The Pattern Challenge : Burda Style Coffee Date Dress.

I know I’ve talked about my adventures with this pattern but here is my official Pattern Challenge Review. (Check out the other entries here and here.)

Pattern: Coffee Date Dress.

First thing: Don’t forget to add seam allowances to the pattern!
Also do some measuring of the pattern pieces and your body. Better yet make a test bodice with some muslin or spare fabric. I’m sure you won’t have the problems I did with the sizing but it never hurts to do a trial run before cutting into your precious fabric.

I cut the pattern for my bust measurements but that made the waist way too big. So I took it in–both the bodice (sides and front darts) and the skirt. I also had to lengthen the bodice because I’m 6′ with a long torso. I still don’t know if it’s a petite pattern like the original. Either way, another reason to make a test bodice first!

Overall, it’s a great pattern! Really. I foresee more for myself. It has simple construction and a cute design and flattering shape. Great for a newbie. Though, you will have to put in a zipper. But it’s not as scary as you think! (Check out the how-to on inserting invisible zippers here and a visual one here.) It calls for an invisible zipper but I just did a regular one. (Now who’s the chicken? I still haven’t mastered invisible zips!)

The pattern calls for facing at the neck at armholes but I’m not a big fan of facing. If the fabric is really thin, you can see the facing. And it seems like it would get bunched up. Normally, I prefer to line bodices–especially with light colored fabrics*, which is what I did for this one. (For this dress, I just made bias binding for the neck and armholes. The latter turned out fine but the neck kind of sticks up funny. Not a big deal unless you’re nit-picky.)

*Though, I used Harmony Art organic fabric and, well, that stuff’s awesome. I really didn’t need to line it. It’s thick enough. I didn’t even have to wear a half slip.