Funky Tunics/Dresses - Simplicity 2804

Simplicity 2804

I rarely ever sew a pattern twice (except for this and soon to be this). I tend to get bored with same details, however, I can definitely see the benefit because sometimes you find a better way to do something.

The second version (purple) of this dress was so much easier to sew than the first (green*). When I cut the fabric out weeks ago I was intimidated by the thin yet heavy weight of this rayon/spandex knit. When I was younger I sewed quite a few knit garments but knit with Spandex or Lycra wasn't readily available so I always used more stable knits. Now those I loved. I guess I just like fabrics with enough weight that they don't stretch out of shape.

Because this knit did. In fact, I hated cutting this stuff out, it oozed where it shouldn't have and got tugged out of place with the slightest touch. However I think I'm over it now. The feel of these dresses once finished changed my mind. Slinky and sexy feeling for sure.


On my nieces who actually do have perfectly beautiful faces

I actually made these for my twin nieces but I might have to buy some more this fall and make another for me in the purple. The twins are very athletic (and bustier) and the dresses fit them so much differently, in fact I probably should have made them one size larger for them and will just make it even one size smaller at the top (an 8 tapering down to a 10) for me.

I did buy a little bit more of the purple (so pretty!) to make a top that I cut out last weekend and even started on already. Yes, I know it's not on my to-do list but I don't want to give myself time to get scared of the fabric again, so...

Pattern: Simplicity 2804

Pattern Description: Knit mini dress or top with neckline variations and tie belt

Pattern Sizing: View A & B

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very much. There isn't much to them but I did appreciate that Simplicity wrote them with both regular machines and overlock machines in mind.

More photos here.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? What I liked was the simplicity and the drape of the design.

Fabric Used: Rayon/Spandex knit in Potent Purple and Calla Green from Jo-Ann Fabrics, which had some great colors at the time.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made both View A (the dress) and View B (the top) as dresses by adding the skirt panel from one to the other, resulting in dresses with different sleeve treatments. After making the dresses according to the printed measurements, I also felt they needed to come down a size. This is something you can't anticipate until the garment is practically finished. However; with this design alterations are easy as it only means increasing the side seam allowances by the desired amount.

I had a problem with the neckline of the green dress not only because the fabric had stretched but also because I hadn't figured out the right tension and length for the zig-zag stitch I used. It ended up stretching the fabric even more; in fact, the back neckline kept rolling to the wrong side. I set it aside and started on the purple version which was freshly cut out of the fabric and I was able to do it correctly. Therefore, I recut the binding strip and redid the neckline of the green dress.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes.

Conclusion: A very cool and sexy design that is an extremely quick sew and can be done in a few hours.

*Green dress photograph is before I redid the neckline and skirt portion.