Megan Nielsen kindly sent me along one of her recent patterns, the Sudley dress, to try out. It was just the thing I needed at a time when my sewing time and motivation has been quite low: easy-peasy, fast, no fitting – from machine to body in a morning.
It’s essentially a loose smock dress, but there are are a ton of options included in the pattern to make it very versatile. You can make an empire or drop waist dress or a blouse, with an optional peter pan collar and ties on the keyhole opening. Also it’s reversible so you can wear the keyhole in the front or back!
I think it’s more ‘me’ the other way around, but I’d like to try this way with the collar attached. The bodice is self-lined making a neat finish on the neckline edge. The instructions include a full clean finish inside with the armsyce edges handstitched down, but I got lazy and overlocked them as one piece.
I cut size small but with the bodice length of the biggest size, as empire line isn’t the best look on me. I ended up tapering in the waist a bit, mainly because I didn’t have enough fabric to do the skirt as patterned so just gathered up my fabric width. The fabric is a viscose from Walthamstow – either the Textile Centre or Man Outside Sainsburys, I can’t remember.
This is a great little instant gratification project that’s a very useful wardrobe builder. It’s good with tights or without and is the kind of thing that’s so easy to pull on for work and be instantly dressed. Pretty sure I’ll be picking it up to use again – the blouse option will make a great woven tee basic. Thanks Megan for sending along the Sudley pattern!
Katie you make the best dresses!! This one is no exception and that fabric is perfect for it!
Thanks Heather!
That’s darling on you! I’m too busty to wear a loose dress, end up looking pregnant, and definitely not able to turn anything front-to-back – so dress envy over here.
So cute on you…alas like Nikita I’m too busty for such a dress which is why I didn’t buy this pattern! But on your it looks amazing :) Did you use a rayon?
You could probably pick one side to the be the front and do an FBA, if you like the style!
Haha, I love “Man Outside Sainsburys” – having lived round the corner from there a few years ago I know exactly what you mean though XD Great little dress, I love that it is reversible! x
He’s a legend – he’s got the best stuff!
The dress is lovely on you, but I must ask where are your sandals from they are lush!
They’re from Urban Outfitters. I have them in tan too!
This is so cute! Love it on you!
Ooh, I how cool that it’s reversible. And I love the fabric you used!
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