Simplicity 8386 | (Modified) Off-the-Shoulder Stretch Knit Dress

9:00 AM

When I bought this pattern, the possibilities seemed endless with all of the great views in this package. I already had this amazing Black/Ecru Saint James Striped Ponte Knit. But I had a few yards of it and I wanted to make the best use of it, so why not a dress?
I started with the size 14 of view C. I knew from past experience with a top/dress like this that I would need to do a FBA. So I did a one inch FBA to create a horizontal bust dart.
And I extended the length into a dress. Once I sewed my darts, this dress sews up just like the top.
The only other thing I did differently was cut out my fabric on a single layer do to the stripes.
This was the perfect fabric for this dress. Maybe I'm a tad bit biased, but I've said it before: Mood Fabrics has the absolute BEST selection of ponte knits. This knit has amazing recovery and this dress will never "bag out". I'm really pleased with how this turned out. I'm going to carry this one right over into autumn and pair it with a long cardigan or a leather jacket.






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22 comments

  1. It just proves that simple can be fabulous. Great fit and perfect pairing of fabric and pattern.

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  2. This is beautiful! I bought this pattern a few months ago and I have a black and white stripe fabric. I said this would be a nice dress, I need to figure this out. Thanks to your tutorial I can watch that and just make it. Thanks so much, the tutorial is perfect. I need an fba too!

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  3. Just perfect. That is all.

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  4. Impressive as always and I think I am going to have to copy this!😊

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  5. This is lovely and the stripes really make it sing!

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  6. That is a sexy dress! I love the sleeve modication and longer length. I am not a seamstress but if I was, I would make this dess. You look fab, girly girl!

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    1. I didn't change the sleeves, that's the way they're drafted and meant to be. Thanks DarnYarn!

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  7. I made this as a top and was not a fan. It was too figure hugging to be comfortable and wouldn't stay in place off the shoulders. The dress idea would totally work, and I love the sexy vibe of yours. Might need to revisit the pattern now! Hopefully I didn't toss it.

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    1. I think it's a combination of the stretch and recovery of the fabric and the thin elastic that made this so comfortable. I took off the wedges and put on Chuck's and went grocery shopping while wearing this. The arms didn't feel restrictive at all. Thanks Amanda!

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  8. Beautiful and I love it. I saw endless possibilities and made 2 tops so far and 1 modified with tie strap. I think I will be making the dress so. Great fit and you wear it so well.

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  9. I also referenced yours in my recent blog post. Hope you don't mind.
    Overdriveafter30.blogspot.com

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  10. Hi Erica, I really enjoyed your video tutorial. I hope you do more. You are really good at it.
    This dress is beautiful. Since it was a knit, how did you determine how much of a FBA to do?

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    Replies
    1. The wearing ease is already in the pattern. So I did it just as I would do with a woven. Thanks Charlene!

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  11. Hi Erica! Love your tutorial and you look beautiful as always!

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  12. The dress is gorgeous and look beautiful and sexy in it.

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