pattern tester roundup
Monica Dress Pattern Testers Roundup Part 2
Hey my loves. Greetings and thankyou for coming over to see what my pattern testers – aka roadies – have shared with you for the Monica Dress Pattern Testers Roundups Part 2. The glorious-ness does still continue.
The design of the Monica is so on trend and actually perfect to wear throughout the entire year- depending on your fabric choice, the options and how you style it.
The Monica is really a trans seasonal, all-season dress that is comfortable and graceful!
Make the long sleeve Monica – with the 2 tier option – and style it back with a leather jacket and calf length leather boots.
Alternatively make a short sleeve Monica – with its one tier option – and style it back with some cute summer sandals and a funky leather bag just big enough to hold your keys and lip-gloss.
The design options are there to afford you so many styling possibilities.
So, let’s continue with part 2 of our Monica Pattern Testers Roundups.
And they would like to share the following with you:
1. Your name and where you live ?
2. What fabric combinations did you choose and where did you purchase.
3. What sewing tips can you share when sewing the Monica ?
4. What was your style choice for the Monica ?
5. What fit alterations did you have to make to the Monica ?
6. Have you worn your Monica yet and what compliments did you receive.
7. Any plans for future combinations of the Monica ?
8. Social media URLS
Very Confident Advanced Beginner and Above Sewing level.
Hi, my name is Barbara. I live in Northeast Mississippi in the USA. For my DD’s Monica’s, I used a black multicolored Ankara purchased from JoAnn.com. This Monica has capped sleeves and one-tier ruffle. The chartreuse Kiwi Monica fabric was purchased from LAFinchfabrics.com. This Monica has shirred short sleeves and a one-tier ruffle option.
To fine-tune the Monica for my DD, I made a forward shoulder adjustment and shortened the skirt and ruffle. DD has worn both Monicas while working and received many, many compliments. I can see there will be many more Monicas in the future!
Hi, I am Caroline, living in Brussels, Belgium.
I am over the moon with my Monica’s. Both of them are made in a viscose fabric.
I did my usual alterations upfront. (In this case that would be grading and lowering the bust darts) and made the long version first. Then of course I had to try the short version too, in which I fine-tuned my fit. For the short version, I only did a narrow rolled hem, as I liked the length.
Gathering takes a bit of time, but the dress is not difficult to sew at all and looks absolutely beautiful on everyone. I’ve worn my long one several times already. It’s so comfortable yet graceful. And I wore the red one out to lunch once. My boyfriend is a fan and that’s a super compliment. So I am just thrilled!
If you want to see more of my makes, you can find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nachtnaaisels
Hey, I’m Girl in Uniform Lieve from Ghent, Belgium. I tested this beautiful Monica in the short version with cap sleeves for an instant summer feeling. I bought the fabric at Driessen fabrics in the Netherlands, it’s a beautiful viscose quality. Sewing Monica is really not difficult! Do you know how to sew buttonholes? Then the dress is also easy for you to make. I am secretly looking at what fabric for a second Monica, because the long version is so elegant and feminine, I want one of those too! Want to see more from me? www.girlsinuniformblog.com or www.instagram.com/girlsinuniformblog.
Who should wear a Monica dress? Well, everyone should! My name is Allison from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. I made Monica dresses for both myself and my young adult daughter, Megan. Steps for a successful, amazing dress: first measure accurately to choose the correct size including the correct cup size. While you are working on pattern preparation, make sure you have the right fabric. Monica works best with fabric with drape and flow. My Monica is made from a deep yellow floral chiffon from Olga Fabrics which I lined, partially. Megan’s is made from an amazing really soft netting with glitter strawberries which required a full lining. While shopping remember to also get all the buttons! Monica has a drawstring at the waist. It can be from the same fabric like my dress, or from a complimenting fabric like Megan’s dress.
Since I chose to line both Monica dresses, let me tell you about that. I lined the bodice of mine but not the sleeves. The lining is attached at the front facing, the yoke, the waist and the armholes. I lined the skirt to the knee by lengthening the top tier. The skirt lining is attached at the waist and the front facing. Megan decided she did not want the netting against her skin so I lined the sleeves of her dress, too. Since her dress was netting, we decided to end the lining at the knee letting the ruffle remain unlined.
Megan and I wore our dresses on the same day out for photographs. Megan styled her strawberry dress with white boots. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show in the photograph, but I finished the ties of her dress with sparkly strawberry beads for an extra fun pop in addition to making her ties extra long.
I styled my chiffon dress with low heels and a coordinating purse. We visited a farm where we purchased plants for our yard. We felt fancy at the farm in our pretty dresses. We were glad the paths were all paved! We also visited several other places for some shopping during the day. Everywhere we went people loved our dresses. It was amusing when they saw and complimented us independently, then saw us together, then we told them I made both dresses from the same pattern.
Final step for a successful dress, go get your copy of the pattern today!
hi I’m Sara from New Zealand. The Monica dress was perfect for this viscose crepe from The Fabric Store. It drapes beautifully and is super comfy ❤️ I made a size 4, graded to a 5 at the hips with a C bust. I shortened the sleeves, bodice and tiers which is the perfect fit for my 5ft 1in frame. I’ve worn it to work and I’m very pleased with both the style and comfort. I plan on making a short sleeve version for summer
https://www.instagram.com/life.sewlove/
Hello Lovelies, this is Brenda from the Netherlands.
I’ve made 2 Monica dresses as of yet.
My first one (the green one) has the short sleeves with elastic, and the second one (red/pink flowers) has the cap sleeve. For the second one I changed the pattern a bit. I lengthened the first tier before putting on one last tier on the dress. It turned out very lovely.
They both are perfect dresses for wearing in the warmer weather while still being a bit covered. If you pick the right fabric, they are very flowy.
The whole dress is pretty easy to make but do prepare for gathers and buttons.
If you want to see more of my sewing my instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/fabricfairybrenda/
Love Brenda
Hi, I’m Diane from the UK
I used a lovely cotton viscose fabric which was a nice weight and draped very well. I thought it was perfect for the Monica dress. I made my dress in size 2 and shortened the skirt sections by 4cm overall for my height (5’2″).
The instructions are very clear as usual and the dress came together very quickly. I love the elasticated waist with the ties and the gathers make it lovely and swirly! It just feels so feminine.
I wore both of my dresses recently and my friends love them; it definitely will be my favourite dress to wear over the next few months. Lots of options for different sleeves and also dress length makes it a very versatile pattern which will be used time and time again.
https://www.facebook.com/diane.m.shortland
Hello, my name is Elise and I live in Queensland, Australia. I have been waiting for a patten like this to come along. The fit of this dress is really flattering. I love the elastic gathering as the waist and the aline shape around the hips. There is enough ease to be comfortable but not bulky. This pattern really is a show stopper. I wore it to lunch recently, my friend commented about how good I was getting at sewing clothes, the quality of the pattern has a lot to do with that. Whilst the dress looks complicated I would say the most challenging part is all the buttons and getting holes and buttons to line up. I can’t wait to make many more, I already have a floral version ready to be cut out.
Hi! I’m Lianne from Singapore. My Monica dress is made from viscose -the fabric is made by Cousette from the Singulaire collection and is called ‘sous bois lichen’. I made my Monica with fluttered sleeves and double tiered skirt. I lengthened the bodice by 1cm and graded from size 2 at bust to size 3 at waist and hips. This is a fantastic pattern and I managed to squeeze it out of 2.5m of fabric (just). I would recommend making sure you have enough fabric as the tiers use quite a bit. I’ve worn this dress to work and love the fit.
Instagram: @thetravellingcrafter
Hi from Sydney Australia. I’m Maria or Velosews on social media.
2. What fabric combinations did you choose and where did you purchase
This soft pale print is from Drapers fabrics online.
The blue white print was bought from Super Cheap Fabrics online.
3. What sewing tips can you share when sewing the Monica?
Decide on the tiers that suit your needs. Find a soft fabric that suits the gathers.
Look at current fashion trends to determine your sleeve choice and tiers. You design your dress with Anne’s pattern.
4. What was your style choice for the Monica ?
I tried to limit myself to one Monica to wear for daywear. This pale print version is the one I love to wear.
Then I sewed this white and blue print version to get the hang of shirred sleeves. I love shirring!!!
5. What fit alterations did you have to make to the Monica?
I took out 2cm from the front neckline – above the bustline.
On the blue version I lowered the back skirt tier to cover the depth of my booty. It’s my preference
to keep my dress safe ie, when the wind picks up, I don’t want my dress to fly up as well. Let’s not
think about that scenario. Too much information right?
The final version makes me happy.
6. Have you worn your Monica yet and what compliments did you receive.
Monica was great to wear to lunch recently. Not a big lunch but I must say I felt well dressed and
comfortable.
7. Any plans for future combinations of the Monica?
I’m planning on sewing another version with a large print or a plain version but there’s nothing plain
about this dress.
Now that the weather is cooling down, a long sleeve version would be fab.
8. Social media URLS
Blog Velosews – What Maria sews
Facebook
IG Maria – I sew (@velosews) • Instagram photos and videos
Hello, I’m Poh Ling from Singapore.
I made my Monica Dress using Rifle Paper Co rayon that I bought from Nekoneko Fabric (https://www.nekoneko.co/).
I blend from size 1 bust to size 2 sleeve and size 3 waist. I also shorten the bodice by 1/2″ and raised the front neckline by 1/2″.
If you are doing the single tiered dress and prefer a slightly longer length, I would suggest you cut the length of the lower tier and width of the mid tier. I cut the mid tier and ended up hemming by folding 1/4″ twice instead as I prefer a longer length.
You may view more of my makes on https://www.instagram.com/b.a.o.l.i.n.g
Hi I’m Bonny from the Netherlands.
The fabric I used are a viscose (green) or poplin cotton (flower).
The Monica I easy to sew, it’s such a fun dress to make. With my choice of fabric I wanted to go vintage, that was my style choice as I own a vintage shop.
I did my alterations on shorten the bust / body area to make the waist higher. I made a size 6 that I made a 7 in the skirt part.
I worn it out and people did not believe I made it, it’s very special! I made 3 so far and cut a 4th!
https://www.instagram.com/bonnybonansa