Tuesday, March 28

Olympia Dress by Love Notions

Love Notions just released the new Olympia dress, and in all honesty, I wasn't sold on it in the beginning. Its a shape I don't usually wear and that made me nervous. But I decided it was worth a shot, and if I hated it I could turn the fabric from the skirt into something else. After all, I've been testing for Tami for quite some time, and I have yet to dislike a pattern.

Let me tell you, Tami puts her heart and soul into her patterns. I have never been a part of a test for Love Notions that went through more than 5 versions. I think this one went through 9 to get everything just absolutely perfect. She listens to all our feedback, takes it all seriously and doesn't get annoyed with us - although maybe she rolls her eyes in private ;)

The Olympia dress is a knee or maxi length dress with 5 sleeve lengths (including sleeveless),      pockets, and a v-neck shawl collar. Its meant for light to mid weight fabrics with decent drape, but you have to be careful. The bodice is not lined so you have to make sure your bodice fabric can support the weight of your skirt. I used clear elastic in the waist and shoulder seams of mine to help with this.  

I decided to use stripes as soon as she showed us the line drawings before testing. The bodice has a center seam in front so it was perfect to try out some diagonal stripes. I used navy and cream stripe double brushed poly from So Sew English

I chose to go crazy with the stripes and do diagonal on the front bodice, horizontal on the back and sleeves, and vertical on the skirt. Which meant a serious game of tetris to make sure I could fit all my pieces. I excluded the pockets because of this. But a note on the pockets anyway - the pocket piece is not separate! Its connected to the skirt with I think in genius because I usually attach my pocket pieces slightly off so they don't align perfectly. This make it so easy!! 

I was so skeptical as I was making it - but look! My husband loves it and always tell me how 'striking' it is;) I actually love that its fitted at my waist and then goes out. I've always been scared of that for some reason, preferring dresses that are blousy on top, then have a defined waist, and then flow back out again.
Naturally,  I made some adjustments, but I have to adjust nearly every pattern to fit me properly (sway back, full seat adjustment, etc.) remember every body is different! Fabric also makes a huge difference and my fabric has 100% stretch so my bodice ended up a bit big.  I took it in and then adjusted the skirt to fit. I am 5 ' 8" and did not add any length, but I did shorten the bodice an inch (my natural waist is pretty high) though
I think that this is version 5 and the bodice has been taken in and shortened since then.

I am super happy with it! I really love it and even like more the ,ore I wear it. I am so glad I took the time do the stripes all the different directions - I love the effect of the vertical stripes on the skirt!

The pattern is on sale for $8 through Sunday so go get it here and get sewing!

PS four of us testers live close so we got to do a group photo shoot - I love my sewing friends!







5 comments:

  1. You did a fabulous job with the stripes! The Tetris game paid off big!

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  2. Stripe matching genius! Love your version! Attached pockets are my favorite! I might need this pattern!

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    Replies
    1. Attached pockets are genius. Don't know why anyone makes them any other way!

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