Anna Dress

I made my first Anna Dress by By Hand London last week.  I'm very happy with the results!  I bought the pattern about a year ago online from BHL, so I consider myself lucky to have one of the paper patterns, they are wonderfully packaged and produced.

It's made out of quilting cotton from Spotlight and fully lined with Bemsilk.  I really love the pleats for the bust.  It gives it such a sweet detail.  

The other thing about Anna that I love is the fit.  I cut a straight size 12 and as you can see the fit is great.  I don't remember the last time that I was able to cut a straight size in a pattern and not have to grade between sizes.  This is either due to the wonderful pattern or the fact I recently joined a gym.  I'm crediting the pattern ;).

My only slight complaint is that the skirt isn't as floaty as I had hoped, I do think that my choice of fabric was the contributor to that.  I have plans for a chiffon and lawn Anna for Christmas.  I was planning on replacing the skirt with a circle skirt.  That should ensure that it is plenty floaty!  I finished the hems with a rolled hem using my overlocker.  I've also decided I'm never hemming using any other method again.

My invisible zip isn't 100%, but I'm still pretty happy with it. 

Please excuse the quality of the photos, there is only so much I can do by myself :).  

Anyway, I've got plenty of sewing planned for the upcoming weeks, so I better get cracking.

Emma