Jennifer Lauren - Laneway Dress

I'm sure if you've been sewing as long as I have you would have to agree that the internet has been a wonderful thing for us.  Instead on relying on books and magazines as our only source of new ideas, and relying on the big pattern making companies, we can now search the internet for indie designers all over the world.

There are some talented people out there.

Although I can pattern draft, I work a full time job, so don't really have the time to draft and test my own patterns.  The process is long, but, worthwhile.  However, when a girl just wants to make a garment in a weekend, the girl wants what the girl wants and so, I use patterns from other designers.  I can use my skills to alter a pattern, when I need to (believe me, as I've got older, I need to alter more).

I purchased the the Jennifer Lauren Laneway Dress pattern after I got picked as one of her pattern testers for the Afternoon Shift Dress. I really liked the style of the pattern, and knew that the design would suit me.

I had purchased these vintage buttons ages ago and decided they would look great on the bodice fold on this dress:

Yes, yes, I could have relied on my stash, that I have sworn several times that I would not add to. I failed. On a fabric shop expedition, I came across a poppy fabric in the remnants bins at Rathdowne Fabrics 2.5 metres for $14.50, how could I resist?  It was red, and spoke to me, and it evoked memories of travelling in the UK and seeing poppies wild in the fields near Stonehenge.  (Trouble was, I had to go back the next day to buy another 20 cm to finish the sleeves).

It was worth breaking my deal with myself, I absolutely love the finished garment.  The pattern itself allows for different bust cup sizes, and I added length by adding a black boarder at the hem of the dress.

The PDF pattern is easy to put together.  I quite like the way this has been planned by Jennifer.  Instead of having 50 pages printed out and put together in one length, she has planned it into more manageable pieces.  (I don't then cut this, I use this as my master and trace off it).

I like the fit of this pattern (including any adjustments I made for my measurements).

I think that the fabric is absolutely fabulous for this pattern.  Having said that, I have just bought some wax print fabric, but first, I must tackle a Gertie Hirsch pattern.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

4 November 2017

I was nicely surprised to see that The Curvy Sewing Collective featured this dress on their blog.  I am flattered.

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