Project # 18 - wool jersey dresses

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

I finally have pictures of the dresses I made back in November. Here is the original version.



It's #125 from the March 2002 Burda WOF. I thought it was a cool version of Butterick 5247, only the Burda people made it first. Here's what the line drawing looks like:


Very similar to the Butterick pattern, only BWOF adds small darts in the back and what looks like a raglan seam. It's actually a simple dolman sleeve cut straight along the raglan line - I put it back together for easier and faster sewing. And I omitted the darts.

I used a lovely dark burgundy wool jersey I bought two years ago on a trip to Portland, OR. It's very soft, not scratchy at all, and very comfortable. I have a few other colors that will likely be joining this dress in the closet.

The instructions are pretty straightforward but really, with only three pieces who needs instructions? The whole dress went together really fast. I was very impressed with how it looked compared to how long it took to make.

The only thing I didn't much care for was the cowl. I thought it was too wide and too much fabric, which made it too heavy. I envisioned something more like a loose turtleneck and adjusted the pattern to accommodate my new vision. This was the result:


I like wearing it with a colorful scarf tucked into the turtleneck but it works quite well without one, too.
This dress is made of the same wool jersey as the one above. Note that it is two inches shorter than the first one - that's because I ran out of fabric (I blame that darn huge cowl on the first dress). I think I actually like this length better. There's something about the proportions that just works better here.

That same day, I cut out and sewed another one - in a dark blue wool jersey - same exact pattern, with the adjusted neckline. When I showed these dresses to a friend, she really loved the blue one so she got to keep it. I managed to get a picture before she walked out with it though.



For comparison, here are some closeups.

The first one is the cowlneck looking like a cowlneck. Notice how wide it is, almost from shoulder point to shoulder point. I thought that was a little too much. Also notice how much fabric it took - it's 10" tall. I folded it in half, and then again in half for the second picture. you can really see the width there. In the third picture, you see the adjusted neckline - more of a turtleneck that anything else. I like it the best.

This pattern is definitely a keeper. I love wearing these dresses and want more of them. I'd like to make it in other fibers, maybe cotton or silk.