It took me a little longer to get back with this blog post than I anticipated – I spent the weekend in Hobart with my mum, aunt and cousin, and what a wonderful time we had at MONA, Salamanca Market, various restaurants…..but I digress.  May I present to you Lekala 5794.

Yes, it’s a little different to my usual silhouette! The biggest difference – did you notice that I am actually wearing a BELT? Oh my goodness!

The pattern illustration has this dress belted at the empire waistline, with a skinny belt through belt loops. I gave the belt loops a try, but struggled a bit to make them look neat and non-bulky in this beefy fabric. And I don’t own a skinny belt, but did already own this stretch fabric mesop belt. I tried the dress on both with the belt and without. Husband voted for no belt, so I took the belt off and popped it into my bag. When I got to work I tried it on again for my colleagues and they all voted yes to the belt. So the belt stayed.

This dress is a little big across the back again in the same place as Lekala 5806, the dress in my last blog post. In both cases I cut the centre back piece with the seamline on the fold, because it was a straight line, but I possibly should have cut it in two pieces with a centre back seam to play a little more with fitting. Next time.  I need less fabric in the skirt width in that spot, and more in the front.  There is a reason why I don’t show you photos of me side on!  The skirt on this dress is a straighter cut than the one on Lekala 5806. It might be fun to mix and match the skirts between the two patterns!

The bodice has darts coming from the side seams, and that lovely shaped neckline. The bottom curve is finished with bias tape, according to the instructions. I just cut a strip of the stretch fabric around an inch and a half wide, folded it in half and used it in the same way. The rest of the neckline is faced. As with Lekala 5806 I ordered the pattern according to my measurements but with high waist, increased upper arm circumference and reduced shoulder width. I just wish that they had an option for increased abdomen! Sleeve and skirt hems were finished with a twin needle.

The fabric is a “scuba” knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics, polyester/spandex from memory. I was drawn to the colours and style of the print from the moment I spotted this fabric – actually, I think that the ever helpful staff at Darn Cheap may have drawn it to my attention. They know my proclivities!  So, what do you think – do I give the belt another airing?  And I really need to say a massive thank you to all those people who left me such encouraging and positive comments on my previous Lekala dress.  You do such wonderful things for my ego and my self-esteem – I really, really do appreciate it.