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.
We're so excited to introduce our newest sewing pattern, the Xenta Tote! Xenta combines our love of dramatic details, adventurous sewing, and practical utility.
