Miss Celie

Sweatshirt Dress Done!

The 8-2008-21 sweatshirt dress is my first La Mia Boutique pattern. I have about five of the magazines in the library and just haven’t gotten around to many of them.

When this first appeared in the August 2008 edition I was immediately drawn to it for it’s simplicity. I figured it would be hard to mess up. And, it is.

I thought this would be a totally casual weekend dress. But, with tights, boots, and huge earrings — it was perfect for the Greek ‘name day’ party I was invited to last night.

The only problem I had with the pattern was user error. I totally forgot to add seam allowances when cutting the bodice. Oops. Luckily, the dress is a sack so it doesn’t matter too much. Unlike Burda, La Mia Boutique has you trace pieces for the bands (wrist and skirt bottom).

I also ended up making the largest size — a 46 after I measured the hip area. I’m not familiar with their sizing but I’ll tell you now that it runs small. If I were to make it again, I would shorten it a smidge and taper at the bottom more. I omitted the pockets and the neck drawstring. I think pockets or a patch / kangaroo pocket would be adorable.

I bought the sweatshirt fleece from Joann’s a couple months ago at about $10 a yard and the ribbing is from the Carol Collection. The whole thing was constructed on my serger. Super fast. Super easy. Fun. And about $20.

There’s not much to say about this, but if you are so inclined, here’s the review on PatternReview.com. I noticed today there are about four garments I haven’t reviewed on PR. I’ll get to that this week 😉

54 comments

  4. I had such doubts when you posted the pattern picture, before. However, you make it work. You look absolutely adorable! Great job!

  7. The dress is great! I bet you’ll get lots of wear out of it this winter. But have you changed your makeup or your diet or something because your face looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL in these photos! (Not that you don’t look adorable other times … trying to NOT make this sound like a backhanded compliment and hoping I’m not failing!)

    • Thanks Debbie! I *have* in fact changed my makeup and I keep meaning to write a blog post on it because I’M SO HAPPY with it 😉

  11. You look great, as does the dress. The dress looks like something you’ll live in this winter. The boots, what I can see of them, look fabulous too.

  21. This is absolutely awesome! I used to have a sweater dress I loved as a teen. I’ve struggled with the decision to try and make one now that they’re back in style. I’ll have to scout around for something more my size but I think I might be able to wing it. I love outfits than start casual but can be dressy with the right accessories. And it’ll give me more experience on my new serger. Thanks for posting this!

  22. I don’t know about La mia boutique and if they use the “normal” Italian sizes but perhaps this might help you:

    An Italian 46 would be a 40 in Germany and a 42 in France and something like a 44 in Spain. European sizes are all different from each other another: normally you will have smaller women in the South (I think Patrones is for 164cm) and taller women in the North (KnipMode is for 172cm). There is more space for bust and hips in the South and less in the North. So there is no such thing as a European size…

  23. You rock this dress! Way cuter on you than the model. Now I wish I had one. I think your omission of the pockets and drawstring was a good call.

  26. That dress on you is the bizness!

    OT…as Debbie noted, i noticed that ur looking esp stunning these days..do share your tips!

  28. It looks good on you…the total outfit looks good…very good coordination (and choice) of shoes and tights. Good decision that you made it without the neck drawstring.

  31. Love that Dress. I would wear it to work on a Friday. In fact, I would live in a dress like that!

  36. I didn’t think this would be cute based on the pattern picture but it is! You look better than the model.

  38. I would be extremely happy if Burda would start giving pieces for the bands and stuff like that. I HATE HATE HATE those measurement things – with or without seam allowances? WTF? THey always come out wrong.

  41. I have a couple of “sweatdresses” I made 3 or 4 years back out of really heavy sweatshirt fabric from Joanns. I made them generously sized princess seamed. And I’ll tell you what, they get a lot of wear in January and February, when the chill pervades the air.
    Yours is a really cute idea.

  42. It looks fantastic on you! I wish I had the courage to wear things like this. I agree with Debbie Cook – you do look more beautiful!!

  43. That is really cute! I have a set of three LMB my in-laws just brought me back from Italy in Oct, but bummer it doesn’t include this one (I have Sept, Oct, Nov 2008).

  47. Beyond adorable! I live in hot humid weather all year, but boy do I wish I had some cold weather to justify making one…. Love the look with the boots, too.

  48. ooh, that looks cozy, but the collar is so chic! I think the seam allowance thing was a happy mistake- the fit is great as is, and I don’t think you’d want that any bigger 🙂

  51. Are you sure you are not a model in your spare time???? You always look so good in what you make…well maybe not that grey jacket but the pants with the same material….adorable!
    I’d write to Anne Klein about the coat with photos…you never know what can come of it…they want happy customers and not bad press on a blog….go girl!

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