Did you know that in addition to gorgeous fabrics, Minerva has a growing library of in-house sewing patterns? I’ve sewn a couple of the knit dress patterns and really liked them, so I was excited to try something a bit trickier – the Amelia Dress. Since this pattern is for woven fabrics, I knew I’d have less wiggle room, so to speak, when it came to my loosey-goosey adherence to the sewing instructions.
The design of the dress is so lovely with its classic tea length, delicate flutter sleeves, and flattering empire waist. I knew I wanted a fabric that could stand up to the romantic vibes of the pattern, so I chose the Minerva Core Range Aesha Satin fabric in the color wine. I’ve already reviewed the fabric before but, needless to say, I love it. It’s beautifully opaque, fun to wear, and simply sexy!
In some ways, I really like this pattern. I LOVE that it is size inclusive (up to a 62-inch hip) and provides both size ranges as either a pdf or a paper pattern. It drives me bonkers when I try to purchase a paper pattern only to see that larger sizes have been relegated to pdf only. The pattern also comes with a full-color instruction manual, which is essential when trying to figure out if the instructions are showing the right or wrong side of the fabric. You even get a cute label to add to your completed dress.
Even with all its positives, I need to do some tweaking before I sew it again. The big issue is the bodice fix. I need to lengthen the bodice by at least three inches to make sure the under bust V is actually under my bust. Another issue is the hemming of the sleeves. Since this was my first time making the dress, I hemmed the sleeves according to the pattern instructions. For my fabric, this was a big mistake. The sleeve hems immediately flipped to the outside, so the sleeves lost much of their delicate look. Instead of repeating that mistake on the dress hem, I sewed a rolled hem using my serger and it turned out perfectly. I think the dress could also benefit from a slight narrow shoulder adjustment. Even with these tweaks, I’d love to revisit the pattern, especially if I use some lace or chiffon fabric for the sleeves. That’d be so pretty!
