Spool River

Although I am frequently out of step with popular culture- talk to my adult children- I try to keep up with fashion trends. My favorite pursuit is tweaking and adapting a current trend to make it work for me- such as altering the style so the scale will work on my frame –read: I do not have model proportions- or modifying a style a bit so I feel “at home” in it.

I have dabbled in the ruffle trend- but haven’t found the sweet spot. It doesn’t help that every time I make a project with ruffles, the spouse looks it over and announces he doesn’t like ruffles- he says they look reptilian. Nevertheless, I persist, because now it’s kind of a personal challenge to see if I can re-create this trend in a way that gets a favorable response- or at least feels more like me. So, here is my latest interpretation of the ruffle trend that I find is more aligned with my style: the Sienna Shift dress from Sew this pattern.

I was drawn to the pattern because the ruffles are not gathered which makes them more subdued. I also like a shift dress to have some shaping.

This is my first go around with this pattern maker, and the drafting and instructions are excellent. This was a relatively quick and straightforward make- the pattern download and cutting went smoothly and there are not many pattern pieces to keep track of. I am crazy happy with the fit. I cut a size 8 in the bodice –according to the pattern measurement instructions- and drafted out to a size 10 at waist and hips. I got an excellent fit at the bust line, shoulders and arms.

I used a dark chambray from Lakes Makerie- which is a fabric that I am comfortable in.

I love the ruffle finish on this dress. I have had more than a few fails trying to achieve a clean finished edge on ruffled projects. This ruffle is finished with a self bias binding on the edges. I think this is genius and works fabulously.

I made only two minor modifications to this dress: I added fullness in the skirt after the hip drafting out to a size 12, and I lengthened the skirt substantially for ease of movement and wear-ability.

In the end, the spouse still pronounced this dress’s ruffles a little bit lizard. But, I am comfortable in the result- which I consider a win.