Valerie 3

Is this the first little black dress since I started this blog? I haven’t made one in a little while but clearly, you don’t need too many LBDs π€. This is the Valerie Dress by Forget Me Not Patterns, one of my favourite patterns! I cut out this dress before COVID when I was about a size smaller! I don’t know what happened but I didn’t touch it since I cut it. Last weekend, I discovered it (together with the Adeline dress I cut out ages ago!), and sewed it up, finally!
I have made 2 Valeries before! The first was a tester version in a brick red slub tencel linen.
The second one was a long sleeve view, made with a gorgeous teal green cupro with floral piping. I love wearing this dress with leopard print heels. It’s a little bit fancy.
For my third one, I used a black tencel linen from Potter and Co. it’s one of my favourite fabrics from Potter’s, but the range has sold out and unfortunately discontinued. I still have some in my stash but will likely hoard it forever βΊοΈ.
As I cut this dress a while ago, I’m glad that it still fits, albeit with lesser ease at the waist π . I remember the overlocker thread was showing from the sleeve flounce in my first one, so I finished the sleeve side seams of this one with French seams and it’s perfect.
One thing worth noting is the clever instructions for sewing the neck facing. I tend to skip reading the instructions when I think I already know what to do, so I only discovered this the third time I made this pattern. Not too late, eh!? The finish using this stepped-back facing technique is absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend you read that part of the instructions (don’t be like me π) and try it go for yourselves!