SUMMER SEWING PART 4: COOL SUMMER DRESSES

JALIE PATTERN # 3024

Wendy & Brenda at HAUS OF STITCHES in Humboldt, SK highly recommended this pattern so I bought it last year during the SK Stitches Conference. Brenda had made View B in a thickish black knit fabric like a Ponte and she was wearing it with a grey jacket – it looked really smart.

Did I make anything with this pattern last year? What do you think?!  I so often buy stuff and it lies around for ages before inspiration, time & energy allow me to actually put my expenditure to good use! Does this happen to you too? Bet it does as I can’t be the only one!

Jalie is a CANADIAN  company out of Quebec. I think I now own about 6 or 7 Jalie patterns and I can say that none of them have disappointed me. I do think the pattern instructions are a little minimal which is OK for an intermediate to advanced sewer even though I sometimes have to scratch my head a few times before I figure out what they mean. But it does all work out and the diagrams are pretty good.  HUGE multi-sizing – this pattern runs from little girls age 2-13 and adults size 4-22!! So it really is a pattern that will suit any size.

I made View C on the right (with the black & white stripe bodice) in the pic below. It sewed up SO fast I am calling it my “one hour dress”. No kidding…..after it is cut out, you sew & can walk out the door wearing the completed dress in an hour! I used a very thin knit print (this Jalie pattern is for knit fabrics only). Have made 2 dresses with view C (pics below) and definitely want to try view A & B as well…..soon?

This does not look like much on the hanger but I have received a number of compliments when I have worn this dress – and this despite the fact that I really need to lose the extra lbs that have slipped on while I wasn’t looking……don’t you hate that?

This is the exact same Jalie dress except that I finished off the neck & armhole edges + hem a little differently…..more  coming on this topic.

 I will be doing some follow-up blog posts on construction techniques when sewing with knits + how to finish the armholes, neck edge & hemline in the coming weeks. Watch for it in October or November: I will give you handy hints & tips + several options so you can ring the changes and not have all your garments looking the same.