Made by Fabricista: Floral Scuba Knit Jalie Adele Dress

Hi, all!  I hope your summer has been good so far, and that if you are sweltering in the heat (most of us, right?), that you are cooling off somewhere!

I decided that for July I would make a fun frock that could go with me multiple places.  I wanted it to be loose enough to be comfortable, but not so unfitted that it was unflattering, and I desired a piece that was unique in construction as I really enjoy the sweet details that sewing your own clothing can afford you.



I knew right away this scuba knit from Fabric Mart would be my perfect fabric (sold out, but check this scuba knit out, or possibly this green dotted shirting, which is technically closer to the kind of fabric Jalie actually wants people to use when making this pattern).

When I received the fabric, I was immediately in love, as its pretty florals combined with a nice weight of fabric are utterly perfect for my lifestyle.  I do think it is a touch warm for days like we have had here in the United States, but not so warm that it is unwearable in summer generally.  In fact, I know that I can also wear it in winter with a long sleeve tee and tights underneath.

The fabric reminds me a whole lot of one of my most favorite dresses I have ever made, another scuba knit (also purchased from Fabric Mart!).  That one has the same weight and feel, and with its resiliency (no snags or fading), it looks the same today as it did when I first made it.

Picking the pattern was a little harder than picking the fabric.  All I knew was that I wanted pockets and a dress with a fuller skirt for ease in the heat.  I initially wanted to make McCalls 7712, which is your basic shift style dress with pockets built into the princess seams, and extra ruffles here and there for extra flair.  I would have made view B as the ruffles were a bit too ruffly for me and this fabric, and nearly started cutting...

But then Fabric Mart received a whole huge shipment of new Jalie patterns and I literally swooned over the Adele top (now sold out, but maybe they will get more?).  Of course the only issue was that it was a top and not a dress, but since it showed a view that was a tunic with pockets, I figured all I needed to do was lengthen the tunic to dress length and I'd be set.  (And I was set--but one small exception will need to be made to perfect the fit even more for the next time I make this dress.  I drew the hemline eleven inches longer than the tunic length, but in doing so I widened the front too much so that the pockets now draw to the back a bit and don't feel as comfy as pockets normally do.  So I'll add width in the back as I love the skirt's fit, and take off some of the swing from the front, so the pockets will be more forward.)

I made this dress in a size T at the bust, U at the waist, and graded out to a Y at the hips so I could get the excess ease I desired (I normally grade out to a V or W).  That grade was tough to draw out, as I wanted at Y before the pockets started, and while it worked, it is more swingy that I believe Jalie intended this pattern to be.  (And one reason I think the self belt works so well with it!)

Speaking of the belt...it is attached at the back and either can be drawn up to the front and used as a front belt, or drawn to the back and be a back tie.  Above you can see the dress with it drawn to the back.  It looks like the dress has a natural curve at the waistline, but it is all the effect from the belt.  (The first two photos in the post are with the belt drawn forward, btw.)

You can see the self-belt best here in the side shot.  It also shows just how cool the ruffled sleeves are!  I can see why they recommend lighter weight wovens, but I do like how they look in the scuba knit, too.  I would think heavier weight wovens would be too stiff, and I shudder at how tough it would be to sew these sleeves in a sheerer jersey knit, but something stable and knitted seems to work just fine!

You do need the ease of wear in this pattern as it is a pullover dress.  I guess you could throw in a zip in the back center panel, but I chose not to in this fabric as it stretches just enough to get over with no issues.

It's hard to tell but the side panel is fairly wide and it holds the pockets, which are basted on before the panel is attached to the front and back pieces.  The best thing about this pattern is how difficult the dress looks like it would be to make versus how easy it actually is!  I spent more time pattern grading, cutting, and pinning than I actually did sewing.  Definitely want to see if I can make another one before the summer is done!

Here is a closer view of the side panel.  At the bottom you see the pocket and how it is part of the seam construction for both the front and the back.

Above it you see how the belt (tied to the back) is also part of the seam construction, but only for the back seam.

Towards the top you can see how the ruffle is laid into the seam construction, again with the side panel do a lot of the work.  The side panel is the MVP of this dress (top).

I had a tough time at first understitching the ruffle seam because the fabric and my foot didn't like each other.  I started with a walking foot (which usually helps) but found that when I switched to a jeans foot (bernina people, #8), that worked so much better in stitch length and consistency.  It waved back and forth a bit with the walking foot, so some of the underseam stitching on the ruffle is wonky.  Nothing obnoxious, but still irksome!

Usually I HATE my back view, but because I made sure there was plenty of ease in the skirt, a nipped in waist (thank you belt), and a wide shoulder line (ruffles!), I actually like my back view.  WOO!  For all you pear shapes, think about this pattern as a possibility.  Even if all you do is make the top or tunic, you still get the awesome ruffle line at the shoulder which evens out the frame.  :-)

Here is a final close-up shot so you can better see the fabric and the ruffle detail.  The ruffle inset is topstitched down to keep the seamline from flopping out so it becomes visible, but it could be a really cool decorative touch in a lighter solid fabric where you see it (a contrasting thread could be pretty!).  The neckline is a bias binding (NOT my favorite, ugh), but this one went in pretty easily and topstitched down easily enough, as well.  I do think I will draft a facing if I do this dress in a woven, though.  I really hate fiddling with bias bindings if I can do a proper facing instead.

Hope to see others of you try this pattern! I adore all the versions I've seen, and think it works for so many women (and looks beyond cute on little girls!).

Talk to you in a month!

Dina, My Superfluities.