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Pink Pocket Dress - Simplicity 8258

2/13/2017

17 Comments

 
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One word friends...pockets!  What's better than a dress with pockets?  And a pink dress just in time for Valentine's Day with pockets that can hold Reese's peanut butter hearts (in case you want to buy me some uh-hem!)  This is Simplicity 8258 and I picked this pattern up the minute it came out.  I've been looking for a good basic dress pattern and here it is with pockets as a bonus.  I sewed it up in a pretty pink and white 100% cotton suiting that was easy to sew.  Now I have simple, classic and comfortable dress to add to my wardrobe that lends itself to some great accessories or a cute jacket.
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I've made quite a few of these Amazing Fit patterns and find they're easy to work with and since they come with cup size options and offer slim, average and curvy fit it's easier to get a good fit right out of the envelope.  That said, here are the small changes I did make:
  • Removed the center front seam  (it's a straight seam so it didn't change the shape at all).
  • Made the front 1" narrower from apex to apex (this is something I always do and it's particularly important on a princess seam dress.  Simplicity drafts an 8" apex to apex and I'm 7".  This is an adjustment that's often overlooked but really simple to change).
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  • Lowered the bust dart 1".  The placement of the bust dart in the drawing made me a little nervous because there's nothing more unflattering than a dart that lands too close to the apex unless of course you're channeling Madonna in "Truth or Dare".  I'm staying out of that movie so you can see in the photo I added a new dart point 1" below the original and redrew the dart legs.  Easy and I'm so glad I did it.  
  • I made the pockets deeper so my phone would fit. 
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I will definitely be using this pattern again.  It'd be cute in a cotton print or even a lightweight denim.  So many possibilities...never enough time.

I must have pink on the brain because I just finished this denim bag with pink stitching.  A happy accident!
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Happy Valentine's Day!  Diane
17 Comments
Lynsey
2/18/2017 01:36:28 am

Amazing dress, I love the style lines and it fits you perfectly, this is a pattern I'd love to sew, I'm going to look for it now!

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Diane link
2/20/2017 08:18:00 am

Thank you so much! I hope you like it too.

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Calditer
6/19/2017 01:14:23 pm

Is this pattern difficult in anyway, I looked at the bust dart and the pocket inserts instructions, seems difficult to me, are they? So what do you consider the most difficult part of the pattern?

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Diane link
6/20/2017 01:58:15 pm

The front seam is the most difficult part of the construction of this dress. The instructions are good but take them one little step at a time. The most important thing is to mark all of the dots and keep your pattern piece handy. The instructions do have you start a stop sewing at specific marks. I hope this helps!

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Glenis
1/27/2018 04:24:04 am

Hi dress looks great. Which bag pattern did you use love it.

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Diane
1/27/2018 05:39:34 am

Thank you! The bag is my own pattern. I'm thinking about releasing as a Blue Dot Pattern. It's the perfect size for every day.

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Jess
4/28/2018 10:48:53 am

Hey this is awesome! I just got this pattern and am looking at making it soon. Any tips for eliminating the center front seam (I'm sort of new at this and the pattern looked easy). Did you just tape the two pattern pieces together and cut one fabric piece from that?

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Diane Reafsnyder
5/1/2018 10:37:54 am

Hello Jess! To take the center front seam out, cut off the 5/8" seam allowance on the the seam and place the front pattern piece on the fold of the fabric. It's already a straight seam so it's an easy fix.

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Suzie
7/12/2018 02:42:52 pm

Could you please recommend a how to source for the bustline changes you made?

Thanks!

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Diane
7/12/2018 04:16:58 pm

I measured my body and compared it to the pattern pieces to see how they would fit. You might try making a "muslin" if you're unsure.

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Lynn
9/21/2018 03:11:03 pm

Hi! Thank you so much for reviewing this and for your detailed explanation of your bust adjustments. I've just purchased the pattern to make a 1960s style dress for a benefit (NEXT WEEK! Ack!) I was also a little nervous when I saw where the bust darts land in the drawing, so I will now be careful to adjust those before cutting. I've also considered eliminating the center front seam to simplify things, so it's nice to see your lovely version without that seam!

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Joanna
2/16/2019 11:48:55 am

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your lovely detailed review! With pictures of the pattern pieces, so crucial to understanding the actual adjustment that was made. Your dress looks wonderful on you and you have inspired me to try this one next. Thanks!!!

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Mui
1/31/2020 05:24:30 am

Beautiful dress you made. May I ask how do you narrow the apex to apex distant. Thank you.

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Rachel
5/14/2022 05:13:11 pm

Hi, this is beautifully sewn. I'm looking for a classic princess seam dress but I'd like it to have a rounder neckline and more ease so you can wear a turtleneck under it - would this pattern be suitable? Also, do you think I could adjust the neckline to a scoop or would it not sit correctly?

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Ann-Marie
1/21/2023 07:37:01 am

Thank you for reviewing this. I am an advanced beginner but am really flummoxed at the side panel/pocket attachment and yours looks fab. I’m sure it will click eventually 🤞

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Andrea
5/30/2024 04:46:08 am

I love your version of this dress pattern, which I recently discovered. I love sheath dress patterns! I am wondering about the fullness of the lower part of this dress. The pattern drawings seem to indicate more fullness—sort of A-line, but your version is more straight by comparison. Is your dress a real representation of the pattern or did you take it in to achieve a straighter, more sheath-like appearance? Thanks for your feedback.

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May Mayberry
2/23/2025 07:41:55 am

I’m trying to sew this pattern and just can’t work out how to sew the front darts. Do you have any suggestions about how they are stitched? I’m not a beginner -just have never sewn this style of dart before.

Thanks in advance.

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    About Me

    Hi!  I'm Diane, a wife, mom, sewing teacher and pattern designer from sunny Southern California.  I share my sewing adventures here on the Blue Dot Blog formerly Gatorbunnysews.  For more info click here.

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