Made by Me: Style Arc Dixie dress

Hello there. 

After several weeks at the beginning of the year with hardly any sewing being done around these parts I seem to be getting my mojo back.  I've made my second Style Arc pattern of the year, and I'm a definite convert!

This one is the Dixie top, which was the free pattern for February (you get a free pattern with every).  In my opinion it's worth purchasing even if you've missed it as a freebie.   As you'll see I've lengthened it to dress length. 

The top has a lovely curved seam front and back, which is completely lost in this fabric, but you can see here on the pattern illustration.

I'll definitely be making this again as a top, but decided to lengthen it as at the moment it's really too cold here to be wearing woven tops with elbow length sleeves. 

Style Arc patterns don't come with very detailed instructions, but I found the ones included with this pattern more than adequate for my needs.  I'm not sure they'd suit a beginner though, as there is a certain amount of assumed knowledge required.  The only bit that confused me slightly were the directions for sewing the bias strip to the neckline, but I just attached it as I thought and it's worked fine.

Other than that, everything went together beautifully.  I found the pattern drafting to be excellent, each pattern piece fitted exactly to the others.  All the notches were perfectly aligned and the sleeves went in without a huge amount of easing required. 

I sewed a size 10, and the only alteration I made was a 1 inch sway back adjustment, which is normal for me. 

You can just about see the curved yoke seam in the above photo. 

The fabric is some I've had in my stash for ages.  I'm not sure what it is, I think a viscose/poly blend.  It's quite lightweight, with a medium drape to it.  I bought it with the intention of making a maxi dress, but I think it works really well for this. 

As well as lengthening the dress, I lengthened the sleeves.  The original ones come to just above the elbow, while mine are 3/4 length, with a turn back cuff.   I was originally going to make them full length, but they looked too much.  3/4 length is much better. 

The back neck is finished with single button and handworked button loop.  The pattern gives instructions for a bias fabric loop for the button closure, but mine was too big and thick. 

I apologise for the lack of modelled photos, but its so dark and gloomy here, as well as rainy that I couldn't find anywhere in the house to get a good photo of me wearing it.  Yesterday the weather was gorgeous - almost Spring like - and would have been ideal for photographs. 

I'll be sewing several more Style Arc patterns in the weeks and months to come - I seem to be a bit addicted to them at the moment.