While I haven’t been so great in sewing up all the pieces in the Indiesew Spring/Summer collection as I was with the fall collection, I decided to sew up my second piece from that collection – The Charleston Dress.
The Pattern:
The Charleston Dress from Hey June Handmade is a knit dress with a fitted bodice and two skirt options – an a-line skirt with deep scooped pockets and front pleats or a slimmer silhouette with no pockets or pleats. The pattern also features an optional zipper and multiple sleeve options – sleeveless, short, elbow, long, 3/4 length, ruffle and square (7 in total!).
Hey June patterns are the best types of patterns to add to your stash because you can make so many versions of the same dress and it not look like the same pattern at all. Just take a look through the #CharlestonDress on Instagram. The options are endless.
The Fabric:
I used fabric from the Indiesew Spring/Summer collection which at the time I’m writing this, there are 5 yards still in stock at Fancy Tiger Crafts! It is a rayon ponte with white and grey micro stripes. It was such an easy fabric to work with (which I really find most ponte knits to be).
This is the second Charleston Dress I’ve made and my first one I used a double knit. I think this fabric would be most suited for a double knit or ponte knit so that it holds it’s shape well. With the details like the pockets and the pleats and sleeve types, a structured knit helps create for a beautiful garment. I was going to include some suggestions but when I clicked on the Style Maker Fabrics Ponte Knit section, all of these would be just perfect for the Charleston Dress!
The Dress:
I chose to make the A-Line Skirt with pockets and pleats with the ruffle sleeve. I wanted to wear mine to a wedding rehearsal dinner and decided that the ruffle sleeve was a fun touch and created a cute summery look.
I loved how quickly this dress came together while still have a lot of really beautiful details. The princess seams up the bodice that line up with the pockets on the front of the dress, the pleats on the skirt and the ruffle sleeves all make for a very pretty, pulled together dress.
This is the second version of this dress I made and I will be making many more! The straight skirt with a 3/4 or elbow length sleeve would be beautiful for work or a fall/winter dress for an evening out.
I always feel like knit dresses are a little bit like secret pajamas. This was no exception. It was so comfy to wear all night during the rehearsal and the dinner following it.
I sewed the entire dress on my sewing machine and finished the seams on my serger. Even though I didn’t have the finish the seams, I think it makes for a really pretty inside of the dress rather than raw knit seams.
Styling:
I’ve been trying to “step up” my jewlery game and felt like this dress was a perfect fit for a fun pair of earrings! I wore them in the second set of photos we took and of course you can’t see them – so trust me, they look really cute! I have always loved Tassel Earrings so I bit the bullet and ordered a few pairs. I wore these Baublebar Tassel Earrings Black and White Striped and the bride next to me in this photo is wearing the Baublebar Fringe Earrings (she’s wearing the blush version!). Another good option would be these Baublebar Earrings in Black.
I wore the dress with both flip flops during the day and with espadrilles (on sale!) at night to dress it up a bit more.
Charleston Dress Summary:
Size Made: 6
View: View A
Fabric Used: Rayon Ponte from Indiesew Spring/Summer Collection
Notions Used: Dritz EZ Hem [my favorite tool for hemming!], Schmetz Twin Needle, Schmetz Jersey Needles
Ease of Construction: The instructions are top notch here, as per usual. The only “tough” parts are the princess seams and the pleats.
Fit: Perfect fit!
Repeatable? Yes! So many more planned for the fall and winter.
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I totally love this! I bought the Charleston too but haven’t made it yet – I thought it’d be good for my new office but it’s so cold in there I almost always wear pants! This may be the impetus I need to make one, though (and buy an electric blanket to take to work…).
I’m sure you spend more time on your feet at work than I do, but I pretty much operate with a space heater on my legs all 4 seasons of the year at work….why must office buildings be SO cold??
Love your dress Lara! It suits you perfectly – the shape, length and colour are spot on. It’s funny about Ponte – back in the ’70’s it was called “double knit” and became known as a fabric that wasn’t “hip” to wear – it was too “fake” for the hippie generation and represented everything about the establishment it hated – FAKE 🙂 It’s revival with a whole new name PONTE with it’s popularity growing (and price as well – back in the ’70’s it was the cheapest fabric you could buy). Funny how things change – you’ll see that over the next 40 years as well. Fabrics, styles going out and coming back. I’m amazed to see the popularity of “vintage” for example when women back in the ’50’s would have given anything to be rid of that style of tight waists, fitted bodices and swirling skirts with crinolines 😉
That is so funny! I had no idea – I feel now, everyone loves ponte knits and it’s not cheap! Fashion is a funny funny thing. I now cringe when some of those awful 90s trends that were popular when I was little are now becoming popular again. I can only imagine what else will come in and out of style!
What a beautiful dress! I’ve also bought this pattern but haven’t made it up yet. The fabric is all ready to go. I’ve been gun shy about fitting knit dresses after having so much trouble with the Moneta. Do you think the princess seams help with fit? I think I need to pluck up the courage and add it to my month of dress sewing
Thank you! I really was so happy with how it fit out of the package (so to speak!). I haven’t made the Moneta, but this is a much more fitted bodice I think. I think the princess seams will help a lot along with using a more stable knit. I think the Moneta is usually made in a mid-weight jersey where the Charlestons are usually made in a ponte or double knit which helps keep it’s shape a little bit more (more similar to a woven). I would give the bodice a try and see what you think – let me know if you have any questions – always happy to try!
Thanks Lara! I think I had trouble with the Moneta because I probably needed to do a small bust adjustment since Collete designs for a C cup and I’m a small B. The things we learn as we go! Will give the Charleston a whirl soon. Thanks for your inspiration and encouragement!