Ask and you shall receive! The Sonora dress has become one of our most popular patterns since it’s release earlier this year. With so many requests for bigger sizes, I’m happy to announce the release of the Women’s Sonora Dress with sizes picking up after the girls sizes at 00 going all the way up to 20! Be on the look out for our wonderful tester’s versions.
sonora for girls & women
Girl's sizes 18m-10y
Women's Sizes 00-20
Sewing for girls is one thing but sewing for women is quite another. However much I love the twirl factor of the Sonora, I’m not too thrilled with the amount of fabric it takes to get it. So I made a maxi version with a straight skirt for myself :)
I also made a straight skirt knee length version for my daughter because I’ve had this unicorn border print forever and she needed a birthday dress for this month.
First, lets get started with the steps to cutting the rectangles needed for the skirt.
I personally love how quick and easy the method is in the original tutorial for attaching the bodice to the skirt but being that this is one of our most popular patterns and based on the many comments I received on the inside finish of the dress, I decided to post a couple alternatives to a “cleaner” inside seam on the dress.
There's always one way to skin a cat they say, so here we go with alternate option 1...
Option 2...
There is probably about two other ways I can think of to finish the seam but I've run out of steam after a month of creating the women's sonora and testing so i'll have to save them for another time.
.but..I'll quickly explain one other way.
Clip at the notch locations as explained in the first step of the French seam techniquce. DO NOT BASTE THE BODICE MAIN/LINING TOGETHER! Fold the bottom edge of the bodice main/lining by pressing it 3/8" onto the inside of the bodice. Slide the folded opening of the bodice over the gathered edge of the skirt, aligning notch locations as described in the tutorial. Pin and sew the bodice onto the skirt. Create the elastic casing as described in the french seam technique. You'll be able to see the seam on the front side of the bodice but the inside will be clean, not bulky or have a "floppy" seam.
These are all up to personal preference and as I said, there's always more than one way to skin a cat so feel free to share your technique in our fb sewing group and/or post pics of any of these methods that you've tried.
Hope you enjoy sewing the Sonora!!
XOXO
-Jess
Leave a comment