Yeah I’m in need of a manicure.

This is Victory Patterns-Simone, the dress option. I think this pattern and the Anouk I made the other week could be my two favourite patterns for this year, oh and this Vogue dress too. I pulled out the remanding leftovers of the leather that I have managed to sew three garments from and chose this great tie dye blue grey crepe—which feels gorgeous on the body and got-to sewing. I think my fabric choice feels spot on and complementary to the pattern.

The only thing I didn’t have handy was a sports back or strapless bra. So I’m suffering in that area which is a bummer but I’m sure you’re all okay with that. The pattern is very straight forward, easy to follow and to put together for an intermediate sewer. Mind you what I have done here would probably be the easier version because the leather doesn’t need turning under etc. The problems I had were: attaching the leather front panel to the crepe especially on those rounded edges I had some puckering issues and had unpicked twice; not wanting it to beat me I ended up using masking tape on the inside of the garment to stabilise the crepe to the leather this helped a great deal fixing some of the puckering as I sewed, probably not the most conventional or right way to do things but hey whatever gets you over the finish line. I removed the tape and it worked a treat.

The patterns is a scream and so is my new Summer hair do.

The back leather section I had cut into two parts because I didn’t have a large enough piece. I added the tassels and brass ring to jazz things up a little but feel it looks a tad biker-not really my thing but with a twist of my arm could be if I was offered a none speaking part in Sons of Anarchy where I get to snog Jax Teller. Giggity.  Anyway that aside I had trouble again attaching the back skirt to the bottom of the racer back it hung weird thanks to the crepe so I utilised the masking tape method and phew!! again it got me over the finish line. I placed the side zip in but haven’t needed to use it, I guess this depends on your body shape. I’ve popped this dress over my head and used the snap at the neck line to close me in and its worked fine. Instead of the suggested hook and eye above the zip I used a snap. I roll hemmed the skirt on the serger but can imagine a biased taped hem looking great from both the outside and underside especially with this particular hem line.

I love how the skirt hangs, my next Simone I want to make the skirts front and back the same length and perhaps use a lovely light weight ikat patterned fabric and fit it with a loose belt and summery sandals.

So in retrospect this little pattern is so versatile, the perfect day to night look. I’m going to have a lot of fun with this and what a great addition to my Summer wardrobe. I probably wont be wearing the black tights I’m just hiding the red sunburn that flared up after last weeks visit to the beach. Ouch!

Always on the lookout for a bargain I found these beauties on Ebay. Beau Coops they retail around $600 I snapped them up for $40. A bit of boot polish and they came up brand new.

Merry Christmas to me.

How about you would you consider sewing this great little pattern?

Happy Days Happy Sewing.