First of the Summer dresses

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Yesterday we were in sunny beautiful Anglesey, my mother in law had organised a special day at Cemaes Bay as part of her role as Geologist at Geomon Anglesey Geo Park .
We marched behind a local Welsh band (resplendent in kilts!) to Llanbadrig headland. What a beautiful place! We visit Anglesey fairly often because my mother in law lives there, but we had never been to this part of the island before. It was a beautiful spring day, very windy, but we found a sheltered spot and had a little picnic.

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I wore my first summer dress make of the year for our first sunny walk of the year. This dress is made using the Full Skirt dress pattern from the most recent Breat British Sewing Bee book.

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I didn't add the cap sleeves, and fully lined the bodice. I made a size 18 and adjusted the front princess seams slightly to accomodate my large bust. Sadly it gapes a little at the arm hole, so if I make another I will fit the front better.
I am not at all comfortable with sleeveless anything, but for the sake of this blog I'm willing to inflict my flabby white flesh on anyone reading just so you can see the dress.

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I will never go out like that, I like my cardigans! I might even draft a short sleeve if I make another, although I like no sleeves under a cardigan or short sleeved cropped cardigan in summer, so maybe I wont.
Here is a less windy photograph taken early yesterday morning (hence tired face!) at my mother in laws cottage, before we set off.

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After our picnic, we walked back to Cemaes Bay along the coastal path. I'm so glad we did too, such stunning views, and lots of beautiful little coves. We'll definately be going back in the summer.

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16 comments

  1. Your dress is really lovely and suits you. Are you aware of any patterns that are made for ladies with a larger bust as I've been told that all patterns are made to a 'B' fitting; or can you recommend a good tutorial for adjusting the size. Liz

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    1. Hi Liz, it's true most patterns are made to a B cup measurement. I usually have to do a Full Bust Adjustment on most dress patterns, sometimes I get away with it, this dress I think will just need a little tweeking on the front princess seams. My recent Emery dresses just needed the darts moving. I use the instructions in my trusty old copy of Readers Digest sewing, but there are lots of online tutorials. This one on the Clette blog is good http://www.sewalongs.com/hawthorn/hawthorn-full-and-small-bust-adjustments

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  2. Gorgeous as always x

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  3. I wish I could sew!!! I have cardigan envy!!

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    1. Cardigan is a cheapy from H&M, but a nice colour.

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  4. Thanks for sharing this I was thinking about making this dress sleeveless with a full skirt too but I wasn't mad about the checked version in the book so I was still undecided. (I think it's the capped sleeves and the way the model is holding the skirt out!) I love your version, I'm going to give it a go!

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    1. Great minds eh? I agree the photo in the book isn't terribly inspiring.

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  5. A very pretty dress, the colour really suits you. It looks perfect with the sea and blue sky as a backdrop, Anglesey is a very special place, we have been going every summer since my son was a baby, he's ten now and still loves it!

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    1. Thank you Helen, we were very lucky with the weather on Saturday, the sky was so blue.

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  6. I am a huge fan of cardigans as well' the dress suits you and looks gorgeous. Happy Easter to you and yours, hope you've had a relaxing bank holiday weekend xx

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    1. Thanks Grace, Happy Easter to you too. x

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  7. Anonymous6:40 am

    You've inspired me Jeanette, and yesterday I made my first ever skirt!

    Following your link I've just bought the sewing bee book too - I think I've got the bug! Thank you :-)

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    1. Yay! It's a great bug to have. x

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  8. Love the dress. Would you recommend the book?

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    1. Hi Mags, I was pleasantly surprised by the book, especially since I bought it from The Book People for £8.99 (the link above) and not elsewhere at £25. It comes with a seperate folder full of full size pattern sheets to trace, and there are several patterns in the book I want to try. I mainly bought it for the coat pattern though, which is gorgeous. I haven't read much of it, and I don't tend to follow instructions closely so can't tell you if they are good or not. I did notice one small mistake with the grainline markings on the front central panel of this dress. It had a straight arrow, and not an arrow to indicate cutting on a fold, though the layout did show it cut on the fold. That might confuse someone.

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