The Pepper Dress

A short while ago a tester call went out for the Pepper Top, Peplum and Dress pattern by Little Finch Patterns for ages 2-16! Now, although I don't have any girls to sew it for, I fitted into the measurements myself and the style is pretty similar to some of the tunics and dresses I like to wear so I applied for me!  It has a very flattering princess seamed bodice designed with colour-blocking in mind.  As a little girl, I remember my favourite dresses or skirts were always the twirliest {probably made that word up!} ones and with the circle skirt on the dress option, I had a lot of fun reliving some childhood memories spinning around during the photos!

The Pepper top, peplum & dress pattern is a PDF file which needs printing and taping together as per the page plan included.  There is also a list of which pages you need to print for each size as well, so no pages printed that you don't need, which I love!  

My measurements required some grading of this pattern, I needed the 14 in chest, hips and length but the 8 for the waist. Due to the princess seams making a centre panel on the front and back bodice, I didn't want to adjust that panel or it would have a tapered in look rather than the straight look it was designed with, so took the entire additional measurement out of the side front panels tapered from the armpit to the waist. For the skirt I used the age 8 with the length of the 14 so that it would fit the bottom of the bodice correctly with no gathering.

I chose not to colour block the bodice and instead use the same ditsy print drapey jersey fabric throughout.  Being a full circle, the skirt has quite a lot of fabric in so lighter but drapey jerseys are probably best.

As well as being able to choose between a top, a peplum top or a dress, other options included in the pattern and instructions are optional side seam pockets and short or three-quarter length sleeves

With very straightforward photo instructions, the dress came together nice and quickly with the most challenging part being sewing opposite curves together for the princess seams. This is a pattern that a confident beginner familiar with knit fabrics could sew quite happily.

I will be sewing this pattern up again but in future, to suit my body shape and personal preferences better, I will raise the dropped waist to my natural waist, purely to accentuate my small waist.  I will likely also take some of the fullness out of the skirt perhaps making it a three-quarter because, let's face it, I don't get the chance to twirl much these days and running around after my little boys makes a circle skirt a little impractical hehe!  This is a pattern designed for children though so these aren't design features that would apply in most cases but if an adult version were to ever be released........ ;)

Pattern: The Pepper Top, Peplum & Dress
Fabric: Miss-Cloe