I had been thinking about making a corduroy pinafore for a while and as luck would have it I found the perfect pattern in my recently subscribed to Simply Sewing magazine (https://www.gathered.how/magazines-simply-sewing/). The Carnaby dress by Nina Lee (https://www.ninalee.co.uk/shop/carnaby-dress/) can be used as a dress with or without sleeves or as a pinafore to wear layered with your favourite t-shirt. The pattern appealed to me with the on show zipper at the back being on trend at the moment. I also liked the idea of invisible pockets at the front, hidden in the lower skirt seam. It looked quirky and bit of a challenge.
The article suggested several fabrics and I spotted a lovely needlecord, light green with a silver bird motif from Express Mills (https://www.empressmills.co.uk). When the fabric arrived it was lighter weight than I expected and thought the pinafore would benefit from being lined therefore I swapped out the neck and armpit facings for a fully lined version. I am not a fan of polyester lining as it frays dreadfully and slips and slides like a moving snake when you sew it so I ordered a plain black poly cotton. It’s cheap, easy to sew and gives the garment body. Before I cut out the pattern I lengthened the dress and lining as it would have been too short for me.
The instructions were easy to follow and the dress came together quickly. The pocket section took some figuring out and were a little fiddly. I wanted to make sure you couldn’t see any of the pocket lining poking up above the seam line. The dress lining is essentially a second dress tucked in to the outer dress and sewn around the edges of the neck and armhole and hand sewn to the zipper inside to obtain a really neat finish.
I am really pleased with the result and can’t wait to get the opportunity to wear it. I will be using the pattern again to make a summer version, perhaps with a contrasting lower section for extra quirkiness.
If you would like me to make this or any other pattern for you or have any sewing project you would like me to take on, please contact me through the contact page, email or phone.
Terri
Jay Dog Designs 