Back when I was making my fractured penguin mini quilt, I contacted Violet Craft (who created the forest abstractions patterns that inspired my design) to make sure she was ok with me making a pattern so similar to hers. Not only was she super sweet about it, she responded and told me she liked the dresses I’d been posting on instagram so much that she wanted to send me some of her fabric so I could make a dress out of it!
I love Violet’s fabric, and already had several of her Brambelberry Ridge prints on my wishlist. She sent me some shimmer reflection in mist. It’s hard to see in some of these photos, but the fabric is covered in little hexagons, and the gold ones are metallic! They shine in a lovely way in person, and I love them.
I tried out a new pattern for this dress, the Anna dress by By Hand London. It has kimono-type sleeves (no inset sleeve seams!) and cute little pleats under the bust instead of darts.
After making a muslin, the only change I made was to lengthen the bodice by about 1.5″, which is a pretty typical alteration for me. The skirt being so much more fitted, though, shows that maybe I shouldn’t have added as much length in the back? There will be more versions of this pattern, and I’m thinking about trying a sway-back alteration next time. Any suggestions?
Violet was also kind enough to send along a bit of the coordinating ‘bow tie plaid’ print. When I’d seen the name of this print, I knew I wanted a coordinating bow tie for Eddie out of it! I used the same (free!) pattern from Sew Like My Mom that I did for the bow tie that went with my Easter Dress. I see many more bow ties in my future! And while matching ones are nice, I really liked that this one totally went with my dress (same colors, even the gold metallic), but wasn’t quite the same print. Plus, it really is a great print great for bow ties!
Dress Specs:
Pattern: Anna Dress by By Hand London and (slightly modified) Sew Like My Mom bow tie.
Size/Pattern Changes: US size 6, lengthened bodice by 1.5″.
Fabric: Quilting Cotton – Shimmer Reflections and Bow Tie Plaid by Violet Craft
It’s such a great dress! Fits beautifully and the shimmer from the gold mixed with the other color is so pretty! Looks good with the bowtie as well.
I love everything you make… could you add the option of subscribing by email please? Then I won’t miss anything 🙂
There used to be an email subscribe link – not sure where it went! I added it back though 🙂 Happy to keep you updated!