Baby Perennial Dress

A couple of months ago, Suz from Sew Pony released a gorgeous dress pattern that I knew I wanted to sew up. I used the smallest size of The Perennial Dress, and I love the results.

I did make some changes to the pattern instructions, but they are all on the inside.

The main changes I made were to the seam allowances, so that I could use bias binding and french seams. The seam allowances I used were as follows:

• 1/2 inch on side seams, shoulder and center back
• 3/8 or 1cm at neckline
• 1/4 inch on armholes and sleeves
• No seam allowance on outer edge of facing.

Construction went as follows:

• Bias bound outer edge of facing, two center back edges (as seen here).
• Applied bias binding to the outsides of the sleeves (like seen here).
• French seam shoulders (1/4" first pass, trim and 1/4" second pass)
• Sewed neckline and finished attaching the facing. Made the button loop from the bias binding also.
• Center back seam
• Basted sleeves on, then used bias binding as a facing to attatch the sleeve and finish the whole armhole seam.
• Sewed pockets and shirring.
• French seam side seams
• Used more bias binding on the hem :)

Thats a lot of bias tape! But I think it was worth it. Pretty, yes? You don't have to go as nuts with bias binding as I did, but I think it is a good way to finish the armhole.

I am happy with the dress. Cant wait to see it on a model :)