn’t see myself in it before, but I think I can now. The review is a great help!
Great review – I especially like the little details about how the dress covers bra straps! This is a cute dress pattern, though maybe above my skill level at this time!
Thanks for the review and the great tips!
This dress is super cute…but then again, I am partial to anything with hidden pockets. Thanks for the great review Amy. The pictures are a wonderful extra detail.
Great job!
Love this dress and review!
This is a wonderful review, it makes me want to buy the pattern! I also love her ideas for revisions, that is super helpful.
Thanks!
Wow this is awesome! And actually do-able by muggins! I need some new jazzy fabrics to have a go but i think i’ll definately have a go
x
Love the dress, especially with the addition of the belt. It brings much needed shape. Looks great on you!
The belt makes all the difference, thanks for putting together a fantastic review!
The fabric is beautiful and the pattern sits so nice!
This is going on my TO DO list! : ) Awesome and detailed review! Thanks so much! You guys are the best!
That dress is beautiful, and it looks great with the pink and white belt. I never think to belt things.
Great details. Thanks. I have had this on my mental to do list for a while.
What a classy, easy dress. Very nice indeed and would suit several body types. Thanks.
Great review. It is really helpful to see all the extra information on the pattern.
Thanks.
Super cute! I’m going to give it a whirl soon…I’m a beginner and you’re tips will surely help! Thanks for a great review.
I really appreciate your thorough review. This is a pattern I would have been tempted to try, but am much more likely to do it now after having read your notes. I feel better equipped. Plus, your fabric choice is much more my style than the one pictured on the pattern! Very nice. Thanks!
oops! I meant ‘your’ not ‘you’re’!!
Wow, what a thorough review. Thanks for taking the time to write it! This is everything I wish I knew when I’m standing in the store comparing patterns.
I LOVE this dress. I think it might be a little difficult for me now, but I’m bookmarking it to try after I get more practice! Thanks!
Thanks for the pattern review and the tips. Not sure this would look good for me but I can see my DDIL wearing this one….
What a thorough review. Thanks. It’s always so intimidating to sew clothing but this dress is tempting.
I love Anna Maria Horner (congratulations of the new baby AM!) and have been eying this pattern. Thanks so much for sharing this review.
LOVE the idea of making the belt with bias tape! Thanks for the tip!
Lovely dress! the fabric is gorgeous, and it looks super-sharp with the belt!
Very cute pattern. Perfect for summer and all the wonderful prints available.
What a lovely pattern! I will have to try it for my oldest daughter!
Great review! I am still toying with the idea of making one of these dresses… I just hate following patterns though! It is very beautiful!
great review! I love when there are detailed pics of the trickier parts of a pattern, makes it easier to wrap my brain around it LOL!
First time commenting…
Thanks for the review. I love the dress. I think I may have to add it on to my sewing queue.
Great review–the dress looks pretty shapeless on the model and I was wondering about how it would be belted. I like the drapier fabric you chose, too.
Love the fabrics you chose!
What a great review! I think I’ll have to give it a try.
Thanks so much for the helpful review! I can’t wait to make the dress!
I love this dress, I really want to give it a go but I’m still new at the whole sewing process.
Thanks for the very detailed review – I was thinking about ordering this, and as a beginner wasn’t sure if I could manage it – your suggestions and advice will be helpful.
Great tutorial. I really love this dress.
I have been thinking about purchasing this dress pattern and the skirt pattern that she has out as well…I can’t think of the name of it…something like study hall skirt I think…love the style of it for my daughter and she has such trouble finding clothing that fits well I thought I may as well try making some for her. the review is very helpful!
Love this dress! I can’t wait to make my own!
Cute dress!
Great review! This looks like the perfect summer dress!
Thank you for such a wonderful review. I love the tips section and will be referring to your comments as I sew my own!
Great pattern review. I have been looking at this pattern for awhile and you have convinced me. I must have it for summer.
I would love to make this dress (belted version please) and also to win either a copy of Simple sewing for Baby or the free yard of fabric. Love love love to win! Thanks!
This turned out much cuter than it appears on the pattern picture. I like it much better with the belt too.
it’s a lovely dress. i wish i had the skills to make it! i’m a newbie sewer, but i aspire to this!
I might have to try this! I think I could be considered a patient advanced beginner.
What great tips – I’ll have to look through archives of other pattern reviews. I didn’t know they were so detailed! Thanks, Amy and SEW, MAMA, SEW!
Wow, thanks for doing all this work! Way more than just a review.
I think leaving out the belt loops makes it a more versatile dress. I saw this made on one other blog (filminthefridge.com) done in a solid color with a patterned yolk. They’re both cute. I was having a hard time visualizing it in a patterned fabric so thanks! I’d certainly make it with a small belt.
Thanks again for your thoroughness!
~Em
the dress is adorable! thanks for the pattern notes. i’m such a beginner that any help on tricky parts or modifications is extremely helpful.
Cute dress – love the fabric, too. It looks comfortable and light – perfect for summer. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks for the review – the dress is adorable. It’s good to know about the fit/fiddly things before jumping in, so thanks for including the tips!
Great review! I think this is one I will have to work up to.
This is awesome! The review makes me think i could actually pull this off! Thank you!
Adorable…I will add this one to the list!
Great review! I read the whole thing even though I’ll likely never make the dress as there are too many things on my “to make” list already. Love the pockets and the wide belt option.
Great summer dress! Thanks for the review…
What a thorough review! Thanks for the tips.
Great review and very nice pattern!
Love the dress and the fabric!!!!
thanks for the tips. I am going to give it a try!
Great review, I will definitely keep your comments and try this out soon!!
Lovely dress. I really like it with the belt. Great review.
What an excellent pattern review! Thank you for walking us through so clearly. I plan to add this to my “Must Sew” list.
Thanks for the honest review! I really like the belted version!
I never would have used the fabrics you picked, but they look amazing together. Thanks for the review and the insipiration to pair patterns.
I love the dress with the wide belt – I think it will flatter my shape better with that modification – Thanks!
Wow, this is wonderful pattern. And so throughoh with directions. Makes it a breeze to follow. Can’t wait to try it out
Thanks for sharing, very generous.
This dress is gorgeous. Wish it came with a maternity modification. Maybe I’ll make it for next summer!
I love the dress when worn with the belt. Its a perfect dress for the spring.
Thanks for the review. I appreciate the extra pointers and pictures! (:
SO cute and flattering. No fasteners sounds lovely! It’s perfect for a summer dress. I want to make one and go wear it in Hawaii!
Nice dress, and fabric. Came out nicely for you. Some sheaths are too straight and this one has some curve.
The dress is certainly cute (and I love the fabric) but I’m concerned about how it would look with adjustment in the bust. I never wear belts (short-waisted) so that isn’t an option to help with the shaping. I am very new to sewing so would darts help or would it get too busy with all the gathering going on? It would need a 7 inch adjustment at the bust.
beautiful dress! I love pattern reviews.
Kim
That dress looks great, and I love the fabric!
Thanks so much for the review of this pattern. I love Amy’s purse patterns, but haven’t tried her clothing patterns yet. This seems like a great summer dress (and I love your second belted option).
Thanks for the review. The dress turned out great…I love the fabric you used.
I don’t think this pattern is the dress for me, (aah, large chests have a tendency to make one look pregnant!!) but I was interested in Anna’s patterns in general. By the way–LOVE the main fabric choice!! Thanks for a great review!
Simple but classic. Love the fabrics you used too. I think it definitely benefits from a belt at the waist – otherwise perhaps it could be modified by some tailoring or shorten it to make it into a kind of tunic top?
This is a very versatile dress. I think it may just be perfect for my mum’s mother of the bride dress. thanks for the review!
I love the yoke on this dress how it goes down to a point at the back making it different from the completely round yokes that are seen on other dresses
Thanks for the pattern review! I’ve been looking at this dress and wondering whether I should give it a try. I kept on looking at the picture on the package thinking that I didn’t love the cut and would it look right on my body. Your review and finished product helped me figure out that it wouldn’t (even though it looks awesome on you!) and saved me a lot of time, money, and frustration
Thanks!
LOVE the fabric and pattern, inspired me to make myself some new sun dresses for the summer
Thanks for the review, this “patient beginner” may try it!
Wow, what a lot of work to not only give a review but also to include all that extra information and instructions for modification. Thank you for your time.
It turned out so cute I’ve been wanting some “real person” thoughts on this pattern
Thanks!
I like your choice of fabrics…and the belt is great! This is what I call “not for hanger” dress. It looks so much better on a body, than hanging on a hanger. It gives it a whole new prospective.
Fantastic review & a super cute dress! Thanks for all the helpful info.
Thanks for the review! This looks like my kind of dress.
That is really a great dress!
Yours is so pretty! I made a dress once…yikes! with the fit of this, I think getting the bust and waist to both fit wouldn’t be too difficult!
I wouldn’t have chosen this dress as one to make, but now that I’ve seen your version, it’s quite tempting!
Thanks for the tips!
Your dress is beautiful. Great review! I love your fabric choices.
Thank you so much for the review! I’ve been eyeing this pattern for some time and will plunge in now!
What a classic dress! I love it!!! The belted version is such a modern look!
What a great review; very helpful to those of us planning on trying it! I love the slightly retro, 1950s vibe of this dress, and it is flattering on everyone I have seen who made it. Can’t wait to try it out.
Great review. This is another one I really want to try. Thanks for the tips & modifications! All your suggestions and tips are really helpful even for a beginner. Thanks again!!
Looks like a nice dress–never sewn a dress before–maybe it’s about time!
Very va-va-voom in a classic way! I love it unbelted and with the wide belt. very versatile. now to find the perfect fabric….
What a detailed review! Thanks so much. It almost convinced me that I could do it but I don’t know . . . I think I’ll stick to sewing for my little one. He is much easier to please than I am! What about a blog post or forum string about good patterns for beginners at sewing garments for yourself? Has it be addressed? I know Wendy Mullins has a lot of fans but there must be other good places to start too.
Thanks for the great review! It is definetely much cuter with the belt, although I want to try it in a knit for a more comfy version or maybe even a (dare I say?) materinity dress?
Love this dress and love anna maria horner’s fabrics, patterns etc! Thanks for a great review, it helps all of us new sewers figure some of the more tricky things out.
I love your friendly tone in the review. How nice… feels like I am sewing along with my sis! Your dress is super fun!
I love it with the belt!
What a great review! I think the dress looks great on you!
Very cute!! I like the wide contrasting belt better! Great fabric choices!
what a cute dress! maybe one day I’ll sew myself up one… that is if I ever finish all my other half-finished projects laying around
Lovely dress, thank you for the review. I think I am still too much of a beginner to try this pattern by myself right now, but this is the kind of dress I would love to work on with my mom. I think she would look great in it.
Thanks for the detailed review!
Delicious….especially with the belt. And I absolutely LOVE the fabric combo. One of these days, I will be brave enough to try something like this!!
Thanks for the review!
Thank you for this review. I really appreciate it. And thanks for all the tips on it, too!
Thanks for the great review. You did a beautiful job, and the dress is so cute! I think I may have to add it to the to-make list. I think it would look great in some of her Good Folks fabric.
Thanks for the review! I might have to try this one!
Thanks for your modification tips. It is really helpful to be able to read them ahead instead of searching online when one is stuck. I definetely will buy that pattern, now that I know where to be careful
I like the wide belt version! cute!
Thanks for the great review — I’ve been curious about this dress. The belted version is tres chic!
Awesome review. I may just have to try this one….everyone needs a new summer dress right?
I like the dress. Thanks for the review!
I am definitely not ready for this yet, but I love look of the unbelted version. Very relaxed!
Love the dress. Hoping to win a giveaway.
I always love Anna Marie Horner patterns!
I was unsure about trying this pattern but after seeing how lovely it looks I am going to start it this weekend!
Cute dress, thanks for the helpful review.
I love the finished product, but am afraid of the fact you had to alter it some. I am not good at that. Great job and thanks for all the details. I feel so much better about trying a pattern from that company. Looks really good.
I really like the dress the best with a contrasting belt. What a neat project.
Fantastic detailed review. Thank you. I think your version looks better than the picture at the top!
I’m in love with all things ‘Anna Maria’ and have some ‘Good Folks’ yardage that I would love to dedicate to this dress!
What a great and detailed review! I’m so inspired to buy fabric and start sewing!
Great review! I’m a very-beginner sewing and I found it easy to conceptualize with what you wrote, and get excited about when I might be ready to try something like this. Thanks!
Great review, I love how thorough you are, as you mentioned some things I never would have thought of. It looks like a great pattern to try when I have both girls in school and some actual free time. Right now, I may find myself frustrated. Boo!
Thanks for the review! I will have to keep the tips in mind if I make up this dress.
Thanks for the pattern review! All of the photos help me visualize the project so much better. And the belt is perfect!
I love this dress. It looks like such a classic summer piece.
This is a really helpful review – I love the way the dress turned out, a beautiful choice of fabric. Never used these patterns before, so it’s interesting to read the tips!
Great review. Beautiful dress!
I like the belt with it.
A little more complicated than my skill level now, but it looks like something I could tackle in the future! Thanks for the review!
Very cool! all those comments/hints/how-tos are soooo informative. I love that~~~
Thank you, Christine
The dress is beautiful!
GREAT review! Super pattern, huh?!
I just love your reviews!!! I am going to get the courage really soon to attempt clothing
Thanks, Heather
Great review! Love the Amy Butler fabric- you’ve got me inspired now!
Love this with the belt. Great Fabric!
Cute dress
I agree. It is a cute dress, but not really my style. Thanks for all of the great suggestions.
Your tips are great and i love this pattern!
Great review! I love the fabrics you used.
Thank you! I have been flip-flopping as to whether or not to give this pattern a go and after reading your review I to make it this weekend.
Thanks for that review! Such a cute dress!
Great review. I’m a beginner so the tips and pics on gathers and curves were really helpful. I might fight my fear and actually try this.
I love the dress neckline. It is a little shapeless for my body type, but the addition of a belt or something similar would be great for defining a waste line.
Thanks for the review!
Really cute dress! And thanks for the review and tips!
Looks like a great dress. Thank you for the review – the photos & tips are a great help.
nice job, Amy – I like the contrasting fabric you chose – good eye
This dress looks like a breezy summer favorite. Thanks for the honest review and the encouragement to try one myself!
very cool. i think i could do this! I am a beginner and want to start sewing some clothing….by reading reviews like this it becomes more of a possibility.
this review makes me much more excited about trying this dress. thanks! (especially for your pictures, they rock!)
I love this neckline. beautiful dress!
I actually saw this very dress in person (the one pictured on the pattern) when I was in Nashville visiting my sister-in-law. The model (AMH’s daughter) just so happened to be in the same shop I was. So, of course, I need to get on the ball now and make one of my own because it is so cute!
Your fabric combos are great…I (personally) love it without the belt best. Thanks for the review! Lots of good tips.
I’ve been eying this pattern for some time and it looks so cute on slim frames, but I have a feeling that it would make my curvy body just look preggo. It would be really cool if you could find some really neat patterns for us curvier body types! It’s so hard to find stuff in my size when I look around on blogs.
I love this dress. I have seen other people’s versions with great fabric combinations and now I really want to make it! Love the review, it is really helpful.
I did like this dress and it looks like something comfortable I would wear; It looked simple at first glance, but after reading your detailed review (which was a great one, by the way), I realized that there is more than first meets the eye when it comes down to actually sewing this. I have sewed for my daughter often, but I am reticent to do it for myself, although I really want to go ahead and just try it. I loved you choice of fabric. Thanks for reviewing this pattern.
WOW!!! That is a fabulously fun and sophisticated dress!!!!!
Thanks for the great review! I really want to try this pattern.
Love the dress. Thank you for the info, and I’ll have to make one up for the summer parties!
Your review is excellent; love the honesty about your own personal sewing habits! Please do more!
Nice review. I like this section of SMS a lot. That said, I am going to make a dress like this using this review.
Thanks so much Amy! This is a great review packed with Great tips! Can’t wait to try my hand at a dress!
That dress is so cute. I actually have several dresses like that, that I have bought lol. So I am wondering just how easy it is to do one??I am a new sewer and I am so excited to find your site!!!
I’m not usually a fan of big prints like that, but the dress looks really cute! Maybe I’ll have to rethink my stance…
I think it looks like it would make a beautiful dress, but would like to see how the proportions work across the sizes. The review is very informative and helpful though, especially the photos along with your review. If I decide to try this dress, I will definitely be double checking my progress against your photos.
Thanks
I LOVE it !!! wonderful review …
I think I will have to try this one! I never make myself anything, but I love this…especially with the belt.
It’s nice to have the advantage of someone else reviewing a pattern before trying to make something new. The end product is quite cute, I especially like the look with the belt.
This dress is so cute! I’ll definitely be making one of these this summer.
Excellent review.. very detailed. Love that dress will be buying the pattern!
I love the belted version. I’ve been a bit scared to try sewing anything but the ‘A line’ skirt, but I’m tempted by this one. Thanks for a fabulous review.
l
x
Love the dress, especially with the belt.
Great review – thank you! Looks like a lovely pattern.
Excellent! I just bought this pattern – not with me yet though – so this is a great heads up – thanks so much – I love this honest kind of reveiw!!
Very cute dress, and great review!
This dress is beautiful–I don’t sew but want to, so, SO, SEW (ha ha!) badly! Maybe someday I can get a sewing machine. I sew very well by hand, but that’s about it!
love
Rachel B.
I love your blog and how it has helped me capture some creative ideas to bring to my sewing room. Other wise I wouldn’t know where to go. I have enjoyed sewing so much as a stress reliever and I am glad you all are apart of that. Happy Memorial day. I am blessed to have a husband who has served bravely and proudly and I honor him and all the other troops. I also hope i win the giveaway. Teehee.
)
Your review is very thorough. Thanks for that.
So nice to have an honest opinion and such detailed explanation of a pattern! Thanks!
This is such a cute dress! How great is it to have someone go through the pattern first and have their notes. Thank you!
Awesome dress.. love the fabric!
This is an amazing review! I see this dress in a whole new light now. I love AMH’s patterns and fabrics, but the pattern for this dress just didn’t grab me at first. Thanks to this review, with all of the views and variations, I really would like to give this dress a shot.
Thanks so much for all of the details, making this dress will go so much faster with this thorough review.
So helpful! thanks!
This dress looks stunning and that belt just makes it perfect for an evening out. It’s good to have a peek at the pattern to see what the instructions are like.
I love the fabric of the original, and of the one Amy chose. That would be the hardest part for me, finding a fabric that I would be happy with. Wonderful, helpful review!
The last one with the belt is good
It looks really cute. I think it might be one of those dresses that you don’t know ’til you try it on whether it will look good on you or not, though.
Lovely dress and agreat review!Thank you for sharing.
I love the fabric and your choice of the second belt is especially pretty
Thanks for all the tips. Your dress looks fantastic!
I love the addition of the wide belt to the dress. It just gives it such a sharp look.
Thanks so much for the review! I’ve been on the fence with this pattern, but think I might have to give it a go! I love it with the big belt!
I really love how thorough you are in this review (and I really really love your sensible ‘pattern difficulty’ rating that even I can understand)!
such a great dress and thank you so much for the review! Something I definitely would like to try… and I love the great tips that you add to make it easier for the rest of us!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for the review! I’m fairly new to sewing and reading this helps so much!
i’ve been curious about this dress and it helps so much to see the dress in other fabrics and to read an honest review. thanks for the great review!
Thank you for the reviews!!
What a fantastic review! And such a cute dress!
Cute dress! I’m always too intimidated to make clothes myself but I may give this a whirl. Thanks!
I feel as thought I’m ten times better of a sewer than I was before I started reading this review. Thank you!
This is such a cute dress, thanks for such a great review!
tirzahjoy
What a great review – really thorough. I would have never chosen the fabric for a dress, but it looks GREAT! I love the belted version.
Lorrie
so very cute! i can’t wait to make one. thanks for the tips!
so cute! very thorough review and sounds like a winner of a pattern!
Great fabric choice! Love it.
Great pattern review! I LOVE this dress! Its so cute and I love the idea of adding a belt! I think it would also look really cute as a tunic!! I’m going to have to try this one for a fun, flirty summer dress!
I love the fabric you choose! I have been considering this pattern because it looked simple. You review is very helpful & points out many of the things that would likely having me give up mid project! I think after reading this I will probably pass because I have to do a FBA as it is & it sounds like just way to much fussing. Even though it may not be your usual style, your dress turned out awesome!
what a cute dress! and a VERY thorough and helpful review. Thank you.
Looks like a great, fun dress for summer!
Cute dress! Even cuter font!
Super cute dress!
Great review… thanks for including your photos. I’m amazed at how Anna Maria just keeps coming up with such fabulous designs…
Hi there! I am working on a muslin version of this dress and am stumped on attaching the Front Yolk to the dress… thank you for the pictures, but i do have one more question. Do I need to make the shoulder straps of the dress “conform” or follow the shape of the yolk, or vice-versa? (Pardon the wording, I just turned the sewing machine on for the first time EVER two weeks ago) It’s difficult to tell what to do when all I see is it doesn’t want to meet uniformly. I hope that makes sense! Thanks for any help
I first saw this pattern when it came out and i thought..yes ! definitely something i will make and that time i was inexperience in sewing.I ended up making two of them and just fell in love with it ! the pattern is easy enough for the beginners.Absolutely adorable dress for summer since i live in Thailand so it is hot here all year long.I made shorter one to wear with leggings as well..cute cute dress.