Textured fabrics are still top of my fabric sewing list. What’s a bit of lace on the sleeves these days. Even when it’s placed on a test dress? That’s what I did to initially test Mari’s Dandelion dress.

I’ve always wanted to wear lace for everyday wear but I’ve always considered lace a formal item or for lingerie. How’s that for outdated thinking. I chose the sweetheart neckline dress. The sleeves were an obvious choice to inch a bit of lace into my work wear. Winnie also made a great lace sleeve version.

To make this first dress up quickly, I overlocked the seam edges and used bias for the sleeve hems. There’s not much I had to do to get the neckline and shoulders to fit right. No roll shoulder adjustment or neckline gaps to deal with. The fabric I’ve used is cotton so it’s very crushable. So crushable…

When I saw the fit on Mari’s version, I realised the initial size I chose was probably one size too big. I made the 8. So now after unpicking the side seams and slivering it the size in, it fits much closer. Dandelion has a good amount of ease in it but I love a close fit.

Then I remembered a dark textured purple blue linen fabric (above) from when Janice took me fabric shopping in Portland. This piece was from Mill End Store. It’s got big textured swirls. Yum!

I know you’ve already seen this dress and top appear on the web, as Mari is hosting a blog hop where everyone who’s tested the pattern shows how they’ve used it.

 
Here’s are the Dandelion testers with their Dandelions posted on their blogs.

• 2 Sept Rhonda of Rhonda’s creative life
• 3 Sept Wanett of Sown Brooklyn
• 4 Sept Winnie of Scruffy Badger Time 
• today – Moi 🙂
• 6 Sept: Lizzie of Sew Busy Lizzie
• 9 Sept: Joyatee of Joy and Smiles
• 10 Sept: Lisa of Idle Hands- the Ms-Fits’ Workshop
• 11 Sept: Brooke of Custom Style

They’re a very creative group and it makes me smile from ear to ear to know I’m in great sewing company. Wanett’s top makes me want to make the top version right now!