Zadie, Zadie, Pretty Lady!

I was instantly smitten when Tilly released her Zadie pattern!  I knew I needed this dress, but I didn't dive in until I found the perfect fabric - Indiesew's rayon striped ponte.

Pattern: Zadie Dress by Tilly & the Buttons
Materials: 2.5 yds Rayon Ponte in Natural Stripe, .75 yds of Soy French Terry in Black, 1.5 yds 3/8" clear elastic
Size made: 8 (US 16)
Modifications: I cut the skirt on the cross-grain so the stripes would be vertical.

Indiesew's Rayon Ponte is a stable double knit with an amazing drape.  I like my jersey dresses to be thicker than my tees, and this was absolutely perfect!  I paired it with a solid black Soy French Terry because I wanted something in a similar weight for the side panels, sleeves, and neckband. Stripes are the perfect opportunity to play with pattern placement, so I cut my bodice stripes horizontally and skirt stripes vertically.

Tilly's pattern was easy to follow and surprisingly quick! Almost every seam was sewn on a regular machine with a narrow zig zag stitch, and then she tells you which seams can be trimmed with a serger.  I'm used to serging everything when it comes to knits, but I'm glad I followed her recommendations because I think those points at the waist and hips were much easier with the sewing machine. 

I hadn't worked with ponte before, but I can't wait to use it again!  It was easy to sew and has the perfect drape for a dress!  Paired with the french terry, this dress is super comfy and feels like secret pajamas.  My only problem came with the hem. I tried to use a fresh, new double needle, which worked perfectly with the french terry but skipped a ton of stitches with the rayon ponte. I'm not quite sure why, but a simple zig zag at the bottom hem worked just as well.

The seams on this dress are like magic ~ instantly slimming with some extra interest than your standard jersey dress. I'm so glad I went with the contrasting fabrics, because the black just enhanced that magic!  I honestly think Zadie would look great in just about any jersey - solids, stripes, print, or a mix of the above. I currently have 2 more variations planned for my sewing table.