DCF Spring Challenge 2015 – Sway
Many regular readers will know by now that Emma and I have a quarterly seasonal challenge where we each use the same fabric from Darn Cheap Fabrics to make a garment, then reveal it on the same day. I always look forward to seeing what Emma has come up with! For Spring we chose a vibrantly printed viscose from Darn Cheap Fabrics.
Unfortunately many of these photos haven’t come out well; I think that there was sunlight glaring off the phone when Clare was taking them, but beggars can’t be choosers and these are all I am likely to have. The pattern is the Sway dress by Papercut Patterns, in the longer length but without the waist tie.
This is the first time that I have used Papercut Patterns – they recently had a sale which was finally enough to make me hit the pdf pattern buy button. The website description of the pattern is as follows: The classic sway dress every wardrobe needs. Loose fitting and gorgeously flowing, make it as the short variation or long variation with waist tie. It has a centre front and back seam with a scooped and V neck so you can mix up the look by wearing either neck options to the front or back. It also features side seam pockets.
I left out the side seam pockets. I usually include them if I am sewing pants, but for dresses I only include pockets that are a feature of some kind. Those that are hidden in the side seams generally won’t be used. The neckline and armholes are faced with a combined facing applied “burrito” style before closing the side seams. This works beautifully and ensures there is no visible stitching around the neckline or armholes.
I left this dress hanging on Ada, my dress form, for over a week, and boy did those bias side seam areas drop! I intended to level out the bottom and cut and hem it around knee length, but after discussion with Clare and one of her friends one day decided to leave the hem shorter in the centres and longer at the sides as a design feature. The girls both thought that it looked “cool” and I figured that if I’m unhappy with it I can easily shorten and level it later. I finished the hemline with bias tape made from the same fabric.
I sewed this as size Medium, since the only measurement that really mattered was the bust measurement. This gave me just enough ease, and kept the neckline and armholes fitting close to the body. The armholes are heading toward the low side, but I found that they didn’t expose any of my bra and stayed next to the skin. One of the lovely things about this dress is that you can wear it either way around, so can have the V or the scoop at the front or at the back. The V neck didn’t expose my bra at the back either, so overall I was pretty happy with the pattern drafting.
This dress does swish and sway beautifully as you move. I adore the colours in the print, and like most viscose it is very soft and comfortable to wear.
Now I just need to see what Emma has made!
I love this on you Lara!
Pretty!
I love everything about this dress! The fabric is lovely and the colour really suits you! It goes beautifully with your sandals which I also love btw!
Pretty pretty!
Such a lovely swishy dress. Your fabric choice was perfect for this style.
This looks beautiful! Perfect fabric choice – and I love the hem! It looks great! This is so flattering on you – it also hints at a waist! Your dress looks so much better than any on the Papercut website, too. I’d never heard of them before. It’s so inspiring seeing what you’ve made.
Very cute dress. As always, you have the best shoes!
Wow! The dress design combined with the fabric created a perfect dress on you!
Sure looks good to me. You’ve got great fabric to work with too. Thanks for reviewing this pattern- it sounds very ‘buyworthy’.
Oh I like everything about this make! I think may need this pattern….just need to get thru winter! I love you blog.
Love, love, love that fabric. It’s perfect for your dress!
What a lovely print. Will be cool to wear in the heat. Nice to see all you Aussie bloggers wearing your summer clothes just as us Brits go into our winter.
Oh that print is delightful! It is ending autumn here in NY, so you don’t see a lot of spring (or swingy) dresses now. I love the movement of that dress, and so cute with the blue shoes!!
I love papercut patterns but would never have looked at this pattern twice. Thank you for the review – love your frock!
Hi again. I’m just wondering, how does this compare with your “Cherish” dresses (which you made some time back)? Is the Sway dress more flattering? Is the “Cherish” quicker to sew? They both look very attractive, although this Sway dress fabric is really ‘tops’ in my view.
Hi there Wynn – they are actually quite different in many ways. The Cherish is in knits whereas the Sway in woven, and the Cherish is quite fitted through the bust to just below it then flares out gently, whereas the Sway is quite a trapeze shape that flares from right on the bust. Both are a quick sew, with the Sway possibly a little faster with the facing to finish the neckline and armholes rather than applying knit bands.
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Those shoes are to die for!
Love the comment about your daughter+chums. I get a lot of ‘advice’ from my girls too, most of it is welcome.
You look lovely, as always.