The little black dress, with a wink of purple! When Lindsey gave me a sneak preview of Know Me ME2032, I just knew I would be sewing it. Just like her popular drapings on Instagram, this pattern has her signature peekaboo neckline and seams in place of darts. Those pattern pieces were perfect for color blocking and adding a little jazz to my LBD. Afterall, I am a colorful girlie!
In linen, this dress feels miraculous on hot summer nights. The little splits at the thigh show off just a bit more leg at the mini length – love it. I added length for #sewingtall when I first cut the pattern, but adjusted down to hit just where I want it.
I definitely want to sew this pattern again. When I do, I’ll add slider adjusters to the shoulder straps to keep them from falling off as I move. Really, I’ll be remaking it with the idea of the dress having a built-in bra (or wearing a sticky bra). I had hoped the back strap would make this pattern bra friendly, but ultimately it shifts around too much to really hide in back.
Pattern
- KnowMe Patterns ME2032 by Lindsey Fitzgerald, View A
- Sewing Difficulty 3/5
- Anything that requires turning loops gets an automatic +1 in difficulty
- There’s an invisible zip, plenty of understitching, and a lined bodice to earn the pattern’s Average difficulty rating
- Working with linen is generally a dream
- Fit Difficulty 3/5
- There were no lengthen and shorten lines on the pattern so I had to draw my own
- This silhouette should be close-fitting in the bodice but there is 1 inch of ease – too much
Fabric
- Medium weight 100% linen in purple and black
- Bodice is self-lined
Fit Modifications
- I sewed a size 16 and added a 3/4″ full bust adjustment (FBA)
- Rather than add length through the empire bust pieces, I added length to the straps to accommodate my longer upper chest
- I took out an inch from the side back bodice on each side after I sewed it up and tried it on
- There weren’t any lengthen shorten lines on the pattern (Attention Design Group – fix this!)
- For sewing tall, I added 1.5″ of length above the waistline and 2″ of length between the waist and the hip
- I graded up a size or 2 at the hip to make the fitted skirt work for my proportions
- Next time I’ll definitely add sliders to the shoulder straps so they stay secure through all movement
