What you’ve all been waiting for! My Tea House dress is done!! And it’s so pretty!!! Enough exclamation marks yet? I don’t think I can use enough to be honest. This has turned out even better than I pictured in my head.
I had originally bought 2.5m of the gorgeous chrysanthemum print cotton, and ordered another 1.5 so I would have enough for the big pattern pieces, and I’m so glad I went for the extra half a metre! Do not be tempted to get away with a little less in the meterage if you’re planning on making this dress, go with what it says in the requirements, or you’ll be cursing, promise. It’ll be worth it in the end.
The instructions are clear, plenty of diagrams too. For the details of how I got to this point, see my previous post about the toile, etc. The majority of this dress was done in one day, all I had left to do the next day was the handstitching I elected to do, and the hem. The instructions have you topstitch or edgestitch the front panel and the underlying facings, but I decided to handstitch the facings down on the inside instead. I also handstitched the cuffs instead of stitching in the ditch. I decided that I didn’t want stitching showing on the outside of the dress. Except the hem, that I machined.
I have to admit that while I was working I had a nagging suspicion that I was making a dressing gown….. Once finished and on Peggy (the dressmaker’s dummy), I couldn’t get rid of that feeling and felt a little down about the whole thing. Then hubby came home from work and asked why I’d made a dressing gown, as I don’t wear them… MAN! I went to bed a little dispondent, then woke up to a huge surprise.
I’d put a pic on IG, and it went mad, so much love for the dress! I had a little chat with daughter No1, which make me feel more positive about it. So I put it on – after fixing make-up and hair, and with suitable shoes…. And I love it! It’s gorgeous, way better than a dressing gown could ever be! The fabric is devine, the print perfect.
I love the sleeves, the neckline, the ties that give me a “waist”, and the length that seems to make me look tall! Woohoo! All the magic, in one clothing item. If you’ve ever thought about maybe making this pattern, can I just ask, “What on earth are you waiting for!?”
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
Anne, you look so gorgeous! Am so glad you were able to get that extra yardage and make this up! xx
Thanks Del, I am so very happy with this dress, I just wish I’d made it last month!!
Really lovely! This is what I love about instagram and blog posts — a pattern I might have passed by all of a sudden, because I can see it on someone like me, is on my “to-make” list.
I agree! So many patterns I hadn’t thought of suddenly on the radar after seeing them on people who aren’t the models from the pattern companies!
I’m so glad you got over your aversion to this dress, it’s just lovely.
Thank you Sue!
Perfect! I love the print and the colours in this.
Thanks! It’s quite far out of my normal comfots zone, but I love it anyway!
Anne this is just lovely and re-inforces my belief in the power of clothing ,especially when you have created it yourself to affect confidence and joy!
Thanks! 🙂
It’s gorgeous on you! I have had several people purchase the pattern after seeing your lovely version – very inspirational.
Thank you very much! I’m so glad more people have bought the pattern, I think it’s very flattering!
Lovely! The length is perfect on you and the print is so beautiful. The colours look softer here than they did before.
Thanks Catherine! It’s not easy to caputure the correct colours! 🙂
I have been coveting this pattern and waiting for it in a Simplicity sale here (ha probably another 3 years) and your dress has confirmed I need to get it. It’s beautiful on you and lovely fabric.
I think it’s time you went ahead and bought it! 🙂 Given that you can make it in 3 different lengths, you can have multiples quite easily. I think my next one will be in a warmer fabric for the coming weather!
Very pretty and elegant! The length is just right.
Thank you!
It’s just beautiful. You look gorgeous in this.
Thanks Evie!
It really does look amazing on you!
Thank you very much!
It’s beautiful!
Thanks! 🙂
Very pretty! I haven’t seen a tea house dress that was as stunning!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Gorgeous! Not enough exclamation marks can say how much I like this.
Thank you Ruth!!! 😉 It has great lines!
Its lovely, looks fab on you and the beautiful fabric is a perfect pairing with the pattern!
Thank you very much! 🙂
You look lovely in this floral dress
Please check out my site:-)
XOXO
Bonnie
https://styleofbonnie.com/
Thanks!
Thanks! I’m planning more! 🙂
What do men know about fashion anyway! Darling, you look fabulous!!!!
Haha! Thank you Linda! 🙂
HI Anne
I’m fairly new to sewing, I made some easy dresses and some sweaters.
I have a question about size. Looking at the chart body size: I’m a 12
But if you look at the finished garment measures, a size 12 looks enormous. Does the dress needs so much extra?
I do I choose a smaller version?
(also my top side is smaller than my bottom 😉
Hi Leentje, I made the 16, based on full bust measurement, I found there was enough ease in that size for me. The alternative was to size down and do a Full Bust Adjustment. I toiled and found that the 16 was just fine so I went ahead. At least you don’t need to worry about top halves being smaller than the bottom half, the dress has enough flare in the skirt pieces to skim over everything!