Robe Frida from Wear Lemonade Pattern Review

This Wear Lemonade design is rather adorable if you ask me. I love how it can be worn as an oversized frock or you can cinch it in at the waist for an Alice in Wonderland effect. The sleeves can also be worn folded up or long. I chose to make the second option, the boatneck without the pocket as opposed to the open necked with pocket version, but I am considering making up a second with these two features. I am imagining a striped seersucker in a happy colour. 

The Fabric I used for this one is Robert Kaufman's chambray dots in indigo.

http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/robert_kaufman_house_designer/cotton_chambray_dots/chambray_dots_in_indigo

Chambray seems to be all the rage this summer. I've noticed it in a lot of shop windows. It is really easy to sew, not slippery, sturdy, not fiddly at all. 

The pattern is in French, a language I have only small inklings of understanding in, so I can't really say how clear the directions are. However, I will note that it is packaged beautifully and that there are very helpful photographs for every step along the way, so with a little knowledge of how to sew garments, it should be pretty do-able for anyone. It sews up quickly. 

There is a LOT of volume on the skirt. Tons. It's just a long rectangular gathered skirt. I actually did not quite have enough fabric to completely fill out the pattern piece, but I knew that it would hardly matter since there was so much I was working with. The fabric gathered up very neatly, and if I recall correctly, I didn't even baste the bodice to the skirt before doing my final seam...GASP! Miraculously, it came out in the first go. 

The belt was really rewarding to make. It was the first time i had every placed grommets and the final result looked super-pro. 

If there was any issue with the project I would say I would perhaps adjust the placement of the belt loops. I feel they are a bit too high and pull the belt away from where it naturally wants to sit, which is a bit higher than any other dress I have made, but again, i quite like that look.

That being said, I tend to wear this most often without a belt. It feels..dare I say...sort of high fashion that way. It's so large yet just the right length so that you can really flash those gams, in a very playful innocent way.