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Monday, September 06, 2021

Style Arc Jules Tunic Maximized

I know there are people who wear pants/shorts in the summer. Therefore needing matching/coordinating tops. I am not one of those people. I love a long flowing, swishy dress in the summer. From the moment I saw the Jules Tunic, I knew I was always going to make it as a summery maxi dress.

Besides adding 26" to the front and back flounce, lengthening the front facing and making short sleeves for the dress ~ those are literally the only changes I made to this pattern.

Supplies ~

Lemon rayon challis fabric purchased from StyleMaker Fabrics last year

10 7/8" clear with green inset buttons from the button stash 

Interfacing from Steinlauf & Stoeller

Pattern Alterations ~

The only change I made to the pattern was to add length (26 inches) to the skirt front & back. I also lengthened the front facings to match.

Construction Information ~

I made this just as the pattern instructed.  However, when I tried it on once the side seams were sewn because I'm a fit as you sew woman... 

I noticed two things:

1. The lower back seam dipped too low into my behind.

2.  I could sew the side seams at 1/2" instead of the 3/8" the pattern recommends.

  • To fix the too low back seam, I measured out 1.5" in the center back pinned and tapered the pinning to the side seams.
  • Then I basted it.  After that I double checked that it raised the seam some. 
  • It's better but not great.  I really need about another inch but I'm going with this alteration.

Next I repinned the gathers in and stitched it down. Then reassembled the dress. This is not perfect.  The gathers and the fabric hide what's challenging me. When I make this again the front & back bodice pieces need to be altered.

Now I have to admit I made a mistake. If you look really carefully you will notice the side seams are a little wonky. They hang towards the back of the dress instead of hanging straight down the side.  Wanna know why?  Because I sewed the hemline of the back skirt to the back bodice. I discovered it AFTER I had sewn and serged the waist seam.

Talk about a sophomore mistake! This also affected the hang of the hemline! It took several tries and a day of letting it hang to get a halfway decent hem.

A Few Photos ~

Wearability Report ~

I'm now wearing some of my garments before blogging them.  One because I haven't figured out where to take pictures in my apartment. I'm not happy with my options right now...and have no desire to do anything about it. *sigh* So I wore this dress to work a couple of weeks and noticed a few things:

1. The neckline is too low.  I was constantly pulling it up so my bra wouldn't show.

2. It is the PERFECT combination of fit and loose fitting that you need on a hot summer day.

3.  Even though I wasn't thrilled with the length it did work so much better being a little shorter than maxi length.

I did receive quite a few compliments on it and will make it again.  I actually want to make a few of the tunic versions, as well as, another maxi dress or two. This will probably be a favored make next summer. 

There are still items in my cut pile that need to be sewn before the cool weather rolls in. Oh and I'm calling this "My Lemon Dress!"


...as always more later!





19 comments:

  1. Love it! It looks so bright and happy for summer.

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    1. You took the words right out of my mouth 😄

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  2. I love this print with your coloring, you are the perfect picture of summer. And despite the I like this style looks great on you. I always enjoy your blog, thank you for all the work you put into it.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this refreshing summer make as well as your 'sophomore' mistakes! I can't wait to see what you do next with this pattern. It's a lovely look on you. g

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  4. The challis flows so well in this maxi and looks great on you. A beautiful summer dress.

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  5. I love your dress and fabric. I fell in love with Jules the first time I saw it. I made the tunic and liked it so much I wanted a dress. I'm not good at altering patterns like you, but I did manage to make a dress. After that I wanted it as a pullover. So I made a pullover dress. Currently I'm making a pullover tunic. I can see many more versions because of the comfort. Thanks to you I ordered the Deer and Doe Myosotis Pattern. I love all your makes and I am really liking the flowy type dresses lately. I want the Style Arc Emerson dress pattern but I'm still waiting for Amazon to have it. Honestly I do not need anymore patterns but something else pretty always comes along to grab my attention.

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  6. I too love long swishy flowy dresses for all year.

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  7. Hello,
    I can not see anything wrong with your beautiful Lemon dress. I, too, am so critical of my mistakes sewing that I rarely feel I need to finish or rip seams way too much and therefore never finish the garment. Forget about taking pictures of any of my finished garments, since I am way too critical for that too. That said, I personally feel all your pictures backgrounds are perfect. Just like you! Thank you for sharing your beautiful Lemon dress and your awesome seamstress talents. I am always amazed and grateful.

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  8. Of course I love the print, so very summery looking. You look very happy.

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  9. Hi Swee-T. If you had not mentioned the tiny flaws in your dress we never would have known about them. The style looks darling on you and the print is to die for!--anne

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  10. I love this and just ordered the pattern - I've never used Style Arc so this was just the push I needed. How will you adjust the lower neckline? I think I will have the same issue so I'd love to hear what you plan to do to make the adjustment.

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    1. Marion - I plan on taking about an inch out of the v-neckline and then adding the 1" back at the center front of the pattern piece. If that's of any help to you. When I remake it I will take pictures but don't know if you want to wait that long!

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  11. Love the details being included! It is so important for people to realize it is a PROCESS! And that even the immensely skilled can make mistakes :-p

    It's SO cute on and looks easy breezy. perfect for warm weather days.

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  12. About the neckline- do you have any scraps of this fabric left? Years ago, when I was pregnant, anything RTW was too low and revealing. I made little triangles of fabric and used them to fill in my necklines so my bra wouldn't show. That would look cute with this dress. I love it on you!

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    1. TC - I've done that in the past but I'd rather alter the pattern for the next one. The next time I wear this one I will probably just wear a tank top underneath it.

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  13. Well, it looks like the perfect summer dress to me, from it's novelty lemon print to it's flow-y structure. You wear it well. So what about the hem, it looks awesome. We all have those rare secret booboos. Rock on and make another!

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  14. This dress is a complete win. I know you say you made some errors; I can only think that they were the right errors because this dress and fabric make you look fabulous, comfortable, happy, and all good things. The lemon patterned fabric looks so much better with you in it than by itself. I love the length. Bravo, and thank you for the details of construction, too.

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