I selected this pattern as part of the Pink Drink Commando group for Westercon. It’s a very comfortable 1950s house dress to wear, but assembly requires significant changes to the instructions provided.
It is definitely a dress that should have a muslin made first, as much to see how you’re going to assemble the diamond as to assess for fit. Note that there is NO seam (or cutting line) that is on the straight of the grain (even the center back seam).
I recommend sewing the front half of the diamond/pocket assembly to the front dress piece, and similarly with the back pieces, thus making a “regular” front and back with a top-half and bottom-half side seam because of the pockets. Then sew a top-half side seam and bottom-half side seam, then the pocket bottom seam. This is much easier than the recommended assembly with multiple tight angles and very large pieces of fabric. Top stitch the pocket to the dress (which they show in their photos).
The photo during assembly shows how the diamond inset/pocket piece fits along with the pocket facing with the altered method of assembly.
Christine Doyle –
I selected this pattern as part of the Pink Drink Commando group for Westercon. It’s a very comfortable 1950s house dress to wear, but assembly requires significant changes to the instructions provided.
It is definitely a dress that should have a muslin made first, as much to see how you’re going to assemble the diamond as to assess for fit. Note that there is NO seam (or cutting line) that is on the straight of the grain (even the center back seam).
I recommend sewing the front half of the diamond/pocket assembly to the front dress piece, and similarly with the back pieces, thus making a “regular” front and back with a top-half and bottom-half side seam because of the pockets. Then sew a top-half side seam and bottom-half side seam, then the pocket bottom seam. This is much easier than the recommended assembly with multiple tight angles and very large pieces of fabric. Top stitch the pocket to the dress (which they show in their photos).
The photo during assembly shows how the diamond inset/pocket piece fits along with the pocket facing with the altered method of assembly.