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For the last few months, Simple Life Pattern Company have been testing their new collection and TODAY is the day it releases! I tested the Ella dress – a knit dress/tunic with an open back and option for an asymmetrical circle skirt and my daughter just adores it!
The new collection coincides with Simple Life Pattern Company’s anniversary, so in addition to 10 NEW PATTERNS on sale for 20% off (no coupon needed), all other patterns in their collection are 40% off (coupon code CELEBRATE)! So if you’ve been eying some of those older patterns, now is your chance to get them! They’ll be on sale until February 17, 2020.
Simple Life Pattern Company Ella Dress
I just adore the Ella Dress! It’s listed as Advanced Beginner. The most difficult part would be sewing a few curves on knit. Here’s a summary of the features:
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Drafted for KNITS
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Asymmetrical Circle Skirt or Simple Gathered Skirt
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Tie Back
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4 sleeve lengths- sleeveless, short, 3/4, long
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2 skirt lengths – Tunic or Dress
- 2T – 12Y
In my version that I’m showing you today, I used about 6 or 7 layers of tulle and 1 layer of mesh (all from JoAnn) using the simple gathered skirt measurements. I used the Asymmetrical Circle Skirt pattern piece for the outside layer. One thing I haven’t done (and should have done — so I will probably do it later) is add a circle skirt underneath to prevent the tulle from itching, and also ensure the dress stays modest in the tulle section.
One other thing I did differently in mine was the construction of the bodice to the lining. I constructed the side seams by stitching them together so that the seams ended up sandwiched between the lining and outer which I describe in my Vanja sweater post. I attached the sleeve using wooly nylon in my looper to reduce irritation.
Now, my fabric!! I just ADORE this print! I found it a few years ago at Spandex World in the NYC Garment District and HAD to get it. It’s a pretty thick double knit – possibly neoprene. I lined it in black swimsuit fabric from JoAnn.
And I decided to have a little fun with Photoshop for this shoot. I had originally shot these pictures with a white backdrop but I just wasn’t in love with it, so played around with different colors in Photoshop. Not perfect, but for my blog I think it’s OK! I might go buy a couple of solid color backdrops to minimize the extra editing steps!
I hope you love this look as much as I do! Definitely go check out the entire collection from Simple Life Pattern Company while they are on sale! (Ends Feb 17, 2020).
auschick sews 