The Maxi Dress

This one was a doozy. It's Simplicity pattern 2587 - Cynthia Rowley Misses Dress



I have been wanting a maxi dress all summer. I finally got around to sewing one. Below is my review from patternreview.com (my first). People left such nice comments. It makes me really happy.


Pattern Description:
Empire waist maxi dress

Pattern Sizing:
I bought the 4-12 but I should have bout the 12-20. I am a relatively new sewer. Everything I've made before was sized s-m-l or was ready to wear sizing. I somehow never realized that pattern sizing was different. I wear a 10 or 12 in RTW so I cut the size 12.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, BUT... I ended up adding 3-inch panels to the sides of the bodice to make up for the fact that I cut a size way too small for me. I wish I had read the other reviews before I had cut the pattern and fused on all the interfacing. After reading another review stating that the skirt was too large, I decided not to size up the skirt and just sew the size 12 onto my adjusted bodice.
It does look like the photo but I think if I had made the skirt the same size as the bodice, it would have ended up much fuller than it appears on the photo.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Somewhat involved but not difficult.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Like the other reviewer I disliked that the pattern called for interfacing the midriff bands. I had already fused my interfacing before reading the reviews. It made the area so bulky, after trying to attach the zipper about 12 times I had to give up. I broke two heavy duty needles. When the needle didn't break, it jogged around the bulky area missing the zipper tape entirely. Finally when my zipper tape had holes in it from sewing and ripping out the thread so many times, I just sewed the back together, said a prayer and pulled the dress over my head. Luckily because of the style of the dress, and the fact that I'm small breasted, it worked out just fine.

Fabric Used:
Keri Beyer Proud Peacock light weight cotton

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
Had to add 3-inch panels to adjust the bodice from a size 12 to a 16/18. Sewed the size 12 skirt onto the now 16/18 bodice.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
It's such a distinctive style I probably won't make it again. But I would recommend it to someone as long as they read the reviews first.

Conclusion:
Despite the problems I had, I LOVE the finished product.