Melly Sews Empire Waist Maxi Dress Pattern Review

More maxi dress making over here!  Today I'm sharing my latest maxi dress make and accompanying pattern review of Melly Sews Empire Waist Maxi Dress Pattern. 

In June I shared that one of my summer sewing goals was to make myself some maxi dresses.  I made it into a dress making challenge for myself (and anyone who wanted to join me) by noting some maxi dress patterns I'd found and was considering trying and this is one of them.  

A few weeks ago I shared my results with the 

Seamingly Smitten Racerback Maxi Dress Pattern:

And now I'm onto Melly Sews Empire Waist Maxi Dress Pattern.  One of the big reasons I decided to try this one was that it was free.  You can't beat that price!  Another was that I've sewn some of her other patterns and they were straightforward, simple sew items that were really flattering, like this Blank Slate T-Shirt Pattern: 

So I felt confident giving this pattern a go and it did not disappoint.

The finished result is definitely flattering and comfortable.  I LOVED the colors and print of the fabric chosen for her sample, so I was hoping I could make one I liked as much with fabric I had in my stash.  My 4 way stretch knit was one I'd bought on a vacation eons ago while in Canada (because prioritizing going to fabric stores on vacation is totally normal, right?).  I'd been saving it to make myself something to wear, but hadn't found the right thing until now.

As I've mentioned in past pattern reviews I'm not any kind of affiliate, so this is an unbiased, independent review.

Pattern Review Time!

The big plus for me was this free pattern came in my size, S (4-6).  If you need bigger, you'd need to scale it up accordingly.  The original pattern tutorial (which is where the actual pdf pattern pieces can be found) was called the Striped Maxi Sundress and also featured a drawstring waist.  I skipped that bit and just ran elastic through the casing and sewed it closed.

The bodice is the only printable part of the pattern - you do have to measure out the skirt portion.  My print was non-directional so I was able to place my pieces creatively to make the entire dress from 1.5yds rather than the 3yds indicated in the how-to.   

The dress is self-lined at the bodice which was SO nice and easy to sew.  No fiddly bits on the neckline or arm areas, which made it come together really fast.  

It's also nice in that it gets the all-important neckline right.  It's not too low and lies flat at the chest:

The instructions are really clear and there are lots of photos, so if even you're a new to sewing or just to sewing with knits you'll be fine.  Melissa also has a helpful YouTube channel, Melly Sews, where she shares a lot of tips & help for apparel sewing, modifying patterns and sewing with knit fabric.  

Now I've got another beautiful, bargain priced, summer dress and another go-to maxi dress pattern for future seasons. 

My Pattern Review Score?  

Seamingly Smitten Maxi Dress Pattern Review

In June I shared one of my summer sewing goals was to make myself some maxi dresses.  I made it into a dress making challenge for myself (and anyone who wanted to join me) by noting some maxi dress patterns I'd found and was considering trying.  

Today I'm sharing my results with one: the 

Seamingly Smitten Racerback Maxi Dress Pattern.

One of the big reasons I decided to buy this pattern was the "real women" result photos.  This pattern maker uses a big pool of testers which means lots of finished dress images.  There were so many different body shapes & ages and they all looked great in the dresses.  Seeing all the different dress variations with lengths & finishing helped a lot too.  

The key change I made was instead of doing the racerback, I re-drafted the back bodice to be a normal tank style using a curved dressmaker's ruler.  I don't own any racerback bras and hate the whole "different color undergarment straps sticking out" look.  I didn't want to have to go buy a bunch of bras just for these dresses so I altered that bit.  Everything else about this pattern was exactly what I wanted so I did that minor change and, quite frankly, LOVE it.  

I made two versions of this dress.  One was with the cotton blend knit above (which had been in my stash for eternity) and the other was with some new double brushed poly knit I started carrying in my fabric shop that I wanted to test sew.  Both dress are flattering, super comfortable and I've gotten a number of compliments on them already.  

I used Swedish tracing paper to redraw the neckline area of the back to make it 

normal tank style rather than racerback.

I also want to mention that years go Seamingly Smitten was an advertiser here, but it's been quite some time since then. This, like any other recent patterns, were my own purchases, and I'm not any kind of affiliate, so this is an unbiased, independent review.

Pattern Review Time!

I made the empire waisted, petite size S (4-6).  One thing I really like about Seamingly Smitten patterns is all the sizing & style options that are included.  This pattern covers sizes 0-26, petite, normal & tall and has empire & normal waist and even has optional pockets.  There are also circle skirt and shorter length options if you don't want a standard length maxi dress.  That much fit variation being included in the cuttable pattern saves a ton of customizing time, which is a huge plus for me.  At a 5'0",  I usually have to do a lot of modifying to get the right fit.  I also end up wasting a good amount of fabric that ends up getting cut off the bottom.  Not this time!

I also liked that the skirt portion was printable.  Yes, it takes a bit of paper to make that bit, but it's SO much faster and easier to position that on the fabric that to wrestle with yard sticks and measuring for something this big.  It also made it easier for me to reposition the bodices a bit for cutting so I was able to make one dress with just 2yds and the other with 2 1/4yds rather than the suggested 3 1/4yds, which meant big savings & no fabric wastage.

There are two finishing options for the neck and arm areas: a full lining or doing binding (with the same or coordinating fabric).  I did the lining option on both which was very fast.  I find you're less likely to run into issues doing that if you've got a really stretchy or fiddly fabric, which some stretch knits can be.  There's nothing worse that a fabric giving you trouble at the most noticeable parts of your dress like the neckline.  

My white fabric was a bit thicker and about 30% stretch.  It made the front waist sit a little higher than I'd like, so if I were using a fabric like this again, I'd probably use the normal waist length, but I still really like this one.

The instructions are really clear and there are lots of photos, so if you're a newbie sewist you won't easily get lost or confused.  The pattern instructions recommended sizing down a full size if using fabric with a 4-way stretch.  I was a little concerned that it would be snugger than I wanted so I made the double brushed poly version in the same size and still think it's the best fit for me.  The bodice actually hits in the ideal spot on this one, so I'd definitely do it the same way for future 4-way stretch/DBP versions at this weight.  

This PDF pattern is also just $4 (thank you summertime sale prices!), over in the Seamingly Smitten Etsy shop, so it's an incredibly good buy.  I've already made two and definitely plan to make more dresses with it, so that price tag is a bargain.  With a little hemming tweak you could also use the bodice portion as a basic tank or tankini top too.  

Now I've got some beautiful, bargain priced, summer dresses that weren't too time consuming to whip up and I've got a dependable pattern so I can keep making myself more for future summers. 

My Pattern Review Score?  

Baby & Toddler Hack: Upcycled Rompers Into Tank Tops

This summer has been SO hot & humid.  90 degree days started in May and the rain just will not quit around here.  It's crazy.  Having more sleeveless & tank style tops has become key for the whole family, but time to create more from scratch hasn't been a-plenty and I didn't want to spend more $ on clothes mid-season.  Instead, I've been doing some hacks to make last summer's baby clothes work as this summer's toddler wardrobe. 

Several of last year's cute 3-6months rompers have been rejuvenated as stylish swing tops for my 17 month old and it's been the ideal solution.  Minimal time & no cost!  

From this cottony yellow romper:  

 

To this little ensemble:

And this colorful bird print bamboo romper:

Has become:

To make these fast, I used another tank top to determine the ideal length:

I started by cutting off the romper bottoms, as low as possible, just above the leg areas.  I used my French curve ruler to give a slightly rounded hem:

For the two layer cotton romper I pressed the raw edges inward 1/4inch:

Then pinned them together:

And top stitched through both layers:

I paired them with some chambray shorts I'd made my now 3yr old son when he was this age and we had an instant sweet summer outfit:

For the bamboo knit romper I folded the raw edge under and used fusible tape to hold it and give it some stability, then used a twin needle to hem it:

That gave it a lovely, stretch-able finish:

My little lady loves wearing both and has been staying cool despite the heat.  I had a soft spot for these little rompers too, so it feels good to get another season of wear out of them and have it cost $0 to boot. 

It's just tough to get any decent photos since she's super fast now & it's so steamy outside.  These were the best I could do before my camera fogged up.  Guess we just need to beat the heat inside & make more tank tops!

Maxi Dress Making Challenge!

Summer is the season of the maxi dress and I really want to make a few new ones this year.  They are my go-to look for hot days and so easy to dress up or down.  I've got some ideal multi-yard knits sitting in my stash and soon will have some beautiful double brushed poly prints for my shop (that I'll need to make project samples with), so multiple maxi dresses are needed.  I've decided to challenge myself with making several styles and would love for you to join me!

I've been on a search for several pattern styles that:

- Have easy to sew designs

- Are flattering for most body shapes 

- And, most importantly, aren't expensive

After some internet digging and analyzing I've put together this assortment of patterns I had in my stash, have now bought or are free downloads (no shilling for specific brands here).  And since I'm picky about what I like, I'm also planning to make a few tweaks to get them exactly how I want.  

Let's dive in!

The first one on my list is the Women's Racerback Maxi Dress by Seamingly Smitten.  It's currently just $4, so I figured it was worth buying.  This pattern seems to be really straight forward in assembly - you can line the bodice or band the neck & arms.  

It's also got empire or natural waist length and includes petite & tall options (which is key for my 5ft self).  My only issue is I'm not a big fan of the racerback look, so I'm going to re-draft the back to be a normal back bodice.  

I have several store bought maxis that have a wrap front bodice and comfy loose sleeves, but didn't see any maxi dress patterns that had the same look.  The Callie Wrap Dress, also by Seamingly Smitten, does have the perfect wrap bodice (and a flutter sleeve option), so I'm going to try to pair that with a gathered skirt bottom, rather than the circle skirt it comes with and see if I can duplicate my favorite bought maxi dress look.

From the big 4, I've had this Simplicity 2642 in my stash for ages and it's got several style options.  It's an oldie, so eBay, Etsy & small shops are the best places to find it.  I'm eyeing the crossover front maxi as a good additional option.   

I made the shorter halter-style a number of years back and reviewed that option here.  It turned out cute, but I had to make some fiddly fit adjustments and hated the 3 piece skirt design (who puts 2 seams right down the front of a dress & suggests using prints with that?), so I'd definitely change that bit.  I'd also commit the sewing sin of ignoring the fabric recommendations and use knit instead of woven, but I don't think that's an issue given the looser design of the first view.  

I also had good results with McCalls 7405.  It's a quick sew and very flattering, so I may pull this one out again too.  You can see my original review here & the shortcuts I used to make it even faster.

On the freebie front, I'm really interested in making this Striped Maxi Dress by Melly Sews.  It looks so polished and the elasticated empire waist looks comfortable too.  It also looks like a super quick sew, which I really need these days.

The ultra simple sew aspect of this Easiest Ever Maxi Dress from Kojo Designs also intrigues me, since it looks really stylish. It's literally just putting to rectangles of fabric together.   Sew easy, right?  I'm not a fan of the seam smack down the front though or the dependence on a perfect-fit belt to keep it from looking like a shapeless sack.  Another tutorial showed this with side seams and just cutting to make the neck area...I'm a bit on the fence about making it....but it's so simple it might be worth it.

I'm jumping into a couple of these right now and will share my finished dress reveals & reviews as they get done.  If you have a favorite maxi dress tutorial or pattern to share, please add it in the comments - I'd love to add my options to the list.  

I'd also LOVE if any of you wanted to sew some of these with me and share your findings too.