The second that Style Arc released the Autumn dress pattern earlier in the year I popped it into my shopping cart.  There were so many things about it that I loved!  As it turns out I didn’t get it sewn until a couple of weeks ago – but luckily, it was worth the wait.

This is the perfect trans-seasonal dress for me. It’s loose, it has shoulder coverage, and such delightful details. That collar! The front V neckline with deep pleat! The amazing back cross-over pleat! A yoke! Curved hemlines! All the fun things.

So, what does Style Arc say about this pattern? From the website: You will love this versatile dress that can be worn on any occasion. The knife pleat down the front and the crossed over knife pleat falling from the back yoke makes this dress a flattering alternative to add to your wardrobe. The extended shoulder line along with the stitched front detail, shirt tail hem line and inseam pockets really sets this great dress apart from the rest. FABRIC SUGGESTION Crepe, Silk, Linen, Tencel or any woven dress fabric.

I chose to sew size 12, and to shorten the dress a bit at those handy lengthen/shorten here lines.  I’d already seen finished versions on a couple of people that had made me pause to considered what might be the best finished length on my 158cm tall frame.  I’m happy with my decision to shorten.

This was not a super fast garment to sew. To sew the collar takes a little time, as does setting in the side seam pockets and getting the hemline curves neat and even. But what took me the longest was getting the back pleat right. It’s a very deep pleat – I found it most helpful to look at the markings on the pattern piece and photos/illustrations of the back of the finished dress in order to get it right. Both Mie and Meg have sewn this dress and provide illustrations and explanations of the back pleat if you need some assistance. Like most things, take your time, have a fortifying beverage (I was at Sewjourn when I made this) and just do it!

So, on to the fabric. This is cotton double gauze (hence the wrinkles) from Clear It. I bought it a year or so ago – it’s such a wonderful colour! And it’s delightful to wear. It’s probably a little more structured than this dress is designed for, but it still works okay.

Looking at these photos I wonder whether this pattern may have benefitted from a forward/rounded shoulder alteration – it looks as though it is slipping back a little on my shoulders. However it didn’t feel like that was an issue when I was wearing it.

Mum has put in an order for this dress for summer! I have seen it around the blogs a bit – there are also lovely versions by Katherine and Paola.