I like to sew Mum a dress or two each year, often in time for Christmas or for her birthday.  This time around I sewed her the Style Arc Melba dress.

Isn’t that fabric spectacular! It’s linen, from The Cloth Shop, Ivanhoe. It’s not in stock at the moment but they often have equally beautiful linen prints. I don’t live far from the shop so have the pleasure of patting and the admiring the fabrics in person on a semi-regular basis. This one is just so, so pretty.

Style Arc describe this dress as follows: Pull on dress. Mid length. Boat neck. Slight cocoon shaped body. In seam pockets. Extended shoulder line. Short sleeve. Suitable for knit ponte or woven fabric. FABRIC SUGGESTION: Ponte, rugby knit, crepe, light wool.

Now I’m trying to remember some of the sewing details. I’m pretty sure that I sewed size 16 for Mum, but wondered whether I could have sized down a little. I have a feeling that I shortened the pattern length a little. Mum likes her dresses on the longer side, but she’s only around my height now and the pattern looked as though it would be full length if I didn’t shorten it an inch or two. I did remember to do a forward shoulder / high rounded upper back alteration, utilising the back yoke seams to do so. I rather like the pleats in the back.

The neckline, yoke and sleeves are finished with an all in one facing. I used some contrast green fabric from stash for that, and made sure to understitch to reduce the chance of it rolling to the outside. The sleeves are cut all in one with the body.

I used a light brown linen for the pocket bags – I didn’t want them to show through.

It’s really hot during summer in the country town that Mum lives in, so linen is just perfect for the climate. And in a print like this one, it feels a little bit special!

We’re moving into winter weather now, but I probably should ask Mum what she’d like me to sew for her next!