The Charlie Dress Sewing Pattern Review

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One of my goals for 2017 was to do more sewing.  I think it’s my favorite creative outlet and I didn’t spend nearly enough time doing it last year.  I am so excited to share The Charlie Dress with you, you’re going to want to make 20 of them.
I have always been a big fan (well, for as long as they’ve been around) of printable patterns with step by step tutorial instructions.  I love and appreciate the ability to check in each step along the way to make sure I’m doing exactly what I should be doing and that things are looking like they should.
I’ve recently fallen in love with Violette Fields Threads patterns and have already made a variety of them.  We have a wedding coming up at the end of this month that made shopping for Easter this year a little different, I was wanting to find something that could be worn for both Easter and the wedding but also kept looking at the cute little bunny fabric I had left over from a project I did years ago and I know my days/years of Lila being excited to wear bunnies are fading fast.  I decided to use the fabric and make her a dress just for Easter and I’m so glad I did, it turned out perfectly and she absolutely loves it.
I used the Violette Fields Threads Charlie dress pattern and feel like it is a total classic.  This is one of those dresses that will be going in the *keep forever* trunk because it is so timeless I don’t think I have to worry about it ever being *out of style*.  The sweet ties at the sleeves and the bodice, the scooped back, the slight curved skirt/bodice.
A few tips about the pattern:
1. For the cap sleeve they mention a burrito method to attach them, I did not do the cap sleeve on the Easter dress but have made it for the upcoming wedding dress and I have no idea how anyone makes the burrito method work, admittedly the fabric I am using is a thicker fabric so I will (because I hate failing at something) try again with a thinner fabric but I am not alone in my thoughts that the burrito method just might be only for magical people.  I attached my cap sleeves like I did my short tie sleeve and don’t even feel bad about it because when it’s on you can’t tell at all.
2. The pattern says you can use any size/style button.  I do believe this to be true however PLEASE learn from my mistake and check your buttonhole placement before you cut it open.  I used these darling white flower buttons that I got from my Mother in Law that she got from her Great Aunt Mildred, they’re over 100 years old, they’re big buttons.  Because I didn’t check before I opened up my buttonholes they actually run past the overlap so if you look closely you can see that her skin is actually behind part of the buttonhole.  On I don’t feel like it shows enough for me to be worried about it but I wanted to warn you in case you also decide to use what are apparently gigantic buttons.
That’s it, those are the only two tips I can give you about the pattern.  They did a wonderful job putting it together and the dress is a fun project and I cannot wait to make a lot more of them.
This is my very very favorite photo of the whole series, I know it doesn’t show the dress that much but what is better than a bunny dress with Henry the bunny and that sweet face for Easter photos?
Since I have decided 2017 is the year of sewing I hope you’ll share your favorite patterns with me and join in on the different discussions.  I intend to try quite a few different printable (pdf) pattern designers this year and would love to hear some of your favorites and hope I can offer tips that might help you when making the same patterns.
This post is in no way affiliated with Violette Fields Threads, I bought the Charlie Dress pattern and created this dress myself, I just love it and wanted to share my thoughts on the pattern with you.