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Wednesday 22 May 2013

The surgeon is ready now...

Well I never promised, but I thought asking a 6 year old to do the honours with the camera would guarantee me anonymity and mystique!


Not wrong!  But we did persevere...


Finally got one in focus and had the whole dress, and me in it!

My thoughts on the Staple Dress, for what they are worth...
  • I am a UK14 (mostly!), with 'broad shoulders and a figure courtesy of pies', so I made a Large.  
  • The area around the arm holes fits really nicely, not cutting-in nor gaping, and the whole fit is comfortably loose.
  • I made mine in a dressmaking cotton (poplin?), it has a relatively nice drape, but it is still a bit crisp.
  • I like the fit, but think I would prefer it in a jersey or something more flowing; I have some cotton voile, unfortunately not the super AMH floaty sort, but that may be a little better.  I am not yet back up to fancy slippy, stretchy fabrics, but do think these would look the best.
  • I made the pocketed version, I will probably not bother next time, or maybe just make patch pockets.  They are a nice touch, but I would like to french-seam the insides instead of the zig-zag I had to use.
  • I think that perhaps, if you are of the bigger-bosom you may, especially with the elasticated waist that I omitted, end up looking like you are smuggling footballs in a sack.
  • I lowered the neckline by about an inch; I wasn't confident enough to slice off more, it is probably more psychologically comfortable than anything!
  • If you are happy with your waistline, the elastic could look great, if like me you don't like to draw attention to the fact that you aren't as svelte as you used to be, then don't put yourself through the elasticated bother, you can still wear a belt!
  • Without a belt it looks either like a super-cool 1960s number, or a hospital gown, even April warns that this would be the first impression.  I think I will wear it as an ode to dearly missed ER!
  • I think if you are a skinny-mini the dress looks the most flattering; I have seen both enviable and avoidable versions on t'internet, so it possibly isn't a pattern for everyone, however if you want to make your first item of clothing, it really is a must.  Make it in some cheapish fabric, (mine was £6/m, and I used 2.2m), it will fit, and you can wear it round the house without scaring the postman, then work your way up to more complicated things.
I cannot see me wearing this much as a dress per se, but then I am not much of a frock-wearer; maybe on holiday, but I will wear it over jeans or leggings (no hybrid!).  I may even wear it on Saturday.  I may not.  But that will be more to do with the weather than anything else.

Well I hope this has helped if you have been wondering about this pattern.  Obviously these are only the thoughts of a 40-something, seen better days, mummy, so take on board or disregard as you wisely see fit xxx

44 comments:

  1. Finally a full length photo! You have done a good job. Thanks for your thoughts on it too. Di x

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  2. Personally I cannot see what all the fuss was about with this pattern- I like your honesty in your review! You didn't just get the whole dress in that photo, you practically got the whole house!! Lol!

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  3. Loving the photos! I'm ready to make a start on my dress now the fabric has finally arrived - first piece of dressmaking I've done since A levels many moons ago. Need to check the sizings first though!

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  4. Looks cool on you Hadley, but as I don't want to look like I am smuggling footballs I think I will skip this dress ;-)

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  5. Unfortunately skinny minis look better in anything and everything including paper bags.
    You don't look bad for having seen better days, ha, goodness knows how I should describe myself, over the hill and far away?
    Poplin is a bit crisp, I was always useless at dressmaking, could never pick right fabric.x

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  6. Great review, would it work for you as a top/tunic? Pic #3 makes me think it might.

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  7. I think you should wear it with jeggings >>>>>runs for cover :-D xx

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  8. Loving your review post. Sadly I'm in the smuggling football category!! So I probably won't bother with this pattern. If you find a pattern claiming it will make us all look like skinny waifs let me know. Sarah

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  9. Love the review! It looks much better than I expected after the last posting. the belt works much better than the elastic

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  10. Thanks for the heads up on the football smuggling :) You could have warned me before I read through though, nearly choked when I read that!

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  11. It looks better on than it did off! actually less operating gowney. but as i am both hippy and flat chested, I think this is a look best avoided for me!!

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  12. Love all those pics! And thanks for the review

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  13. Great review, made me chuckle! And doesn't
    Look bad. I'd wear it over jeans but that's what I do with all my dresses!

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  14. Yeah, see, it's the football smuggling element that makes me avoid all these wearable sack patterns! Works with the belt though

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  15. Kids and cameras - never an easy option!

    I am a skinny minny WITH footballs (size 10, 30FF!!) so fear this would be a sack tied in the middle affair for me! Dresses and I are not friends. I think you look great in it, though - good choice with the belt. Although I had to zoom right in to actually SEE you in that last pic. Don't think we don't all know what you're trying there, missus!

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  16. Hilarious post missus! You are never a size 14! I was just about to pack my jeggings for the w/e but thought better of it!!! Would def. have a go at this dress! Thanks for all the cool tips! Jxo

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  17. Looks great with the belt, might give this a try wit some voile..... Budget permitting :-)

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  18. "A figure curtsey of pies" ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  19. Very funny post! The dress looks fab from what we can see, it'll be great for the summer if we ever get one! I too would wear something under it like cropped jeans. Well done you :o) ...my hubby is chuckling at the 'Smuggling footballs in a sack' comment!

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  20. I do like a good laugh at someone else's expense. Thankyou.

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  21. Looks almost just like the first version I made! I also used a quilting cotton that was a little too stiff. I made a small and I think it was still a little too big. I have since sized down to an extra small (I would not normally wear an extra small) and have made one in both a think jersey knit and some shot cotton. They are both much better and fit like an actual piece of clothing I meant to wear outside my home.

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  22. Your smuggling footballs comment had me laughing. I'm glad you included that tip for those of us who are a bit top heavy though :)

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  23. Great post, and fab pics of you in your groovy gown!

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  24. Awesome post. There's a reason I haven't even THOUGHT about trying it, I'd be smuggling footballs for sure! Thanks for your humorous honesty :D

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  25. A figure courtesy of pies is such a crack-up.
    Thank you.

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  26. YOu have written in stone my thoughts exactly about this dress. I believe it was designed for a skinny mini and not those of us with more to offer than we would like. That being said I have seen some really pretty versions and some others that the person should not be wearing this dress. I would be in the latter group so think I will pass.
    Thanks for your honest review

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  27. OMG, totally have tears running down my face at your hilarious review. I CANNOT wait to meet you in person. I may make my own hospital gown just so we can hang out in the hotel bar and let people guess whether there is a fanny-revealing opening in the back or not.

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  28. It looks good on you. I'm going to avoid the pattern. It's not for the top heavy footy smuggling mummy tummy types!

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  29. I had been thinking about trying it, as everyone has said it's quick to sew, but yes, as a footy-smugglin' mama (thankfully not as bad mid-feeding months, but still!) I was concerned about how it would sit on me! Thanks for confirming that for me!

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  30. That's s great review, being of the bigger bosom variety I shall give this a miss

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  31. Love this review, it says exactly what I thought would be the case about this pattern - def one for the skinny Minnie's which I am not!

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  32. If you put on a pair of long boots and throw a scarf round your neck it'll be more than passable! But yes, with bare feet, I can see a resemblance to hospital attire ;)

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  33. Well I think you look great Hadley and I'm really not just saying that...I would be in the football smuggling camp so will pass too. Love the pap photo!

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  34. You crack me up woman! But you are so hard on yourself beautiful lady.
    I am definitely in the smuggling footballs category and this dress would do less than nothing for me I'm afraid.
    Can't wait to pick my sewing machine up at the other end and get busy again :)

    Kat

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  35. You nearly have me crying with laughter given your honesty. I think you look smashing. Well done you...and your mini photographer :)

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  36. I think it looks brilliant on you, nice belt too! Your honesty is so valued and also hilarious!

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  37. I know for a fact that this dress would do nothing for me but I like it on you!

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  38. Good picture, except did you have to scowl in it?? More golf ball than football smuggling here, but as I have a thick waist, don't think i'll be jumping to make one of these, not much of a frock wearer either! Your honesty does make me laugh (in a good way), think i'll focus on making a tunic top once I get the clothesmaking motivation/time, something that hides my wobbly bits.

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  39. It looks adorable on you! I think the belt instead of elastic makes it look much less frumpy then some versions I've seen. And I think you're way too hard on yourself. ;-)

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  40. Lovely dress, lovely fabric and you look great.....think I would be more along the lines of smuggling footballs if I made it but like the idea of wearing it with jeans. Well done you did a great job x

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  41. I made the Staple dress too last week! I loved that if you follow the pattern you end up with a really neat (simple but neat) garment. Yours looks lovely. I think as a dress it is a bit short (even though I'm short myself). I will wear mine as a tunic on a legging or something. :)

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  42. Well, I think that it looks far better than you describe and the belt is lovely too. I too have a figure courtesy of pies, I think it is not the dress for me.

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  43. I am impressed with their photos and impressed with your dress- I like the pockets as they are, patch ones do tend to strain with use I guess. It would look wonderful in rayon- it works so well with a simple style like this. As for elastic at the waist- it is a rare person who can pull that off, I never wear elasticated tops or dresses- sack of potatoes is what happens to me

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