Nautical Jersey Dress

Yes, I admit it. I have run out of names for my nautical inspired creations. However I have not run out of inspiration for more nautical garments, so that's fine. I made this dress a few weeks ago, before a weekend away in Madrid. Madrid can get HOT and I realised I had nowt to wear during such temperatures that was pregnancy-friendly so a quick project sewing project was required. (Check out the pic above, that's a portrait of my grandmother painted by my grandfather in the 60's. She doesn't look that into my creation does she?!) 

So first we need to talk about the epic fabric. I'm insanely lucky to be able to say that it was a gift from the phenomenally lovely Winnie from Scruffy Badger Time. She is such a sweetie. It's a really lovely drapey jersey with a large elastane content, making it super comfy to wear. I still have sufficient fabric left to make an adult's top or a couple of toddler/child garments, whichever I get round to first. 

The pattern is yet another interpretation of my own batwing top pattern. Following on the success of a T-shirt version of this originally long-sleeved design that made for my best mate, I then simply extended the pattern down into an A-line dress shape. The sleeve bands/cuffs are made from a contrast scrap of navy and white striped jersey of a similar weight left over from my maternity stripes top. This dress was constructed using an overlocker for all seams, plus my usual machine with a three-strep zigzag stitch to hem it. This dress actually took longer to cut out than to construct, got to love that ratio when you're tight on time. 

Look! It's me and my mate Anna (who lives in Madrid) with our bumps! Jersey-based success! This may be the most comfortable garment I have ever made, and certainly the most comfortable maternity garment I own. I wore it two days straight in Madrid and it even saw a bit of use back in UK before the sun decided to piss off again and Summer was replaced with clouds and rain. I managed to get ice cream down the front though, which I see as a victory. 

If I had to split hairs and find a flaw with this creation, I'd say that I made the sleeve bands/cuffs a little too loose. If I could be arsed to unpick, recut and reattach them then the gathered effect of the sleeves would be a bit more apparent, however I can't so it is what it is. As with all successful and speedy creations, I'm now tempted ti make a whole heap more using any pieces of similar weight jersey in my stash. However the UK weather has shown that, due to the fact that I have literally only worn this once since returning from Madrid, making a pile more of these dresses would probably be a waste of fabric. Still, I am confident that it'll see post-pregnancy use too, possibly with a bit of skimming in at the side seams at some point (although maybe not!).