The Franklin dress









If you follow my blog you alredy know how much I love to find new pattern designers. I already talked about how it always feel as a shoot in the dark but hey, I guess I like to live dangerously. :) So, when Erin from Brooklin Pattern Co. asked me if I would like to join the Franklin dress & top pattern tour I immediately said yes! I loved the pattern from the minute I saw it and I would have the chance to work with a new designer.

Erin was born in the UK but grew up in the east coast (USA). She worked as a costumer and a patternmaker on Broadway for several years until she became a mom to two munchkins. She is now lauching her patttern company with this debut pattern.

I was very impressed with the overall quality of this pattern. The pattern pieces have a lot of notches, on the right places and they match perfectly (I won't talk again about the importance of notches :) ), and the instructions look amazingly professional (something it is not common to find in the indie pdf patterns).

Pattern:
The Franklin dress pattern by Brooklin Pattern Co. 

Fabric:
This fabric is rayon challys. It worked great! It is super soft and it drapes beautifully. 
This fabric was chosen by my little princess from my stash, so no suprise it is... a floral print. :) I had 3 yards of this print and I was saving them to make something for me (I have to say it was a favorite fabric from my stash... but what's a mom supposed to do when a child asks for it?...) but because I had to fussy cut the print to center and match front, back and sleeves, I was left with 2 yards of scraps... I really don't know to do with them... They are big enough to make maybe a girl's blouse or top but I am not sure I will be able to match the print perfectly... Oh well...

Details:
This pattern is available in sizes 6 months to 8 years. It features a beautiful pleated yoke, gathered sleeves and in seam pockets. I love it!!
I did some things differently though: I have made the button placket a girl's placket (the pattern instructs on how to make a boy/ unisex placket) and I have enclosed the yoke seam (so it wouldn't itch, not that it would in this case because this fabric is really soft, but I am used to make enclosed seams since I personally prefer it to exposed seams).

She wanted to take it to school today and I was "hummm, no!" :) She would be comfortable, no doubt on that, but it is a bit too much of a dress up style to go to school, don't you agree? :) 

I think I am on an experimental phase of my sewing... 
I should be making pratical clothes for my kids, things they really need, but instead I am finding myself lately wanting to try new things and to use new or fancier fabrics... It is a shift on my sewing style? Only time will tell...
I began sewing for me not for my kids. Then when I found the whole sewing-mom-blogger online community I was compelled to sew for my kids - something that surprisingly has never crossed my mind, maybe because I thought it wouldn't be worth it since they grow up so fast and let's face it, sometimes a handmade outfit costs the same or even more than those from RTW... 
So, even when I decided to start sewing for my kids it was more about me (about learning more and making sewing experiments and finding new patterns, new designers, new techniques...) then about them (making them clothes they need)... I guess that for me selfish sewing is not just about sewing for myself but also sewing for my kids... I mean, sewing is my hobby and just as any other hobby it is supposed to be a creative outlet or something that keeps you sane or something that makes you relaxed... So it is always a bit about ourselves and our well being, right?
Is it shocking? Or is it something you relate with? I wonder... 



This post is part of the Franklin dress pattern tour. Take a look at all the other participants versions for some inspiration!

Erin is giving away a Franklin dress pattern, just entry the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


22 comments

  1. Your dress is SO beautiful Sara and yay for a girl placket :-) I can't believe you have never considered sewing for your kids before....that's funny....they must be thrilled with all their new handmade clothes they are suddenly getting?!

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    1. Thank you Mie! Yes, they are thrilled! They love everything I make them, either practical kids clothes or more on this fancy style. And Yay for a girl placket! And notches! ;)

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  2. What is that fabric? I LOVE it! You can send the scraps to me, I will just admire them LOL The dress is gorgeous, Sara! Let the child wear it to school! :) :)

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    1. The fabric is really amazing isn't it?... I should have kept it to myself... Too late now. :) I can send you the scraps, no problem! Yeah, I think I will let her wear it to school one of this days... maybe for the school photo. :)

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  3. Such a lovely dress Sara! Oh, how I wish I could sew for my kids. Lucky you and your kids : )

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    1. Thank you Surabhi! You are always so kind... Well you should learn - sewing for kids is actually pretty easy! There are a lot of simple & quick outifts that can be made.

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  4. Sooo beautiful!! Love it a lot!! And I'm with Olga let her wear it to school heheh :D

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    1. Thank you, Inês! I will, I will. :)

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  5. Sara o vestido é magnifico! E, devo dizer-te, que se a minha filha me pedisse para levar para a escola algo feito por mim, eu não hesitava e muito vaidosa deixava-a levar... :-) Concordo contigo. Pessoalmente, acho que no fundo o fazemos mais por nós do que por eles embora eles possam ser as musas e os modelos, é sempre um bocadinho selfish but it's a good kind of selfish... :-)

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  6. Everything is absolutely stunning - dress, fabric (oh my, that's so beautiful) and model :)
    Most of my girl's wardrobe is handmade, so she does wear everything to school. I don't really like sewing things that get worn only once or twice. It makes me so happy to see her wearing/and loving the clothes I sew for her. and that's my favorite kind of selfish sewing (i.e. sewing for the ones I love).

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  7. that is SUCH a gorgeous dress!! LOVE it... pinned!

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  8. Beautiful! I like the pattern, a great fabric choice and it fits the model so well. She knows what suits her best :-)
    Maria

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  9. Yes, this dress is stunning. And I'm in love with the fabric! I started sewing for my kids and now I'm transitioning to sewing for myself. I just love it all!

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  10. I LOVE your fabric. It all turned out so pretty! And the dress pattern is super cute too.
    Experimental sewing is the best I think. If you stick to the same old stuff it starts to feel like work. Keep it fun :)

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  11. That dress is simply stunning. I love the gentle drape, it's perfect for that style of dress. And the finishing touches of the placket and pleats are so beautiful.

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  12. O tecido, o vestido, a modelo, são todos lindos!!! Parabéns! <3

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  13. Sara, you never cease to amaze me. Beautiful dress!!! I would wear that myself as a tunic

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  14. Concordo plenamente contigo na definição de selfish sewing. Eu também tento coser coisas mais práticas para justificar a minha "loucura", mas na verdade são os moldes que me desafiam que mais gosto de costurar. Ainda bem que te li hoje, estou a pensar em publicar um post que tem mesmo a ver com isso e também estou cheia de saudades do meu blog. Obrigada pela motivação <3

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  15. So lovely! And what a beautiful pattern and fabric

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  16. Tão, tão bonito! Só o vi hoje, é mesmo encantador e combina lindamente com esses fantásticos cabelos ruivos!

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