***Edited May 9, 2014:  Simplicity 2246.  The Lisette Traveler Dress.  This is still one of my most popular pattern reviews.  As of today, the pattern is still available on Simplicity.com.  If you’ve made up this dress, I’d love to see your version!  Post a link in my comments.  Thanks!***

Hooray!  I finally spent some time sewing for myself!

Here’s the whole story:

Waaaaaay back in April, I saw this blog post about some new patterns.

So, in the wonderful way that blog-hopping works, I followed Jenny’s links to this site.

And I fell in love with all the patterns.

All 4 of them.

So I took the occasion of a 99 cent sale to grab them.

All 4 of them.

First up, I tried Simplicity 2209, the Passport Dress.

This little dress is so cute.  I love the dart details on the front.  But, sadly, it didn’t flatter me.  At all.

You will not be seeing pictures of that dress.

Then I tried Simplicity 2246, the Traveler Dress.

We have a winner.

I used a canvas print from the Lisette collection at JoAnns Fabrics.

(Don’t flip out at that word canvas.  It’s actually quite soft and drapey.  You can more info about the fabrics here.)

 

The pattern changes I made were all inspired by laziness!

• I didn’t want to match the patterns on the pockets, so I left them off.
• I didn’t want to match the patterns for the button plackets, so I choose to make them in a contrasting white instead.
• I cut out the wrong sleeve pattern by mistake.  Rather than cut the right one, I just ran with what I had.  The biggest difference:  the sleeve for view C was designed to be gathered and a sleeve band added.  I didn’t want that, so I just did a little pleat to take out some of the extra instead.

Inspired?  Possibly.

Lazy?  Yes.

Do I love it anyway?  Absolutely.My PR review is here.

Next, I think I’ll try Simplicity 2211, The Market Blouse and Skirt.

And then I’ll get to Simplicity 2245, the Portfolio Tunic.

Finally, I’ll try Simplicity 2209 one more time.

Why?  Because I love all 4 of them!

I’m linked up here: