Shop Girl Janine was inspired by our spring window display, and made her own versions of the Emerald dress and the top! Check out her thoughts on the process below.
Pattern(s) Used: Emerald Dress/Top by Made by Rae
Fabric(s) Used: Cotton, Brussels Washer Linen/Rayon, & Liberty of London silk
Did you make a muslin? Yes! I used an old cotton shower curtain I had (that had an interesting waffle weave to it) and made a medium dress. I measured in between a small/medium so I figured this would end up too big (and likely too short) for me, but knew my sister would love it if it didn’t work for me. And as it happens, I was correct.
Did you make any alterations to the pattern? Yes, for the mockup I automatically added an inch to the torso (I always do since I’m nearly 6’ tall, and this dress pattern states it was designed for someone who is 5’6”). It ended up not being near enough, so for the yellow brussels washer (linen/rayon blend we carry in the shop), version I made sure to add another full inch to the skirt length, and that seemed to do it.
Did you learn any new techniques/skills? I’ve not made many things cut on the bias, so this was great to work on that skill, and I’ve never done a faced hem like this. Both those things made what is a relatively simple dress a bit elevated, and fun/slightly more challenging to make.
Do you have any tips for construction? Read the full instructions before you start! The pattern has a lot of great extra tips and they are pretty critical to make sure the dress comes out looking right. I was very grateful for the tip about cutting slippery fabric on the grain instead of the bias (for my silk blouse).
What did you like about the pattern/fabric? I really like how the fun details – like the bias cut & curved hem, make a simple dress a bit more polished looking. And it has pockets! For the blouse, if you cut the grain it’s a great big scrap buster! I made my blouse from about 1 yard (and change) of some leftover silk I had from a previous project.
What did you dislike about the pattern/fabric? I do wish the waist was a bit more defined, though I guess that defeats the purpose of a shift dress. At any rate, this dress will be perfect for hot summer days, puttering around my house, working on my garden and plants.
Would you make it again? I would love to make a version out of stripes to get a cool chevron pattern, but if I do, I will likely just make a blouse, because the thought of lining those stripes up for an entire dress…
