Dress 47 Sewing Pattern

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WOMEN’S DRESS 47 SEWING PATTERN

Pattern: Cali Faye Collection

Fabric: Art Gallery Jungle Radiant Challis Rayon Magenta Fabric

This is my second Cali Faye women’s pattern, after having sewn the Fenix romper and loved it. I had a 1940’s hangar dance summer edition and wanted to sew something cute and fun to wear. Usually when I go to these 40s hangar dances I get really into it – cosplay style. This time I wanted something that was simply fun to wear, yet still had elements of style that you might have found in 40s dresses. That is when I landed on the Women’s Dress 47 sewing pattern by Cali Faye. The bow tie front was a perfect homage to 40’s style, yet it was still a modern clean dress pattern. My initial goal was to give this pattern an upgrade and turn the skirt into a romper – but the sewing time allotted simply did not allow. I might go back into this pattern and give it an upgrade at a later date for that fun romper look!  But hey, I am still super happy with the fact that I SEWED SOMETHING! After sewing nearly every day for 8+ years, to find myself only sewing every few months or so is very strange. But I love, love, love the attention to perfection and detail that this slower sewing lifestyle gives.

 

Thoughts on pattern:

Ok, so here goes. Cali Faye patterns are very professional in my opinion. She has exquisite attention to detail, and her directions are spot on. If I was comparing the Fenix romper to Dress 47, I enjoyed the Fenix better. But I don’t believe that is any fault of the pattern itself, but rather how I feel the finished product fits my personal body. The Fenix romper I wanted to make a few versions of, and this pattern might be a one-and-done type of thing.

The Dress 47 pattern is fun and whimsical, and of course has pockets which is always a gold star. But for some reason the front ties lined up a bit low on my body. I had to improvise and sew a small tack in the upper bodice area just above the bow tie knot. I tried and tried to re-tie, thinking maybe it was simply my knot placement, but no matter how many ways I tied the knot – it always ended up a bit off. So…tacking it was. I might go back in and remove the tacks and put a small hook and loop so that the bodice can fully open up when trying to take the dress on / off. Perhaps if I didn’t insist on tying the bodice so tight, and kept it more loose? I just know how much dancing I do at events like these, and don’t want any ‘wardrobe malfunctions’.

The open stomach feature is quite flattering.  Normally anything that has that area of my skin exposed would give me heart palpitations – but this pattern has the opening high enough that no matter how much I eat, I am not concerned about my stomach poking out of the triangle in an unflattering way. After all, most of the loose skin goes beneath the natural waist line, this opening is above. I did have to purposefully wear a bikini leading up to the wearing of this dress though, so as not to have two radically different skin tones on the occasion! lol

All in all, I do like the dress. And if this is a style you are looking for, I would recommend giving it a go. Just, as with all sewing patterns, make a muslin first!

 

Some things I loved about the Fenix Romper:

• The pattern was super easy to assemble. Let’s just say I paid my child to do it as a chore while I went out on my morning run! So if she can do it, you can too!
• Fantastic, clear instructions. I was not second guessing what I was doing. Was clear and concise. I didn’t have to read through loads of words to get to get to the point, and I love that.
• The fit itself is spot on when it comes to sizing, I usually have to scale between 3 sizes from my chest tp my hips in Cali Faye – but it works.
• I really liked the construction of the waistband. I have made patterns before that have a flat front and elastic back, and none have come out as nice as this one.
• It has pockets. Duh.
• It is unique. I am not going to be walking down the street and see someone else in the same dress as me. That is a nice feeling compiled with the ‘I made this’ confidence.
• I like that even though this pattern has a young feel to it, it still feels classy and elegant. I don’t feel like I am in a junior dress pattern, but rather I am in something fun and stylish.
• I would say it took me 6 hours to make this dress, but they were consistently interrupted. So a total time is not able, but with kids coming in and out – stopping for lunch / dinner, etc. It was about 6 hours from start to interrupted end.

Techniques This Pattern Can Teach You:

• A clean flat front, elastic back waistband
• How to put in pockets
• How to put in a side zipper

*And of course other basic sewing essentials – these were simply the ones that go beyond the basics IMO.

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