We had an outing to MoAR with in robes en chemise (there will be a blog. It's lengthy.) Then we did the Brandywine Battle Reenactment the following weekend, which was hot as hell. Took a weekend "off" (for sewing) and headed out to the Renaissance Faire for Oktoberfest.
Pattern Description: Dirndl folk costume with blouse, dress, and apron
Pattern Sizing: 6-20
Were the instructions easy to follow?
I never follow instructions. That being said, we had to take a peek a couple of times just to make sure we were on the right track. It’s a very easy pattern to put together.
Did it look like the photo/drawing when you were done with it? Yes! We opted for bodices and skirts of different materials while the pattern uses the same fabric for both, which gives a bit of a different look.
What did you particularly like/dislike about the pattern?
I didn’t like that the apron strings aren’t lined. We opted to cut fabric to cover the backs.
I didn't like the construction on the blouse at all. I've made a lot of chemises (this is basically a short chemise) and this was way more complicated than it needed to be.
Fabric used:
For the red/white/grey dirndl –the skirt is a stiffer material meant to be quilt backing, the top is a very light weight quilting cotton lined in a heavier cotton sateen, the apron is a lightweight quilting cotton.
For the yellow and green dirndl – mystery quilted fabric for the bodice, a green flannely fabric for the skirt, and home decor fabric on the apron.
Pattern alterations or design changes you made:
A lot of small things.
The pattern was too small for us, so we had to scale the bodice pieces up to get it to fit. We added about 6 inches all around, which ended up being a bit too much for me.
The instructions have you close the center front with a zipper, we used hook and eye tape.
We cord gathered both skirts and I did several rows of cord gathering on the grey apron to get a faux-smocking effect. If I made another I'd make the apron larger so that I could gather it down even more. I finished effect is okay, but I don't love it. I was way easier than cartridge pleating it.
I extended the length on the red skirt by about 3 inches and made a super tiny rolled hem so that it wouldn't be too short. I’m 5’8”, so things are usually a little short on me and I really wanted the skirt to hit at mid-calf for me.
I personally found the bodice to be too short. I wish I had lengthened it by an inch or two to make it sit at my natural waist. It would have helped with the skirt length too.
Both bodices use piping along the top edges, the curved side-back seams, and around the outside arm edges.
Rather than the trim suggested, I used a grey gimp braid on the red and white dirndl and a green leaf trim on the yellow and green dirndl. We didn't use dirndl hooks and lacing on either bodice, but that’s mostly because we didn’t have time to order them
Would you sew this again?
Yes, definitely! I think I have dirndl fever!
