This post is part of Dress Up Party. For contest rules, full details, and schedule, please click here!
Today’s post is from Mary of Idle Fancy.
Hello, lovelies! My name is Mary Danielson Perry, from Idle Fancy, and I am so excited to help Sara kick off The Dress Up Party. Today, I’m reviewing one of my all time favorite patterns, Simplicity 1873. This Cynthia Rowley design is a simple two-dart bodice, with a pleated circle skirt. There are two included neckline variations, the jewel neck of View A and the lower scoop of View B, as well as optional puff sleeves. With its nipped-in waist and wide, swirling skirt, it can be dressed up or down, depending on the fabric used. I’ve made it in everything from silk brocade to basic quilting cottons. Talk about versatility!
For this version of 1873, I wanted a classic, summery sundress. Of course, in Texas, summer means soaring temperatures and bright, brutal sunshine. If you’re going to survive outside, natural fibers and comfort are a must. On a quest for something that could be worn all season long, I grabbed this cheery floral quilting cotton from my stash and some coordinated blue bias tape. Visions of an unlined, swishy dress were starting to dance in my mind. I couldn’t wait to start sewing it up! Just looking at this fabric made me long for sunshine and a glass of sangria.
One of the benefits of having a go-to dress pattern is that the fitting work you do up front gets used over and over again. I’ve used this bodice with innumerable other skirts, for different looks, because I know it fits me well. It’s refreshing to sit down with a pattern and sew it right up, without meddling with fit for hours ahead of time! For my long-ago fitting adjustments, I chose a size 20, based on my waist and high bust measurements, then made a few simple adjustments. To get the best fit possible, I made a two-inch FBA on the bodice, then took a half-inch out of each shoulder, and paired it with the straight Size 20 skirt. Easy as pie!
Even better, constructing this dress was a blast. Simplicity 1873 does have a pretty dramatic skirt, with five panels and over a dozen pleats, but watching it all come together is a thrilling process. As long as you take your time and carefully mark your pattern pieces, you’ll be fine. It’s all just basic darting and pleating, after all. I always using a tracing wheel and tracing paper, so that everything lines up correctly when marking. Honestly, though, with this many pleats, no one will know if you need to take a little extra one here or there! All they will see is a beautiful dress, with a fun, swishy skirt. I promise.
This particular version of this dress was finished off with an invisible zipper, machine-stitched hem, and coordinated serging on all the seams. Additionally, I finished the neckline and armscyes with the aforementioned bias binding, in lieu of the lining. This is one of my favorite methods of finishing a cotton garment, because it’s clean and prevents bulk. Besides, when it’s 101 degrees outside, unlined dresses really are heavenly!
Thanks so much for inviting me to share this dress, Sara! It was such fun to come back to this pattern. Now that I’ve revisited it for this dress, my mind is brewing with possibilities for a few others. I think a stable of pretty, swirling sundresses is in order, don’t y’all? If you’d like to check out my other versions of this pattern, hop on over to Idle Fancy.
Lovely! Very fresh looking, summer perfect versatile dress. Just might entice me back to sewing clothes again!
Love it! Beautiful Fit!!
Lovely dress, thanks for the tips too!
lovely, great material and lovely fit. Makes me want to try it
Love this dress, looks like a great go to pattern!
It’s so nice to see pretty dresses making a comeback after years of torn jeans and sloppy tees.
So pretty. Very springy and fresh. Love the material.
Beautiful!!! I am so so glad to see real curvy women (one myself) included in your pattern/sewing partys.
I love this dress! It looks beautiful!
This looks fantastic Mary! Very summery!
What a great pattern, and such a perfect fit! I’m going to pick this pattern up this weekend! Thank you. 🙂
Love the fabric you chose. If only I could sew by myself. Need to watch a YouTube tutorial video!
Mary, every time you make this pattern I kick myself for not having sewn it up yet! Cute!!!
Beautiful dress and it looks so nice on you. I am going to have to make me one. Thanks
You Go Girl!!!! You look so nice and pretty! I’m a big girl too…. Big girls ROCK!!!!!