I was hoping to show you some outfit pictures today featuring Dixie DIY\’s new Bonnell Dress. When Dixie DIY announced that she was releasing a pattern for a cute full-skirted dress with cut-outs(!!!) I was very excited. A little bit of edge in a vintage shape? Yes, please. I had the perfect fabric and everything. I bought the pattern straightaway and dove in!
I couldn\’t wait to share this dress since it is really so cute, but although you can clearly see that I have the Bonnell Dress all sewn up, unfortunately, the size I chose is much too big for me! It\’s only slightly too big for my dress form, so you\’re seeing her model today. Doesn\’t she look nice?
I cut a size 4 based on my body measurements. I sewed the bodice straight from the pattern. For the skirt I wanted to use my border print, so I just did a gathered dirndl rather than using the pattern pieces. It\’s a little wrinkly since I left it on the floor after discovering the large size. It was disappointing.
For the record, the body measurements listed for the size 4 are bust 34, waist 26.5, hip 37. My own measurements are (usually about) bust 33, waist 27, hip 38–so, roughly comparable. I am less busty than Dixie DIY drafts for, so that\’s part of it, but if I re-cut this pattern, I would cut between the 0 and the 2, I think.
The cute cut-out! You can\’t really see but I took in the side seams a bit (a scant 1/4 inch) to see if I could make it work. I tried it on and it was still too large and the cut out–the best part–had gotten smaller (duh, allie, geometry!) and so I unpicked it.
Here\’s the insides! The pattern construction is a little tricky around the cut outs but the instructions are clear and the result is a lovely clean-finish bodice. The dress looks good inside and out.
Final thoughts?
Here\’s the deal with this dress: The (way cool) skirt fabric was impossible to use on the bodice without having weird flowers in awkward places, so I used plain white cotton, which means I have the whole other side with the same border left over. I think that rather than unipck my skirt seams, I\’ll just start from scratch and donate this one. If anyone wants a size 4 Bonnell dress in a crazy border print, let me know! The bodice is straight from the packet, so it would be a good muslin, even.
Here\’s the deal with this pattern: if you have a dress you like, that fits you well, and you have some pattern-altering skills, you can add side cut outs and a waistband and not have to mess about with a whole new pattern. When I make this style again, I may do that, since there are some other things I would prefer slightly different. The neckline, I feel, is slightly too high on me and I would prefer for the back V to be slightly higher–I just don\’t love the angle it makes. Personally, I wouldn\’t be able to figure out how to do the cut-out finishing on my own, but since I have the directions for it now, it may be easier for me just to cut them into one of my go-to bodices. I need the Bonnell dress instructions more than the pattern, really.
So excited to see the border print sewn into a skirt! As you know I have some of that fabric too. I am thinking a gathered skirt to wear with a T shirt. I am inspired by how nice yours looks. What a shame it is too big. Great idea to gift away the dress.
You could also just cut off the top and wear the skirt and we can be twins!
That is a real shame about the fit. 🙁 It turned out beautiful, though! That print is fantastic.
It looks beautiful! I can see and understand your frustration with the sizing, though. I remember once doing the silly thing of adding extra seam allowance to a pattern that already had seam allowance built in… I went the unpicking way and I swore an awful lot. Great idea to donate your dress! I wouldn't have thought of that :D.
Ooh, how frustrating! Since I made it exactly according to the directions, I thought someone could use it (at least as a muslin!)
Thank you! Luckily I have more of the fabric, so I can make another similar!
Impossible to place on the bodice but It makes a cute skirt! 😉
What a shame the dress looks lovely on the dress form. I agree with Diana above it would make a beautiful skirt. Great fabric choice!
Even though you said your version was a muslin, it looks so nice! I think I will do the same as your dress with my next version and use cotton sateen on top, and the rest of my patterned fabric on the bottom.
That's such a shame about the sizing, hopefully you'll be able to make another one to fit you. It's a lovely dress! x
I'm so glad it's not just me! I have this pattern and I cut a size based on my measurements (size 2 bust and graded to a size 4 waist) AND did a small bust adjustment first and the bodice is just still too big. Luckily I did a muslin first so I didn't use my fashion fabric. I'm still disappointed that I have to start the process all over again though. By the way, I love the fabric you choose on the skirt! It's super cute.
I thought I was the only one! No one else seems to have had this problem besides us 🙂 I'm not sure If i'll end up sizing down, or just adding the cut outs to a tried-and-true pattern. Seems like that would be easy enought to do, right?
Thank you! It's a really cute idea so I think I'll try it again eventually, but it's currently been bumped down my cue 😉
Beautiful! I love the peek a boos on the side – I hope you get to make it again!
I had to go down two sizes! I've made three of these dresses, each with its own issues. Maybe the forth one's the charm? I love the idea of this pattern.
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