Last week, I took some time away from obligatory sewing and pattern design to do some pleasure sewing – you know, making something for myself just…because. No blog post due, no occasion that demands a new outfit, no self-imposed deadline. Just sewing for fun. That really is the best kind, right? Sometimes I forget that. I start hating sewing when it becomes a chore, and that’s when I know I need to just pick a pattern I like, buy a couple yards of fabric and RELAX.
I chose The Tank Dress by Sew Caroline. I have had this pattern in my stash since its release, but I just haven’t gotten around to sewing it. I’m so glad I did though because it was an absolute dream to make. My always-in-flux measurements (thanks, babies) at the time of this post are 34-26-36 which put me smack dab in the middle of an XS and S. I went with the small, but looking at these photos, I *think* I could have gone down to the smallest size? Or maybe an XS at the chest graded out to a S at the hips. Either way, I feel really cute and comfortable in this dress as it is.
I chose to do the pockets (which I never do), but I don’t know that I’d do them next time. I know some people are all about the pockets. ALL the pockets, ALL the time, right? They’re just not really me. I find they’re usually more of something to get bunched up unattractively on my hips instead of something useful. You’ve seen my phone, right? It’s huge – like a mini laptop. It doesn’t fit in pockets. And I always have a huge-ass diaper bag over my shoulder. So pockets? Meh. If I did do them again, I’m probably sew them down to the front of the dress so they stay put. But that’s just my own personal preference. All you pocket people can start hating on me now.
The fabric is a nice linen blend from Jo-Ann. All you fiber purists can dis on linen blends all you want to, but this laundry-hating mamma LURVES some wrinkle-free garment care. And that’s what this fabric delivers. Deeeeeeee-vine.
I love this pattern and can see myself sewing lots of these for easy summer wear. I think my favorite thing about it is that I can bend over and move around without showing my butt, but the shirt-tail hem gives the illusion of a shorter dress (which I like). I also love that there’s nothing binding on me anywhere – the waist is nipped in, but it’s not tight. It was also super easy-to-sew. I followed the instructions exactly except that I did a narrower hem – 1/4″+1/4″ instead of 1/2″ + 1/2″. Oh, and I used 1/2″ elastic at the back waist instead of 3/4″ because…ahem…that’s what I had on hand.
…and I love it!
Have you made The Tank Dress by Sew Caroline yet? What do you have on the pleasure sewing docket?
laurenydahl
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