Kew Kew Kew!

I feel like I’m always behind on the indie pattern curve. There’s always patterns that seem like everyone has made before I get around to it. Usually my “design process”— if you can call it that— starts with me having a specific end product in mind and then either Frankenstein-ing a pattern together from my pattern blocks or finding a pattern in the wild that fits it. Even patterns I love the idea of tend to languish in my sewing queue because my design ideas push themselves to the front. (Victory Patterns Trina— your day will come!)

Kew was like that for me. I’d seen it all over the place and loved the idea of it but it just never made it to the front of the sewing list until this summer. I love white dresses, I love tiny cloth covered buttons, and I love an outfit that feels like it needs a baguette and a bouquet of flowers on a bicycle in the south of France. (I have spent some time in the south of France, I did not see this dress but that may also have to do with it being the middle of winter. Regardless- the south of France of my imagination totally features this dress.) I wanted buttons and white linen and Kew fit the bill. (Added bonus, it is also fun to say! Kew kew kew!) 

I made ZERO fitting changes to this baby. Z. E. R. O. and it fits perfectly. The sewing goddesses have smiled upon me this day. I tried making a version of this dress out of By Hand London’s Sabrina dress and, well, it did not go according to plan and would have required so many fitting tweaks that I abandoned the thing. (It didn’t help that I was also using a gross fabric but I was trying to use the weird bits I had on hand, probably given to me from someone’s basement.) For some reason, I have had this issue with a couple of By Hand London patterns. It doesn’t seem to be common perhaps because, unlike myself, others are more diligent muslin makers. It think something about the proportion of the sizing block just doesn’t jive for me the way others do. This is my first pattern from Nina Lee but probably not my last based on fit. (Also view 1 looks like a great 40s-esque fall dress!) Beautifully drafted, sews up quickly, 11/10 would recommend.

Fabric covered buttons are a pain but are so satisfying!

I did add pockets and a full lining because the fabric was a bit sheer. The fabric is also another Katya-is-late-to-the-party situation: Kaufman Essex linen. Holy soft and summery batman, I want to live in a cocoon of this now. It drapes but it also has a nice weight and substance to it. It isn’t as aggressively wrinkly either because of the 45% cotton blended. If you haven’t tried this stuff, get thee to a fabric store stat. (Or fabric.com, where I got mine.)

It's hard to photograph a white dress in a house with light walls but that also means you get jaunty gems like this. Also, can you tell my coffee hadn't kicked in?

Fabric: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen in white from fabric.com Covered buttons from JoAnns. (I need to start sourcing these in bulk!)

Alterations: Full lining and pockets.

Verdict: I will be living in this for the summer. Possibly posing awkwardly in fields with bread and cheese.