I loved this jersey dress as soon as I saw it in last month’s Love Sewing magazine. I’ve been so impressed with their patterns of late, and by how many of them they manage to squeeze in! The only problem is keeping up with them… But not a bad problem to have when you have a subscription I guess 🙂 I really liked the fact that the skirt on this Ella Skater Dress had enough fullness to make it fairly casual looking, so great for weekends and less formal workdays, but not too much to leave me feeling hip-y. Straight skirts tend to suit me better generally, but are pretty constricting to wear all of the time, so this is a nice (and more comfortable) compromise.
This would be a great pattern for a beginner to knits, especially if you’ve already got a Coco or an Agnes under your belt. The instructions were really clear and it came together pretty quickly too. The only thing I found difficult was selecting a size. The hip measurements in particular seemed a little odd. In the end, I plumped for a size D, based on my bust measurement, hoping this would be the fullest part for me. Luckily this was spot on, phew!
I used the leftovers from my Papercut Coppelia cardigan and I’m so pleased with the result. The fabric seems to suit the pattern perfectly (which doesn’t always happen for me). It’s the perfect, layering dress with a cropped cardigan, and several of mine seem to match really well, pulling out the various colours in the fabric. Apparently there’s a tutorial to add a cowl to the neckline too, which I’m yet to investigate but sounds tempting. This is firmly set to become a favourite design for me.
Pattern: Ella Skater Dress
Designer: Pattydoo (via Love Sewing Magazine, issue 22)
Size: D
Adjustments: none this time, but looking forward to adding a cowl neckline next time
Soundtrack: First Aid Kit‘s My Silver Lining
navybluethreads 
Beautiful!
Thanks Abigail, it’s come out better than I expected 🙂
I absolutely love this on you, Teresa! I agree, this is just a perfect dress on you. And the combo with the mustard cardi and the chunky scarf is just so chic! I can imagine this very well with a cowl too. Great pattern to have!
Thanks Chris, this just all came together really well! Doesn’t always happen, but so gratifying when it does 🙂
Looks awesome. And love how you include your sewing soundtrack. I tend to sew in silence but must remedy that.
Thank you, so pleased with how it turned out, despite the odd sizing. And from leftovers too, perfect! 🙂
That fabric’s lovely, it really suites you, but it looks a bit wild out there – the weather not you!! Thankyou for braving the elements for our sake! 🙂
Taken first thing this morning and pretty windy, but at least we didn’t get the snow bomb too! Both monkies were doing that daft thing where they just run round in circles: children and wind! 🙂
This is a lovely dress – and it works beautifully with a cardi which is a winner in my book!
These are the first two carries I tried too, hopefully it’ll go with a few more too… 🙂
Make that ‘cardies’…
😄
That fit looks great on you!
Thank you! Really pleased with it and comfy to wear too.
Great frock -very versatile. I have just realised that that issue passed me by – really must sort out a subscription. Have a good weekend.
Thanks Clarinda, def worth getting a subscription, if you time it right you could probably get a nice, free gift too 🙂 Their patterns have been really impressive of late and a real range too. Think there are now so many magazines that the competition’s tougher, but good for us!
I had passed this pattern by but it looks so great on you, I’m going to dig it out again!
Would suit you well too as think we’re similar shapes 🙂 Think the stripes were a little off putting in the magazine. Maybe great for youngsters, but a little too much for me! Reminded me of a slimmed down Moneta. And you can add a cowl neck, your trademark 😉
I made an Ella dress recently for the Indiesew pattern shop. It was such a fun pattern to sew! I made the cowl version and it was pretty simple. I want to make one for myself but I haven’t found the right fabric yet. Yours looks so nice on you! I love it by itself of layered up.
Would love to see your cowl neck version. Do you have a link?
I do! Here it is! http://www.indiesew.com/products/pattydoo-ella-skater-dress#product
Looks like your modesty was almost compromised by a gust of wind! Those cardigans are great with the dress – glad you’re embracing colour a bit more as it suits you:)
Knew you’d like the colour in this post, I do try but my natural radar always zooms straight towards the neutrals! And yes, the wind was pretty gusty, I wore this all day on Friday and had to hold it down a few times!
Ooooh I do like this one! I love it paired with the yellow too 🙂 I really like this style of dress but I haven’t really ventured into knits yet! I think I will do as you have said; Coco first!
Sounds like a plan! I was so scared of sewing with knits this time last year, but now I rarely sew with anything else…
This looks lovely! Fabric is gorgeous and it looks really comfy!
It was incredibly comfy, thank you! A great result from leftovers, so gratifying when it works out 🙂
This looks lovely on you – I have the Kitschycoo lady skater which is very similar- its such an easy style to wear!
Louise
Really pleased with it, especially from a leftover project 🙂
This is a great dress! The fabric suits the pattern perfectly. I bet you’ll get loads of wear out of this.
Thank you! And out of leftovers too, so practically ‘free’ in my book! If only every project worked so well… 😉
Good style and colour for you. I think skater type dresses are really versatile. Looks great with both colours of cardigan.
Thank you! A bit of a surprising hit, but really pleased with the outcome 🙂
Lovely dress. And so great to have a subscription that keeps coming up wit lots of good stuff.
Yes, was thinking of stopping it last year, but much improved since new editor took over. Just have to keep up my makes now…
Looks awesome and I love the fabric!
Thank you! Love how this one turned out and a really simple make too, perfect! 🙂
I made 2 dresses in this style last year and wore them all the time. I plan to make a couple more for our winter. I love the fabric you used (and I do like that First aid kit song ;o)
Thank you. I’m really pleased with it and have worn it a couple of times already. Will def. be returning to this one again.
You look cold! Your dress is lovely though. I like the fabric and the drape of it. Now get back inside where it is warm!
Ha! 🙂 It was freezing and super windy but all in he sake of a good blog post 😉
Good job it looks good layered up for now…
This a very pretty dress, so perfect on you. I particularly like it with the mustard-y cardigan and scarf. Cheery and fun!
Thank you! I love it when you finish something and just know it will get loads of wear 🙂