Annabelle Striped Chevron Dress by Violette Field Threads

I wouldn't say it often, but this time I will.  "This is a dreamy dress!"

I love the aesthetic of Ericka and Jessica at Violette Field Threads, and this pattern is no exception.  It offers many options for fabric combinations and creativity.  The best news is that you can purchase it for around $4 as part of the Girls' Bundle UP sale at Pattern Revolution until February 2.  I've reviewed and recommend another pattern in the bundle, The Potato Chip Skirt from Tie Dye Diva, so now you only have to pick 4 (or more!) for your own bundle and go Bundle UP.  This sale is a great opportunity to add new patterns to your pdf pattern library without breaking the bank - the sale price is at least half off what you would pay for each pattern at regular price.  If you haven't been following the Pattern Revolution Girls Bundle Up blog tour, be sure to visit the other bloggers to see the ways they sewed the patterns.  Also, you can enter the Sewing Bee and Giveaway for your chance at amazing prizes.

My version uses a navy cotton bandana print from the Hatbox Collection for Cotton+Steel (spring 2014), a pink linen, and an ivory lace overlay on the pink linen with the optional inset added to the bodice.  Photographing this dress in the middle of a midwest winter is not ideal.  I think I'll need to go visit my parents and grandparents in Florida so I can try again on a sunny warm beach!

Options

• Front inset on bodice is optional - this piece is sewn on top of the bodice piece, making it a great option for adding embroidery or other details
• Piping, lace, or other trim between optional placket and bodice

Sizes

• 2T-10 years

Features

• Maxi-length dress with three chevron stripes
• Wide shoulder straps with appropriate coverage and hold without sagging or slipping.
• Back elastic on bodice
• Sizing based on finished garment measurements
• One file for both pattern and tutorial. 

PDF File Information
I appreciate that you don't have to print all pages - they provide a guide for what pages to print based on the size you intend to sew.  I had no problem with the pattern pieces or instructions.  Pattern pieces include the pattern name and designer as well as grainline indications.  They do include notches for placement of the strap on the bodice.  The layout of the tutorial is basic (I would consider it typical of many pdf patterns) with photographs (instead of illustrations) and instructions in an outline/paragraph style with the appearance and format of a Word document.  Sizing is done by finished garment length with the suggestion to sew your child's RTW size.  I found the tutorial easy to follow.

Things You Might Like to Know

When choosing your size, be sure to pay attention to the finished measurement chart which recommends sewing your child's RTW (ready-to-wear) size.  Don't be afraid to size up on the dress.  My daughter is a very average size 2 in RTW at 27 months old.  The size 2 was short for her.  It is my fault for not paying closer attention to the length in the finished measurement chart.  I could have easily done a size 3 and then modified the back elastic, if necessary.  As I did it, the size 2 is an ok fit but snug and without growing room.  I didn't have enough length to hem, so I did a rolled hem.  I'll add a true hem later so my other daughter can wear it in 15 months.  I imagine it would fit some 18 month olds with the correct or a shortened hem.

Also, if your daughter is on the higher end of the size range (at least around size 2), consider using the larger size strap.  This dress could fit better through the arms and be easier to put on with a little more room in the arms.  I am not saying it is a pattern fault, just a couple things that I'll keep in mind when I sew this again (soon)!

The optional inset is backed, so that section of the dress is perfect for embroidery.  There are four layers at this part of the dress (bodice front, bodice lining/backing, inset front, inset lining/backing) and in my case there are five layers with the lace overlay.

I'm thinking of using stretch thread in my bobbin next time when I sew the skirt to the bodice.  I wonder if that would add some give?

I will certainly sew this dress again soon.  I plan to make another for my daughter to wear this summer.  I loved this fabric combination but used every last inch of the Cotton+Steel bandana print, and my fabric shop is out of it.  Maybe I'll hunt around the internet for more - it would be sweet to make a matching set with a larger size for the girls when they are bigger.  

Links:

Shop Pattern Revolution Bundle UP Sale
Enter Pattern Revolution's Sewing Bee and Giveaway
See my other post for the Bundle UP tour (Potato Chip Skirt by Tie Dye Diva)
See the other Violette Field Threads dress I've sewn (Josephine)

Creative Sewing Challenge Project - Violette Field Thread's Jospehine

Violette Field Threads
Josephine Dress with Flutter
Sleeve option.

Update: more pictures and results HERE

I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from meeting a goal.  I tend to set my sights too high and not enjoy that feeling as often as I'd like.  But this week - I met a goal!  I submitted a completed project to a sewing competition I wanted to enter.

My favorite local(ish) fabric shop - The French Seam - sponsors The Creative Sewing Challenge during our State Fair.  This is the second year for the have sponsored the Challenge and I thought it would be really fun to enter.  I had dreams of pattern hacks I would do, or creative touches I would add to my project, but my underlying goal was just to enter.  When it came down to it, finishing a straight-forward project was all I could make time to accomplish.  (even that involved late nights and pictures taken in a fast food parking lot!)  While it would have been fun to add a few other touches, I am really pleased with the finished garment!  I have no dreams of placing (the judging is this coming Sunday), but in my mind I won my own victory by completing a lovely dress and meeting my goal of entering.

Fabric

The theme for this year's challenge is "Inspired By Color" and I immediately knew I wanted to use this cotton lawn fabric from Robert Kaufman, which I already had in my stash.  I tend to like a lot of Robert Kaufman's fabrics (see this project, for example) and particularly liked the small floral pattern with bright blues, orange, pink and green.  This is from the London Calling 3 line (bright floral).

Pattern

pin-tuck rows and ruffles along
button panel on Josephine

The pattern is Violette Field Thread's Josephine using the dress option with flutter sleeves and the ruffle on the button strip.  The pattern was clear and easy to follow, including a diagram to show the best way to lay out the pattern pieces on your fabric.  The pattern has rows of pin-tucks on either side of the center button panel, bias tape on the inside of the collar, and several options to customize the pattern to your preferences (blouse or dress, flutter or longer sleeves, with/out ruffle, with/out sash).

Something New

Although I didn't have time to do some of the things with the pattern I had hoped to do (I originally wanted to turn this into a romper with shorts.  I'd love to make another dress with a full lining.  I had also thought of doing the blouse option with the Whitney pants), I was able to try some new things with the pattern.  It was my first Josephine - and I will definitely make more.  It was also my first Violette Field Threads pattern actually sewn - I own several, but haven't made others yet.  Also, in honor of the sponsor of the Sewing Challenge, and because it was on my Sewing Techniques to Try list, I used french seams for the first time.  I'd read about them, and if you aren't familiar, you can find a good tutorial here.  I found them easy to do, with a very nice finish.

  

Figuring out how to attach the sleeves took me a few minutes, but other than that it went well and I really like the finished look.  I debated back and forth about top-stitching the seams down and around the collar.  The pattern doesn't directly call for it, and I keep going back and forth about whether I wish I'd done it.  Usually, I do top-stitch, but for some reason, I didn't know if I wanted that for this dress.

french seaming on side seam

french seaming on sleeve seam

This week I am looking at everything I have to do to be ready for homeschool to start next week and feeling very overwhelmed.  But I am taking a moment to enjoy one goal that has been accomplished!  Overall, I am really pleased with the dress, and I have enough of the fabric left to make a coordinating outfit for Little Sister so both girls can match next spring and summer.