Blue Swishy Dress - Simplicity 8637

Dresses have been on the cutting table quite a bit lately and here's a new one.  I absolutely love this dress, it's feminine but not too fussy, blue (my fav) and an easy to wear wrap.  And it's swishy!

There are quite a few wrap dress patterns out there and frankly I'd like to try them all but I chose this new Simplicity 8637 (View C in View D length) because I love the flounce.  I made up a quick bodice muslin and I'm really glad I did because although fitting a wrap dress is easier than fitting some dresses, I still needed a few changes.  The bodice darts on this dress are really long!  I shortened both 1 1/4".  I also straightened out the shoulder seam because I have square shoulders (if I don't do this I'll get neckline gaping).  And over the last year or more I've noticed I'm making fitting adjustments that I've never needed before which on this dress I shortened the bodice 3/8" which is brand new for me.  

Overall this is a simple pattern even though it took me quite a while to make.  Of late, projects have taken me longer than usual but I also took extra time pressing and used a pressing cloth on everything to avoid getting any shine from the iron.

I used a navy viscose twill from LA Finch fabrics.  It's a gorgeous fabric and has the perfect drape for the flounce.  I used this same fabric in red for this project.  It's a little bit heavier than a challis and the extra body makes the flounce lay perfectly.  And about that flounce...hemming this flounce is not for anyone in a hurry (if you choose to do a rolled hem) but if you have a serger that does a rolled hem I highly recommend using that.  I did on this dress and I had it hemmed in about 15 minutes including switching the machine.  It's so satisfying!

I've been participating in #Sewfreshsewclean13 and this is my entry this week.  Check it out on Instagram!
More dresses are in the works and I'll share soon.

Happy Sewing, Diane