Thank you so much, everyone, for your overwhelming support this past week. My recovery is going well (although I’m still not clear to lift anything that weighs more than 10lbs – that includes my CAT! HAHA! Oh well, I’m sure she’s happy about that, anyway), and I’m back to work and back to… sewing!! Yeah!!! Well, sort of. I promised myself I would take it easy (aka: laying, knitting, snoozing) until Friday, per Doctor’s orders, and only then could I get back in the sewing room. Lucky me, I woke up on Friday morning with a fucking cold! So, needless to say, the past few days have been a haze of cold meds and even more snoozin’. I’m functioning, albeit slower than normal.
But hey, look, I have a make to share with y’all today!
Ok ok, before you flip your shit on me – I finished this dress before the surgery! Haha! I actually wore it to work the Friday prior; it’s just taken me this long to take photos. Speaking of which – if I look a bit extra happy in these photos… cold meds. That is all.
This is the Anna Dress, from my friends, the babely babes, over at By Hand London. I’m no stranger to the patterns from this line – I can proudly say that I have sewn every single one of ’em, yeah! – but I gotta say… Anna is my favorite. Based on everyone else’s gushing about this particular pattern (here is where I was planning on linking my favorite Annas, but again, cold meds. If you made it, linky up in the comments pls!), I’m not alone. Anna is a WINNER!
Am I allowed to tell y’all that I actually saw this dress waaaaay before I was announced to the hoardes of blog readers? Truth! Elisalex showed me a sneaky peeky while she was in Nashville back in May! I have been dying to get my hands on the pattern ever since! I love my short version, but I am SO EXCITED to try out that thigh-high split, peeps.
I opted for a very simple version for my wearable muslin, in a classic seersucker from Mood. This is one of my last pieces of fabric from the NY stash, btw. I’ve held out on making this up because it’s a stretch cotton, and we don’t play well together. But I think stretch cotton works fine with this type of dress, as long as you’re ok with how the bodice looks in a slightly structured fabric. I like it!
My Anna is the short version, with the slash neckline. I cut the size 2/6 and shortened the skirt about 5″. I found that the back was rather large on me – I just pinched out the excess along the zipper line. Oh, I also put in a lapped zipper because I didn’t have any invisibles on hand. Sue me!
Since my fabric is stretchy, I stabilized the neckline facing with a bit of non-stretch cotton. To do this, I just cut a second facing piece from the cotton, sewed it to the seersucker facing (as you would a sew-in interfacing) and applied the facing as normal. This keeps the neckline nice and smooth and secure!
The pattern itself was an absolute delight to put together. There’s a reason why this pattern has so many fangirls – especially considering how short a time it’s actually been available on the sewing market. There aren’t a lot of pieces, and what is there is super simple to put together. I think this would make a great beginner pattern, whether you’re a beginner at sewing or a beginner with a a certain type of fabric (meaning: yes, you should make this up in silk!)
I should probably tell you that I already have a couple more versions planned. Better get used to this dress! Ha!
Oh, one more thing before I tear outta here… our giveaway winner!
There were 230 entries in all (accounting for duplicates), and you ALL made me hungry (special shoutout goes to Marchelle who linked me to this lemon cookie recipe from Martha Stewart… I will have y’all know, I made this yesterday and they are delicious aaand I’ve already eaten about half of them, ha!). Random Number Generator sayssss-
Louise is the winner of the Sweet Dress Book! Yay!!
Um, will someone kindly tell me what spotted dick is, though? Here in America, that means something TOTALLY different and I’m afraid to google it…
LLADYBIRD 
Dude, this is cute as fuck. I love it in stripes – I’ve been daydreaming about making one in stripes, horizontal ones though! I’m glad you’re recovering well too xxx
p.s. spotted dick is not as fun as it sounds. It’s steamed sponge with raisins or currants or something in it. It’s stodgy, 1950s boarding school stuff and its bloody lovely!
I mades one!! Almost the moment it fell in my hand, and its been my most popular blog post to date! Glad you’re feeling better, and looking forward to seeing the rest of your Anna’s! http://vintageinkfairy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/i-present-to-you-anna-dress-by-hand.html?m=1
Loving the short version of the Anna dress. It looks great in seersucker too.
I think I may have another look at this pattern now and give it a go.
Glad to hear you are feeling better (despite the cold and crazy meds you are on). Good to know you are back to a bit of sewing and pottering about.
Your last post really motivated to get some UFO’s out of the bottom of the wardrobe and complete them so I’m feeling pretty happy with myself right now having completed the Colette Ginger skirt and the Simplicity 2154 today. Yeah! for sewing AND sewing bloggers!!
I am happy to hear you are doing well.
Very cute, I wondered what happened to this one. I saw another fabric paired up with it more recently.
I have lace out on the cutting table for my first Anna, but I am thinking I should backtrack and make a silk one first. I am kind of scared to cut into the lace.
So pleased you are on the mend and SEWING! Yay.
I’ve got a huge crush on Anna… I’ve made and blogged three… and got fabric for number 4… Number 4 is going to be my third Anna maxi… Yeah just a little obsessed…
it looks great on you! and I about died when my husband told me about “spotted dick” the first time lol. but it is a traditional fruity sponge pudding with suet, citrus zest and currants then serve in thick slices with hot custard. and yes I did google to make sure I got it right – thankfully nothing odd came up lol
This pattern is on my wishlist. It is so pretty! I’m glad you’re feeling better! Hopefully you’ll feel great soon!
Love your Anna version! It’s such a great pattern, I’m not surprised you’re making more. So glad you’re feeling better lady! Hope all went well.
Here’s my silk-blend Anna Dress: http://zilredloh.com/2013/08/12/a-silky-pink-anna/
Really cute dress!
Yay!!! I’m a winner. Spotted Dick in GB is a traditional curranty, raisin, sponge thing. Not the rude thing which may jump to mind first. Eww.
Hi! the dress is beautiful!! wishes for a speedy recovery from the surgery and the cold too, in the meaning time enjoy your time and enjoy the rest.
Love this, can’t wait to see your other versions! It’s on my list, I have the pattern, now I just need to find fabric for it…and time to sew, gah! I love the fact that spotted dick is meant to be a quintessentially English dessert, that I have never eaten once in my whole 26 years living here. I don’t think I’ve ever even been offered it! I think for the slightly older generation it is perhaps reminiscent of school dinners…
Yeah spotted dick is a “classic” English dessert, I too have never tried it in 26 years. There are just too many other more delicious puddings I’d rather eat! Ps great dress!
I grew up eating spotted dick it’s a traditional desert from the east end of london – served with lashings of thick custard. its’ a suet sponge with raisins in it (or currants? can’t remember). It’s yum – particularly on a cold winter’s day by the fire in a pub. I couldn’t recommend it more!
I’m with emmadoyle, I love a stick-to-the-ribs steamed pudding, although they do make more sense in a cultural context without central heat. Heinz puts s.d. in a tin (all the better for stocking the bombshelter, I guess), so you can get it in the US without having to faff around with pudding bowls and suet, and I have heard that it is available in a chocolate sponge flavour, although I haven’t had it and frankly can’t imagine it. On the one hand, it is a tinned pudding; on the other hand, where in America can you get dessert in a can?
Cute! Lauren I really like this, I’m glad you have a few different versions planned too because more eye candy/inspiration for us is always a good thing in my eyes. 🙂 I really like your shortened length too, a little bit easier to pull off than the lengthened version and I also love how flattering the fit of the dress is! But that’s probably just because you are the queen of fit herself. ha so best for me not to chalk that up to the pattern so I’m not disappointed in the long term!
Also glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better!
I made a navy one in Kaufman Brussels Washer Linen (like Handmade Jane) and I love it so so so so much. Last night I decided to fool around with it and make a gray tunic out of it. I look like I’m in the Chinese Red Army. Verdict is out. I do want to make a summery pretty one soon. Isn’t it the easiest pattern in the world????? Even though the skirt has 7 pieces, it’s just like boom boom boom!
Gorgeous!
Im totally making one in silk.. Still scared tho hah.
I have got to get this pattern. It’s gorgeous. I love your version of it, especially how the red and white stripes make it look pink! I must say for someone recovering from surgery and hopped up on cold meds you’re looking pretty damn good too.
Hope the recovery continues well and looking forward to seeing the amazing Annas you are going to make.
Really cute dress. I love seersucker! Hope you feel better soon!!
Yay for Anna!i need to get my hands on that pattern…
Gorgeous, Anna is my dream dress…it’s my birthday next week and I’m just waiting for the pattern. And red stripes, yes!
Haha! Spotted dick is a suet pudding and it’s spotted because it has raisins and currants in it! It is yummy, but a bit oddly named…you should see some of the things our villages are named!
Love the dress. Glad to hear you also just pinched out the excess along the zip because I did too and thought I was breaking some kind of alterations rule! I’m halfway through my third Anna which I’m making to wear on my birthday…it’s silk and has the thigh high split! Yeah!
it works brilliantly in a short version, I have ordered my first by hand pattern and can’t wait to start cutting it out!
This is so cute on you, love the seersucker. Another pattern for my to-sew list. Happy to hear you are feeling better. Take care.
This dress is such a winner. It’s looked good on everyone I’ve seen make it up, and yours is no exception!
I just love that Anna pattern! So simple yet feminine. I’ve got my hands on this pattern (finally) and seeing yours just adds urgency to my need for my own Anna!
Great dress! And I’m so happy to hear you’re on the mend. 🙂
Can’t wait to see more projects now that you’re back to sewing!
So cool dude! Love the fabric and the belt with it. You look great! Can’t wait to see what your next version is. I’m gonna order the pattern this week and jump on this Anna train xx
Welcome back to the sewing world and what a dress to show! Way to go! I’m on a strict no pattern buying diet, but the Anna would be next on my list!
I love the fabric!
I love this dress! I think it looks great in the searsucker. I want to get this pattern and make it in a crazy print.
Drool!!! I love this dress, I love this dress.
it’s going to be hard not to make a closet full of these, ain’t it? i just got home last night, and this morning i announced to ruggy that i’d be making an anna dress. only, the pattern is still en route from dallas to ny. PACKING FAIL.
keep feeling better and take whatever medicine you need! (even if it’s PBR. cold on top of surgery equals all bets off.)
http://blog.fabricmartfabrics.com/2013/08/are-you-ready-for-our-fashion-challenge.html
You should do this contest.
Sugary sweet in that striped seersucker!!! I keep forgetting that this pattern has a shorter option! Thanks for the reminder!! Onto the wishlist it goes!!
What a cute dress! We had to wear school dresses in a similar striped seersucker, but they weren’t anywhere near as nice as this one! I love the Anna pattern too – I’m just about to start my third one…! Hope you are feeling much better soon!
I hope you’re feeling quite a bit better by now! This dress turned out so cute, I love this pattern. Can’t wait to see how your long version turns out!
love it! funny, this is the first version I’ve seen with a belt. Don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that before but this dress pattern is perfect for belts. the seersucker i really cute and the fit is great!
My sweetie just told me there is a reference to spotted dick in a Martin Short film called Drop Dead Fred and that it is a loaf thing. lol. Hope that helps!
Super cute! It’s such a nice silhouette. I really like the shorter version of this pattern. Can’t wait to see the other versions you have planned. Very glad to hear your recovering well too.