So I finally joined this century (or this decade).

Dress: Simplicity 2178
Shoes: Steve Madden
Belt: vintage (80s?)

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Front view.

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Front view, 2.

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Side view, 1.

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Pattern used:

Simplicity 2178.

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Pattern Review

Pattern Description: Misses’ dress in two lengths, Cynthia Rowley Collection.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes 6-14. I ignored the bodice and cut a size 12 skirt.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? It would have, but I swapped out the bodice entirely.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn’t read the instructions.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Likes:
- I really like the asymmetrical neckline

Dislikes:
- The way this was constructed, the bodice was very fabric hungry
- I hated the gathers in the bodice, and used my own self-drafted side shoulder block for the top
- The gathers make the skirt look like a hot mess
- The hem needs a facing, why?!

Fabric used: Rayon.

Pattern changes or design changes made: Many!

I used a self-drafted top for the bodice, since I hated the gathers that were happening everywhere. I got rid of the waistband piece. I kept the asymmetrical draped skirt, the floppy bow part, and the shoulder strap since I felt those were the core elements of this pattern. I pieced together the ties instead of cutting them all in one piece. I also lengthened the skirt by about two inches.

I also did not cut out the bodice facing but used seam binding for the edges. I added an invisible zipper, and serged the hem and top-stitched it, not using the hem facing.

Any problems encountered while sewing this pattern? None.

Which sewing machine(s) did you use for construction? The Featherweight for the straight stitching, the Hello Kitty one for the zipper, and the serger for the seams.

Will you sew it again or recommend it to others? I might make the longer version of this at some point. It’s very unique-looking, so yes, I do recommend it. But the construction is more complicated than it needs to be.