Simplicity 2444 aka the Lady Dress

Pattern Deets:

Simplicity 2444

Affections/objections:

I love the cape collar– it gives it a genuine vintage feel to the dress and for some reasons makes me feel like a lady!

I personally prefer a more fitted bodice than this one, I do like the point of difference of diagonal darts and they do give a cute line to the dress.

The skirt has way too much fabric for me and without a petticoat the pleats hang very limply.

Modifications:

There seems to be a drafting issue with the diagonal darts. I had to do a lot of messing around to get them to line up correctly with the skirt pleats.

I found the skirt very bulky and I ended up taking the skirt in quite a lot and removed the pockets while I was there. The pockets were hidden in the side seam but they gaped on my skirt.

Would you sew it again? And tell others to?

Even though this is a really pretty dress I won’t be sewing it again. I don’t have the need for two vintage party dresses like this and have other patterns that I prefer more. I would tell others to give it a go if they had the need for it (and the skills to work out what’s happening with the darts)

Wrap it up!

Pattern drafting issues aside, this is a cute style dress. I think it would suit being made in a stiffer fabric than cotton to ensure the skirt holds it shape, but as the dress uses almost 3 metres of fabric, its probably unlikely you’ll be making it in an expensive fabric which really limits its usability.