Was a dress. Is now a top.
I must be getting all brave and confident with my sewing as I’ve just attempted my first pattern hack – a ponti dress for myself! The pattern hack part was a success, but there was another BIG problem which meant the dress is now a top. Here is the un-hemmed dress with elbow length sleeves.
I knew with this random crazy print I didn’t need to pay any attention to pattern matching, but what I failed to even consider was pattern placement. Check out the large cream coloured capital V in the centre front of the dress. Use your imagination dear readers…
I’m please to report that I do see the very funny side of this error and there has been LOTS and LOTS of laughing with both my sewing and non-sewing buddies. Feel free to laugh along with me…
But it’s not all bad, with the help of Megan Nielsen’s Briar pattern the dress is now a very wearable top.
The top has elbow length sleeves, and in these photos below I’m wearing a long sleeve black woolen top underneath to keep me toasty warm.
I think my scarf was a little too matchy matchy, so here’s a change of accessories and some close-ups.
What do you think? Was it a good recovery? Do you have any pattern placement horror stories? Do tell.
Patterns Used: Various (I’m keeping that dress hack a secret for now!) but Megan Nielsen’s Briar is what saved the day.
Fabric: Avalanche, a lightweight ponti, from Tessuti (now sold out)
I LOVE it as a briar – perfection! And yes, your pattern placement is hilarious!!!
Me too. I actually think I’ll get more wear out of it as a top than a dress. Maybe that pattern placement was meant to be?
Love it. Great hack & I bet you wear it lots!
I wear my orange briar ALL the time. I think this top will get a good workout too.
Chuckling over here! And that’s a nice save!
I wore this top into Tessuti today and had a good laugh with the girls.
I would have loved to have seen you modelling the dress version – lol. Lucky you noticed BEFORE you wore it out – if I’d made I would prObably have never noticed! Great save!
There is one out of focus phone photo of me posing in the dress. I’ll show you next time we cross paths!
Freaking hilarious!!!! You’ve made my day. L x
You’re welcome! I’m in awe of your bound button hole. Can’t wait to see your finished coat. Bag pattern testing over here at the moment…
OK, so that would have been one of the funniest fabric mishaps ever! Good save dear!
Thanks Christy. Enjoy your Sydney meet-up today.
Fantastic ;)p and great save! The briar looks fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing – and yes, I feel I am over thinking it when I trace out all my pieces as whole pieces rather than cut on a fold (I’ve just done it for what will be two plain fabric tops, so maybe I’m a tad obsessive?) – but I was concerned with my gatsby dress that some of those ink blots would fall in inappropriate places…
Time spent tracing patterns as whole pieces is definitely worth it. I’m going to have to take a leaf out of your book. And in my opinion, when it comes to sewing, you can never be too obsessive about anything!
Oh, very nice!! It looks just lovely as a Briar top.
Thanks 🙂
Now I am not a huge high low fan, but the gentle curve and placement of your hem is so flattering and I just love the fabric- this is big win! An alternate suggestion would have been to bedazzle the V and just dare people to comment.
LOL. The bedazzler, now why didn’t I think of that?!!
Heh, that’s funny. I’m always conscious of pattern placement in the chest area, but have never considered the potential for pattern placement disasters in the “other” area.. nice save!
That’s one of the things I love about our sewing community… you learn from others 🙂
I love that top! I would have loved the dress too, and not even realised about the print placement (unless you had bedazzled it, maybe). Gorgeous fabric. I am with you on cutting the whole pattern piece. StyleARC routinely use whole pieces – another reasons why I like them!
I will have a go at the dress again when I find some more suitable fabric. Must jump on the StyleARC bandwagon a bit more.
[…] (it was a good save in the end). I still giggle every time I see the dress photo. The original post tells the whole story, but to sum up – pattern placement […]