We're so excited to have another guest maker here on the blog! Paige of @paigejoannaa is here to share her experience sewing up this beautiful spring blossom Lola Blouse and Dress!
I've found the perfect throw-on-and-go spring-summer dress sewing pattern! I fell in love with the Forget-me-not Lola Dress, in particular, the version with the ruffle sleeve add-on expansion. With its soft shape, pretty details, and made in a bright floral, my Lola is an effortless, little confidence booster of a dress! Continue reading to find out more about this project.
I wanted something with a good drape to it, as the silhouette of the Lola dress is fairly simple, so I wanted it to flow over my hips nicely. I chose this pink and white floral viscose that has been in my stash for a while, originally from Rainbow Fabrics - but I did also try out a couple of options by creating some graphics on photoshop. I love doing this to help me visualize how the final dress will look. I love wearing pink dresses in spring and summer so I knew this pretty pink fabric would be the perfect match for the pattern. The fabric was originally from Rainbow Fabrics, but it’s been in my stash for a while.
My measurements are 36” (91 cm) bust, 30” (76 cm) waist, and 40” (101.5 cm) hips, and I typically would class myself as a ‘pear shape’. For most patterns, I tend to choose the measurement for my bust, and then grade out if it’s an open pattern at the hips (like a gathered or skater-style skirt) I can usually get away with the smaller size. For the Lola, I decided to go for the small bust size, as I am an A/B cup, and then grade out at the hips. I adore that this pattern comes with 3 different fit options for different bust measurements; small, medium, and large - which meant I could choose the right fit for me following the ‘choosing your bust fit’ information in the pattern instructions.
The dress is fairly straight in shape (compared to what I am used to) but has a slight a-line flare to it, it’s designed to skim the hips without a lot of fullness. For reference, the Forget-Me-Not Lola Dress goes from a size 28 - 48. I also went for the scoop neck version and decided to draft my own simple tie belt to go with it (more on that later). The back features a yoke with an inverted box pleat, and the option of a petite ruffle for a little bit of fun, which of course I chose to do, it’s such a pretty detail, and if you know me, you’ll know I love anything extra fanciful and feminine.
According to my measurements, I am a size 38 on the bust and a size 40 on the hips, so I cut a size 38 but graded out to a 40 at the hips by hand drawing between those side seam lines from under the bust dart down. See in the image above I actually cut the 38 out and simply graded directly on the fabric when cutting it out.
The Lola dress came together in an afternoon of sewing. I loved how simple it was to sew and how detailed the instructions were. I never felt confused or unsure during the process and I found the petite back ruffle across the yoke a lovely detail that looks perfect teamed with the ruffle sleeve.
The ruffle sleeve made in a drapey fabric, looks beautiful as they fall gracefully on the arm without looking bulky. I like a little coverage on my arms, so having something pretty, and different to a big sleeve was a really nice addition to the pattern. I think this is what makes it a great dress for spring summer because it doesn’t feel tight, it’s the perfect amount of a-line without feeling oversized, overall it’s such a gorgeous sew and style of dress.
The waist belt I created is a really simple rectangle belt, and I cut out 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide, and the width of my fabric is 59" (150 cm). Folded it right sides together and sewed down the long side of the belt with a ½ inch (1.2 cm) seam allowance. I turned it through to the right side, tucked under the small edges, and top-stitched the hole closed on both sides.
The dress turned out super cute and I know it will be an easy throw-on-and-go dress for spring and summer, on the days when I need an easy outfit that looks pretty and makes me feel good. I’ll either style with cream boots and a blazer for days where I want to dress up a little more formally, or sandals, and a cardigan for when I am working from home.
The Lola dress is such a fun dress to wear and was a a joy to sew up! Shop the Lola dress here, and the Lola Dress Ruffle Sleeve extension here. Thanks for reading!
Paige Joanna is a multi-craft content creator and founder of Podgekins. Paige seeks to create a joyful crafty community through online tutorials, creative projects, and colourful fashion inspiration. You can find her sewing, up-cycling and secondhand styling on her blog, Instagram and YouTube.
