Hi, guys! Hope you’re all having a great day! It’s funny… now that I’ve got a couple of frustrating projects behind me, I feel so free and easy and I’ve been so productive! It’s such a bad feeling when your creativity is all bottled up after a few failures, so it’s nice to shake loose of that and just happily make things again!
This is the Christine Haynes Marianne dress, and it’s a dress that I didn’t mean to sew (for myself, right now). My brother gave me the pattern for Christmas (thanks, Tim!) and I’d planned to make some cute long-sleeved dresses, but didn’t have time before the weather warmed up. Fast forward to a Friday evening in late June, when I had that horrible “OH NO I’VE FORGOTTEN A BIRTHDAY!” feeling. I never know what day it is, and so I’m always running behind in life… I just can’t figure out any way to stay on top of my calendar! So Friday night I realized my sister Cam’s birthday was on Monday, and I wanted to sew her something that I could mail out before the post office closed at noon on Saturday.
I thought about making a couple of Renfrews, Plantain tees, or Briar tops as I’ve already made those patterns for her, but for some stupid reason I wanted to try something new. Suddenly, I remembered Heather’s Marianne dresses and thought they would be a quick sew, so I grabbed the pattern and went to work!
The pattern is a breeze to sew, especially if you omit the sleeves and collar, like I did. 🙂 I am not a quick sewer by any standard (I’m way too easily distracted), but these two dresses were both done Friday night in a super painless manner. Shoulder seam + clear elastic, neck band, side seams, sleeve hems, hem! It just doesn’t get easier than that!
The fit of the dress is quite nice. I liked the two dresses I made for Cam so much that I decided to make one for myself, oops! I don’t like to wear tight knits, but I also don’t want to swim in them, but the ease included in this pattern lets it sort of skim over the body. I also thought the skirt might be kind of saggy or gross, but it really looks nice! The neckline is higher than I’m used to wearing, but it could easily be scooped out if you prefer a lower neck. I never really wear knit dresses, with the exception of very beefy knit dresses in the winter, so I was really shocked that I liked this! Now, you could easily size down for a closer fit, but like I said, I’m not really into that, so my fit may be a lot looser than you prefer. Just check the finished measurements! 🙂
OK, let’s talk fabrics. The raspberry polka dot came from Girl Charlee ages ago, and in a big order purchased to make back-to-work clothes for Cam. It took me a while to sew through all that stuff, but now the only thing left is the blue and white stripe… it’s much more sheer than I thought it would be, which kinda limits the garments you can make out of it. 😦 Anyway, this polka dot knit is kinda stiff and not very stretchy, so I was worried that it wouldn’t work well, but it seems to be working. The pink floral is from Fabrics for Less on 39th St., bought a while back for $5. Either it shrunk tons or was cut wrong, but I was shy of a yard by a few inches. I toyed with the idea of just making a top, but I really wanted it to be a dress, so I just shortened the dress until I could squeeze the pieces on the fabric. My sister is 5’2″, I think, so I figured she could get away with it! I’m so happy it worked and really glad I could use fabrics that have been in my stash for a long time!
The peach fabric for my dress was also bought for my sister, I think from Girl Charlee as well, but I forget. It was intended for a Moneta, which she liked the looks of, but then she changed her mind so it’s been in my stash for a while. It’s not really one of her favorite colors, either. Now, if you’re wondering why my dress has a non-contrast yoke, it’s definitely not because I got too involved in my audiobook (guys, would you believe I’ve never read Pride & Prejudice? I feel like a dope for avoiding it because it’s so much fun!) and accidentally cut the front with the stretch running the wrong direction. I also definitely didn’t sweat and sweat until I figured out I could make it work using the pieces for the version with the yoke. DEFINITELY NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
Long story short, this is a sweet little pattern and works really well for gift giving since it doesn’t have to fit super precisely. I’m looking forward to making some Breton-style dresses when the weather gets cooler… won’t that be fun? And it’s nice to know that next year, when I lose track of the time and have to make a last-minute gift for Cam, I can crank out a few of these babies overnight! 😉
What have you been sewing? Whatcha up to these days?
Ginger Makes... 
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books — I bet it’s a hoot on audio.
Love the dress — can’t go wrong with a basic knit dress in my opinion. Come to think of it, my own wardrobe is currently lacking one…
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It is! The woman who reads it (version 4 on Livrivox, a free download!) is really entertaining!
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I wish I’d never read ‘P & P’, then I could read it for the first time.
Pretty dresses too 🙂 Your sister is very lucky and well done for rescuing yours – I’m always doing things like that.
I am currently trying to rescue a Sorbetto top that I chopped a bit out of with my serger while chaining off 😦
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Arrrgggghhhh, I’ve done the old serger chop to more garments than I care to think about. Ugh! Hope you can fix it! 🙂
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Um, yes. this will be super cute in a breton stripe. There you go, giving me ideas again…
(Which I obviously have kept to myself until today when I decided to finally comment on your blog.)
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Dooooo it…. dooooo it! 😀 Thanks for commenting- it’s nice to have you here!
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All are such great dresses, need to make this one. Oh, the list just keeps growing and growing.
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Lori, you are NOT kidding! I’m off today and feeling a little paralyzed by my stack of “MUST MAKE THESE RIGHT NOW” patterns! So many fun things to sew! We just need more time! 🙂
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These all look great! It’s such a quick sew, and I love the fit. It’s like a sack dress, but it has a nice curve so it’s still flattering! I love that you have a yoke, even though it was mistake. Hooray for mistakes that end up working out in the end! Your sister is lucky to have you to sew for her!
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Thanks for inspiring me to make these! It’s all because of you!
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Awww…you are so sweet! I’m glad it all worked out for you!
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How lovely to have a sister who can make such nice dresses for you! They perfect on her, and you! 🙂
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I think she’s running a racket, actually… she, my other sister, and my mom, too! They all have sewing machines but don’t really use them! 😮
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Best sister of the year award goes to you!
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Haha, nah…
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What a good sister you are — you both look lovely in it!
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I was nervous that it wouldn’t fit her as I didn’t have her current measurements, but she looks so cute!
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Such a cute and fun summer pattern. I’d imagine it’d make some great fall dresses too.
I also wish I had a sibling who sewed so I could get gorgeous new handmade clothes for my birthday…
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I keep trying to convince mine to sew so they can make ME homemade gifts… so far, no luck, although both my sisters, one brother, and my other brother’s girlfriend ALL have sewing machines!
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OMG I love all of these! Thanks so much for using my pattern and for your kind words about it! I really strived to find that balance between a comfy sack pj dress and something flattering and outside appropriate! I don’t like my knits tight either, but I also have curves that I want the fabric to drape around. I’m so glad you like the fit! xoxo
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It really strikes a balance between the two– it’s cute AND comfy! That’s a rare thing. I’m excited to make more!
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Aw, what a lovely sister you are! Great idea to use this pattern for gift giving too. I’m thinking a long sleeved Breton style one would be nice for autumn, thanks for the idea! That colour looks lovely on you by the way! Xx
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Oooh, yes, red and navy and stripes, maybe? Or something in polka dots? I’m so excited to see what your take on this would be!
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Wow! This is my thing too : since I went back to sewing and knitting, I have listened to so many good audio novels and essays. Often read by professional actors, they sound like live public readings on stage. Love your 3 Mariannes. Good work!
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It’s such a nice way to hear books that I would otherwise struggle to find the time to read! I really enjoyed “The End of the Affair” read by Colin Firth… he has a lovely voice!
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I’d like to be your sister :). Cute dresses, all of them! That looks like a great pattern that would work with so many fabrics. Summer sewing for me is all about easy projects, so I’m sewing similar things, quick easy styles without complications.
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I’ll adopt you! Let’s be sisters! I hear you- it’s nice to make simple projects in the summer, that’s for sure, so you can spend less time in the sewing room and more time outside!
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So daring to try a new pattern with a birthday gift on the line! Looks like it worked out great though, these are all super cute!
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I don’t know why I insist on living on the edge… it ends terribly half the time!
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Aw, great present! Your sister looks smashing. All cute dresses 🙂
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Thank you muchly! 🙂
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It took me a long time to get to Pride & Prejudice, too. Mostly because I had Jane Austen confused with Charlotte Bronte, I had to read Jane Eyre for a school assignment, and didn’t particularly enjoy it. The Colin Firth miniseries was what made me realize that it’s actually a great story!
I haven’tvmanaged to get back to actual sewing yet, the baby still won’t let me put him down long enough, but I did get one of the Seamwork dresses cut out when my mom was over earlier this week. Doug says he’ll do his best to see that I get some sewing time this weekend!
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Oddly, I actually love Jane Eyre, but otherwise tend not to like anything sort of period drama-y. 🙂 I haven’t seen the miniseries, but I’ll have to watch it now!
The Seamwork dresses all seem like super quick sews, so I hope they’ll be fun for you to make! Hope you’re catching up on rest and sewing this weekend!
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Your dress looks beautiful. Such a lovely colour! I did Pride & Prejudice for my final exam at school, and yes it was so entertaining! I’ve been to Jane Austen’s house in Winchester – she was one lucky girl – her house is lovely. It has her dresses and quilts she made.
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Ooh, how fun! It’s really neat that she was a sewer- I had no idea! Although I guess just about everyone was back then, heee!
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Such a cute and effortless design–it looks great on you!
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Effortless is just the word! You could pull this out of the laundry basket and run right out the door… couldn’t be easier!
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You have one lucky sister! I do love the peach version though, these are so so great for comfy summer dressing! Love Jane Austen, glad your enjoying it!
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Oh man, I finished yesterday and loved it so much! I’m thinking Sense & Sensibility next!
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Great dresses, I like the accidental yoke. Your sister is a lucky girl! The Breton dresses sound like a good future plan. I’m currently working on a 1972 summer dress, with a very square yoked neck. X
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Ooh, that sounds really fun! I’m looking forward to seeing it!
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These are all so cute Sonja! That peach colour is really great on you and it’s a hard one to pull off! This pattern hadn’t grabbed my attention but after seeing yours I’m tempted!
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I think this would be adorable on you!
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Awesome! That is a weird color, but it really suits you! I thought no that dress looks really good on you.
I want to make my sister some clothes. Have got to get her measurements. 🙂 inspiring.
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Thank you, Ruth! I can definitely recommend knits- I’ve made them for my mom and sisters and they’re much easier to get a decent fit with when you can’t have someone come in for a fitting (my family all lives far away).
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I love those fun prints! Your sister is lucky to have you. 🙂 I hope you make some winter versions too – I think they would be really cute and fun to mix and match with opaque tights. I always wonder about knit dresses and tights though: how do you prevent them from sticking??
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I have no idea! I’m always tugging at the dresses because they stick so terribly! I hope there’s a decent solution (other than wearing a slip, which isn’t my favorite thing to do).
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The dresses all look great! I have never read P&P either (hanging head in shame). I do love the yoke though. Great save!
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You should give it a try! I thought it would be boring or too girly, but it’s actually pretty funny.
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Love the dresses, you both look great in them. Well done. P & P is a great book and I like the older 1940 version of the movie with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson although the newer version is more in line with the book. I am coveting your dress and your sisters lamp on the piano, so pretty.
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Ooh! I’ll have to look for that movie! I loved Laurence Olivier in Rebecca… one of my favorite movies! The lamp is my mom’s, and I’m pretty sure it’s Tiffany glass… she has an amazing nose for sniffing out fancy antiques for super low prices!
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These look great both on you and your sister! Perfect summer dresses!
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Thanks, Mady!
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The peach color looks great on you, what luck! I find it really fun to sew the same thing for me, then one for each of my two sisters, but in their styles so it isn’t too matchy matchy.
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Ooh, I remember your sister-sister Lola dresses! Such a great gift!
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all of the versions are super cute! it looks so easy and comfy to wear.
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Thanks, Sara! It’s super easy to wear!
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Oh I think they came out beautifully! Yours looks totally intentional!
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Thank you! Such a silly mistake!
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I am not a fan of peach but dang does it ever look nice on you!
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It’s one of those love it or hate it colors, I think! People seem to have very strong feelings about it!
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You are such an awesome sister! I am thinking of sewing for my mums birthday this year. I need to get myself organised. Love the dresses!
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I can totally recommend knits when you’re gift sewing- you get a little more wiggle room with the fit!
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Oh you both look ace! I really like your self-yoke. I may have to steal that idea at some point! I love that you sew for your sis. xx
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She’s really fun to sew for! I take my size and do a quick petite adjustment… easy peasy!
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Love them all!! Jen
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Thank you, Jen!
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your sister looks so happy with her dresses.
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I love this! The seam across the top is a nice touch, and that color looks great on you 🙂
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I love this! The seam across the top is a nice touch, and the color looks great on you 🙂
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All three versions are so cute they are such nicely fitted dresses. I’m honestly looking up the pattern right now. Your sister looks gorgeous in her versions! What an amazing sister you are to make them for her! The best I do is gift voucher because I always forget and never know what to buy. What a Sweetie you are!
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Aww how sweet. She looks great in these. I like how you rocked it out over your stretch issues for yours 😄
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