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Simplicity 2444 at last

Tuesday, June 5

Have you ever had one of those projects where you know it should not take long to sew but you find yourself working endlessly on it? I had just that with this dress. It is Simplicity 2444, a really simple but nice pattern. I first saw it here, started working on it, got side tracked and made another mission maxi dress, then saw this, and knew I had to crack on.


I love this dress, and I know I shall be making more before summer is over. And I shall make more come autumn and winter, and next year spring. Crazy right? I seem to be loving every pattern I work on these days. Lets hope my luck continues. Maybe the fact that I had a period of not making anything is making me more appreciative of every project I complete.







This is the first non-knit dress I was going to work on since Noah came, so I was not quite sure of my sizing. I did not make a muslin though. I traced a size 14 unto some baking parchment paper, and cut the pattern. I used dressmakers carbon paper to trace all the notches, darts and seam allowances, then basted all the seam allowances by hand, so it would make it easier for me when it was time to sew. Can you tell I have been watching Susan Khalje's craftsy class? Surprisingly, I quite liked doing all the preparatory work. It really does make the actual sewing a lot easier. I plan on doing more of this in my future projects. Hopefully my days of rushing through projects are well and truly behind me.






I used Susan's instructions to insert a hand picked zip. It was easier than I thought, and loved sewing with my hand so much that I inserted the sleeves by hand sewing them as well. I love the control it gives you. Sleeves, I have heard are quite fiddly to work with, especially set in sleeves. I found it really easy to do it by hand, and I wonder if they will last. Susan Khalje says if you coat your thread with beeswax and press it before sewing, it will last. I hope so. Oh well, if it starts to disintegrate, I shall sew it with my machine, but for now, WE LOVES IT!!

I took these pictures out in the rain as well as inside the house. I know....I'm crazy. I don't even want to imagine what my neighbours would be thinking. They are probably nominating me now for the most vain person in the world. Peu importe.



Now time to play under the rain










Oops, the rain is getting serious now.....


Best make a run for the house......





 If you are looking for a good pattern for a simple summer dress, this is a strong contender. It has four darts at the front. Cool right? Those little monsters make it fit really nicely, and I think if you use a plain fabric, the darts would make for interesting details. The only thing I did not like about the pattern, was that it is a bit big around my neck. Do you know how I can address that? I don't mind it as is, but if I wanted it more fitting at the top, I would love to know how to achieve that.


51 comments:

  1. Beautiful dress! The neck might fit a little closer if you make a 12 on top and do a Full Bust Adjustment. I have been thinking of making this dress, and you have pushed me over the edge. Too pretty.

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    1. Thanks livinginred. I've never done a full bust adjustment before, hhmm, this sounds interesting.

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  2. Oh my god, this dress is stunning...you look just gorgeous Dibs! I've been eyeing that pattern up for months and now I think I'm convinced I must have it ;o) I often have problems with neck/shoulder fitting, so I always tend to cut 1-2 sizes smaller around the neck, shoulders (and sometimes armholes) and then I cut the side seams of the bodice to my actual size. Seems to have worked ok, even if it isn't the right way...!

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    1. I'll look into that. I can't wait to make another version, so i am quite excited to try all possible solutions

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  3. great dress - love the print too. I have this pattern on my to-sew list because I've seen so many nice versions of the actual dress but also lovely dresses using it as the basis for the pattern. It just seems so versatile!

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    1. you are right. There's so much you can do with this pattern Helen.

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  4. LOVE THIS! You look awesome lady!

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  5. Beautiful dress - love the fun bright print. Great for summer :-) I often have a problem with gaping at the neckline and have finally found out how to combat it. I have written a tutorial on how I do it on my blog, I hope you find it useful :-)

    http://unique-1985.blogspot.com/2012/05/making-muslin-is-essential-trust-me.html

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    1. Thanks Sarah, I will take a look now.

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous! You look so beautiful in this dress! Great job!

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  7. It's lovely!! I had a nosey at the pattern in your link, and there are some lovely different neck lines. Your fabric is fab, and it looks great on you! (I love your shoes too!!) :)

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    1. Ahhh, those shoes. I could barely walk. Still, I hope I will get used to them. I got them from Aldo.

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  8. Hey gorgeous!! This is lush! I am getting addicted to couture after The Sew Retro Bombshell Dress saga I've been going through!!

    You do this dress by Susan Khalje and then we will swap... You do the bombshell and I'll do the Susan Khalje dress. We can compare and contrast!!

    Mwah! X

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    1. Deal. Though I am still trying to work myself up to do the bombshell. I am following your progress with interest.

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  9. Looks amazing, that really turned out well. Hmm I don't want to do a size smaller and do FBA adjustments - I have that problem with woven tops too so I guess I better follow livinginred's suggestion!

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    1. the thought of doing the FBA is quite daunting. then again I suppose this is how we learn.

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  10. Looks fantastic, and that fabric is gorgeous!

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  11. I'm becoming more and more drawn to that pattern, everytime I see it I think I must get it. Another thing for my to-do list!

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  12. I am running out of words to express delight: WOW! OOOH! FAB! Seriously, Ms Dibs, I really LOVE this dress :D Dolly Clackett's version made me like the shape, but your fabric choice makes me like it even more. It might be time for me to make an actual fitted-bodice-type-dress. If it goes wrong I will blame you! ;)

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    1. hihihihihihi. It is not a complicated pattern. You have made things which I think are much more challenging than this pattern, so I know if you do decide to make it, you will ace it.

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  13. this is such a darling dress.. i want it x

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  14. Your dress looks very pretty on you. You could make more of them using this pattern and different colours and I'm sure they'll all look fantastic on you.

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    1. Thats true. I have high plans for many more dresses with this pattern.

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  15. This is now the third beautiful version of Simplicity 2444 I've seen (Dolly Clackett and Stitch and Witter are the other two). It's so lovely Dibs and you look wonderful in it. May have to crack and buy the pattern! X

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    1. I strongly advice you to go for it. You will love it Jane, its right up your street.

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  16. Lovely dress, Dibs! You look absolutely gorgeous x

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  17. You look fantastic, the colour is great on you!!

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  18. Dibs I love this! Funnily enough, I picked up this very same pattern a few weeks ago when my local shop was having a sale on Simplicity patterns (awesome!). I loved it when I bought it but I love it even more now (if that were possible) having seen your version. The print is great and I also really like how you have acessorised it with the pink belt - a fantastic "pop" of colour. I can't wait to make mine up now!

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    1. I know you will make a beautiful version, judging by the summer dresses you made last year.

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  19. Such a lovely dress, you look great!! Love the print on the fabric too, you have such good style- I'm not envious- much lol!

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  20. Gorgeous dress gorgeous fabric - you look great. x

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  22. Beautiful dress! Love both the pattern and the fabric.

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  23. The fabric just shines with this pattern! I love that you paired it with a bright pink belt - they work perfectly together. What a great dress!

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  24. I love your dress. Perfect pattern and perfect fabric.Looks great on you..Happy sewing.

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  25. Oh, beautiful dress! I was wondering if you could tell me where you purchased the fabric? I have been looking for something exactly like that for a project I have in mind, and everything I see doesn't seem to quite fit the bill, but this one is spot on!

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    1. I got it from goldhawk road last year. I could pop there and find out if they still have it if you want.

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    2. I'm planning on heading over there this weekend or next, so if you can remember which shop it came from, that would be great- thanks so much!

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    3. It was in the first shop on the side of Goldhawk road station

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  26. What a gorgeous dress! I have this pattern on my 'want' list. Looks like such a fun dress to wear.

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  27. Adorable dress and the fabric is fab too!! Dont you just love the styling of this dress, fits you perfecto.

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  28. The dress looks beautiful, and I cannot deal with the awesomeness of those shoes!

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  29. Oh hey pretty lady! You look great!

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  30. You could fold a dart at the neckline to take out some of the fullness, bagginess, etc. I've done that before and it worked. I came across this blog post that explains it a bit better: http://shoesandsewing.blogspot.com/2011/08/s2444-lollipop-dress.html

    Your dress is lovely :)

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