Wednesday 5 June 2013

Two Staple Dresses




The staple dress is a pattern designed by April Rhodes and downloadable as a pdf to buy.  The simple shape and construction lends itself to many iterations.  I have to say the simplicity is one thing that attracted me to the pattern. 

If like me you have seriously limited sewing time and often sew with a small person or two talking or shouting at you while  throwing breadsticks and assorted toys across the room, then you too will welcome this pattern.  It consists of a front and a back piece, armhole and neck facings and two side pockets.  I made it first in polka dot spotted black cotton.  This stuff is hard to photo! I squeezed it out of two metres by making the  pockets in another fabric, and it is a wee bit short. for my liking. I still wear it though, just over cropped leggings.   I shortened the pattern by an inch and cut a small on the shoulders and neck, grading to a medium for the bust and back to a small for the skirt.    

The waist is simply elasticated.  Very forgiving for one like me as I have a fat little tummy and my size is still shifting post baby.  That shifting size means I am wary of making anything too fitted.  The top has quite a lot of ease. 
The cotton fabric used for the first dress is  quilting weigt and you can see it bunches up a bit, creating a pouffy effect.  I still wear it though.  For the second dress I used a lighter weight cotton which hangs better.  It was from my mum's sewing room and looks kind of Liberty-ish.  I can really feel the difference in the way the two dresses hang on me.  I made this one a bit longer than the first as I had more fabric.  I just cut to the line of the shorter version in the pattern. 


I like the side pockets, though I know many sewers feel they spoil the line.  But I always need pockets.  I have noticed in Me Made May that those skirts I have without pockets are hardly worn.  I have to hide my keys and phone and multiple choking hazards  from RG throughout my day. I pick up bits of lego, hairslides, coins and quickly shove them in my pocket to put away later.  I also have hayfever and need a hanky!  


Then, I made the dress a second time using some floral cotton  fabric from my mum's stash clearout.  It is a lighter weight than the dotty cotton and I think it hangs better, and creases less.  I had been saving this fabric to make a crepe dress but realised I didn't have enough.  I made the skirt to the specified pattern length and feel better with this length.  It just hits mid knee when I stand still. 





Close up of the fabric, but also please note my navy nails!  I finally used a Christmas gift of a manicure voucher





I now want to try the dress in a viscose or rayon fabric.... I like the way I can think of multiple variations from this one simple pattern.  Has anyone else tried the Staple Dress?

15 comments:

  1. could tell me your email so I can send you my address, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops thought we d emailed before....minnadoshouse@gmail.com xx

      Delete
  2. These are great, I love a simple sew and find I get more wear out of styles like this. I could see it belted & over skinny jeans too. Maybe even made in jersey as well. So versatile!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you...funnily I just scored a large length of pale yellow jersey in the charity shop, so may use that as the next staple dress!

      Delete
  3. Forgot to say nails are FAB!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really cute! I like them both! They look really easy to wear.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love these two dresses! Especially the second ... SO Liberty-esque! Your mom had quite the stash :-). I bet it would look stunning in a rayon, I keep eyeing rayon dresses in a similar cut on the street, and the drape and movement makes for a really lovely garment. Pockets - if they're essential, then they belong in every garment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I agree a rayon would be great. My mum did have an amazing stash...still has in fact. There is a whole room to clear and I have only just begun. Mostly quilting stuff now though!

      Delete
  6. I'm just starting my staple dress.... I'm sewing it in voile which is making my slightly nervous because its so thin, but we shall see! Yours are adorable. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, voile sounds lovely. I am looking forward to seeing the end result. :)

      Delete
  7. I love the flower print! My struggles with garment sewing continue, nothing that I try seems to work. Maybe this one could be a winner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you should try it for sure! Just pick s fabric that drapes well. xx

      Delete