Hullo, everyone! Raise your hand if you wait all year for Indie Pattern Month at The Monthly Stitch. Me, too! Or perhaps I will say moi, aussi as I am sharing a dress from a French indie pattern company for the dress challenge. I sewed up the Frida Dress from Wear Lemonade, which is based in the 10th arrondissement in Paris. www.makelemonade.com
This company is run by the lovely Lisa, who started as a fashion/lifestyle blogger, then developed a fashion line called Wear Lemonade. She releases a limited line of women’s fashions each season, and toward the end of the season releases patterns for some of her designs. I had some vintage cotton that was calling to be made into a modern shirtdress pattern like Frida.
I made a couple of alterations. First I added 3 inches in length to the skirt. This is one inch more than my standard alteration. Second, I could not find a 2 inch buckle for the self belt, so I used a 1 and 5/8″ Dritz buckle. This meant reducing the width of the belt pattern piece.
As you can see, I used eyelets for the belt, and they came out rather nicely. The belt pulls the waist in quite a bit, which I like, but if you prefer a straighter silhouette, the pattern shows some lovely examples of Frida without the belt. It looks awesome in chambray.
I added a few custom details. First, I French seamed wherever possible. (Did you know the French call it an English seam? Heh.) Second, I used bias tape on the edge of the neck facing and around the pocket bags to make the inside look more finished.
And I added in the included label. I do love a custom label.
All of the packaging for Wear Lemonade is really brilliant.
The pattern itself has an instruction booklet with step-by-step photos included. The instructions are written in French and English. Sometimes the English translation is a little off, but unless you are new to sewing, you shouldn’t have any difficulties.
I finished off with a handsewn hem.
Here I am wearing my new dress. I think it would be lovely with a petticoat underneath for a vintage look, but it is waaay to hot here right now for any fancy styling.
Au revoir!
