Alice and Ann Kendra Dress #1

Before I start, a quick disclaimer: this blog post will contain too many exclamation marks because I LOVE THIS DRESS SO MUCH!!!

I am numbering all of my blog posts recently and it is so nice to be finding patterns that I really love. This one, the Alice and Ann Kendra dress, goes to the very tip-top of my most-loved-patterns pile and I’m going to run out of words to describe its magnificence before the end of this blog.

Now for all the reasons that I am head over heels in love with this dress. The empire waist that is fitted down to the natural waist, the neckline (both front and back), the perfect, voluminous box pleats, the princess seams that allowed me to adjust the fit, the hem finish, and the fabric I used all came together to make the swishy, flirty, fabulous party dress that I never knew I needed.

The fabric I chose is a printed scuba from Fabric Styles in the UK. It got lost on its way here and took over three months to arrive, but it is so perfect for this pattern that I’ve forgotten all the pain of the shipping fiasco! The pattern bodice is lined and fitted so I used scuba for both layers and the result is that I can go bra-less (including in these photos) and nobody can tell!

I made two alterations to this pattern. I started with the bodice lining, which I basted together to check the fit. I had to take in the bottom and top of the princess seam to fit my bust perfectly and account for the stretch of the scuba. Once I had it perfect, I transferred the changes to the outer bodice and the skirt pleats to make sure all of the seams would still line up. The second change was to take an extra half-inch from each side of the back seam before installing the zipper to account for the stretch of the scuba. The only other special thing that I did was to use a stretch stitch in the arm holes and for the waist to make sure the seams would allow the movement I wanted. The result is a perfect fit that is also incredibly comfortable AND it has pockets!

This is honestly THE BEST DRESS I’ve ever made. Can you tell how excited I am about this? It is my first make of 2018 and I may have to make another, more summery version, of the Kendra dress before the year is out. The instructions were very detailed and great if you are new to dress making. Make sure you use fabric with structure though, these pleats need a fabric that will do them justice. Also, take the time to properly fit the bodice for your sizing, you’ll be happy you did.

Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by.

~ Lindsay