Anza Dress & Janie Dress // Pattern Review
![Anza Dress & Janie Dress // Pattern Review Anza Dress & Janie Dress // Pattern Review](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8upjoSsrxZqxTCWjbgebEX1SBoryIXeQyHIc-Fsjk-k66h2Ql9pUBuYh4JAiYFy3PrC4j4XQ6AhXJw5UGscshH3rdy99n044XydAFH7F2YJmfHp_F0agYnr1c2LIKV49pynzAqxojn-2s/s1600/IMG_6313copy.png)
Hello, hello!
Yesterday I shared all about the fabrics I used to make these dresses for my daughter and I, today I want to share my thoughts on the patterns I used!
Yesterday I shared all about the fabrics I used to make these dresses for my daughter and I, today I want to share my thoughts on the patterns I used!
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHRapCIcxZSJNBOvVzEchJH9Kj-I1AenunbgPnoL1iDVY3sSkuAFMr4nMg2fxSHtfO3SaXx_r8qwIAN72HLShokOtN1kP2ZT_-UtDWp8cUH4bWKjJl2KCi6odkmBQD8RHZYsQDsq1CtYv/s1600/IMG_6337copy.png)
For my dress, I used the Anza Dress by Itch To Stitch. (Affiliate Links) I was so excited to finally use a dress/shirt pattern by this designer. I tested her Tierras Woven Joggers pattern, but hadn't had a chance yet to try a non-bottoms pattern. I am so so happy with how well this dress fits and now am super excited to sew up a slew of her other patterns.
This pattern also comes with a jumpsuit option as well as the dress.
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7w-erU6sFxJ9dMSeSoOwyTh_142ZJW5XGnEzmjJ2mrNNWwC5NFZ6FSV-FAw38HJVnFO2uDC2l7FIyzA3CvXMIOX16e6QVDzmU_ISwSHg0SFveCKdUgk26INSHM9egH9nWgqzmzuxO9uK/s1600/IMG_6328copy.png)
Her sizing seems to be pretty much perfect for my body shape, I fell into a straight size 4. I made a quick muslin of the bodice, because I had a hunch that I might need to shorten it some. I am quite short waisted, and it turned out that my hunch was correct. I shortened the bodice by a whole inch to get the waist line to hit at my natural waist.
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Fv5XG0T9wv4XLdR42sRX_Dj-F0Nv_9iaHC2foyh57q2dwjt6KqO71L4VNr1OCb_WIE1UDRpiazQLLkodONvFuqyYcwHgLVYtdWWCFtxFrlwDdoIX6z6RCdYc2q8yZKwXVmM2EHlXiN5H/s1600/IMG_6340copy.png)
I also wanted to explore the possibility of a sway back adjustment. I have a few elastic waist dresses and in each one, I have fabric pooling at my center back. The Southport Dress I made here, has this issue and I'm so happy to have figured out a solution before I make the next one!
Ok, so back to the adjustment I made. It was serendipitous, because the morning that I was cutting out this dress, I happened to have the TV turned on to a DIY channel and Sewing With Nancy came on. And lo and behold, she was talking fitting adjustments! And yep. She showed how to do a sway back adjustment with a pivot and slide method. It was meant to be. I used her method to do a 1/2 inch sway back adjustment at the center back neck line and it was perfection. (You can watch the episode HERE - the swayback portion is around the 13 minute mark)
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51IypNS7J4k1TtcHn7NbloUo1Fy3T7shWSFyfwP5lpd7Anyp514wul2bT6-VXxx8pqnxa2D-WFCqiyWad5AHhUcUgx52PORLuBNkNYw4Zh7qO4wxJTRtbIj7rMujzMhA_fSWmRXzWsigy/s1600/IMG_6347copy.png)
You can see there is still a little bit of blousing at the center back, but I am totally okay with that because I still want to be able to move. :) If I make it in a drapier fabric, I might do another 1/4 inch adjustment or so.
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG6X-JgwErGvMXcbanv5mc2zoq7WkrG9I3NVdgKoWX0YTezLu6hBZXQ3OHoJCKEiQDG1usg3PLLIfAVtwNABzS3P54j_FxIUBPBlpo_vaR6cyW7m9tNWj92VBBlVspToeR2F-vC7z4qVS/s1600/IMG_6355copy.png)
The pattern is drafted for a height of about 5'6". I am 5'3", so I also took an inch out of the skirt length, overall, shortening the dress by 2 inches.
I also made a couple of cosmetic changes to the dress. I was going for a bit more of a chambray shirt-dress look. The most obvious change I made, was the pocket shape. I just played a little bit of pocket origami with the pattern pieces and folded until I had the shape I was after. I also used denim topstitching thread to accent the seams, and topstitched in a few extra places as well.
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmoRXcALWrBOfqygSN2kus9XeV2QE-c_2Nfyifm6lXxYhOqAoxjBXaGF-KgXumIgwnM-EGhDGFzpcVPUPHEcd4gxsxEKNvQ2oMsHQpJrImuI6WfpaIUMB64p_uogcdVJdylO67wWBj4-2/s1600/IMG_6361copy.png)
Also, poooockettts!!
I made a separate sash to tie around my waist, rather than the included drawstring. This was super easy to achieve, I just sewed a long rectangle with 45 degree angled ends. I did use interfacing for the sash to give it more structure. I don't have any photos without, but the dress is still cute even without the sash, and I can see myself going without it on a hot day, chasing my kiddos around the park.
![Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women Anza Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Women](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI04BVxu9aDZ7Uj1bNTCFzaiMGDiJRENliOZL6O9mtBsCqcEmkQIif2lBCoOhfwqFMxWI0-4V1G0AYCqH6w8aPs1pY9MNaXeWhdCSmUYtH1lL_3pd69UKf3b4k04epnZQlPKnAUP_jWCrD/s1600/IMG_6369copy.png)
I absolutely love the design of this dress and am so super happy with how it turned out!! The sewing was not difficult, but not a super fast sew either. I found it to be very theraputic and had so much fun paying attention to the details.
![Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEK0rh2734rEfEc6we5fKS6mY30_YBZAS3RkX-jfz3qPiTT80evQq2FJ8ON_24ThFArkA3Cors3Am2Ng_NrWA-Hp3kPXdO-53BekalhM2WEfc-9gSUySDLHQ-c2hD6Df4LLDj0SMh8Q-g/s1600/IMG_6416copy.png)
Next up is the Janie Dress by Mouse House Creations. (Affiliate Links) I knew right from the very beginning planning stages of this project, this pattern needed to be married with this fabric. And boy was I right!
![Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Y7bcf7e8uKpPHCmUobbupHWJLylN4DD2YVu3bRmN4POwPaObSqGhN29Oo2_FSYXd5pzZx3C9V4bisjHpkkGbNhW1ri-DoB3in9hi5GUQhFUHRVQN5nTQc6_GiPXwvcqSYdtxvqi8eLZ/s1600/IMG_6436copy.png)
This pattern comes with many options to create a variety of different tops and dresses. From short to long sleeves, Peter Pan collar, cowl neck, circle or gathered skirt, dress or peplum top. And a GREAT size range, 6mo - 12yr. I feel like I need to make a 6mo size just for the squeal factor of the teeny tiny cuteness! No, I'm not willing to have my own 6mo old again. :)
My favorite is of course the options I made, ballet scooped back neck line, short sleeves, dress length circle skirt. It's simple, yet special, and really allows a great fabric to shine!
![Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY73NUJEgKpBfyj_BtTBrOBdzWJnNEZ5dVkGhX9oBzeurQpbk12Iv5w3qFqdPitDbUmVFCyue1AuzN8-9OAEHmf6wQ-ndeSzCKkxYt6LHs8PY6q1YQpl6PRK61dUD6hu-fvz5dTLFxh581/s1600/IMG_6407copy.png)
The construction is really almost as simple as a basic tee shirt. But of course, there is the small detail of hemming a not-so-small circle skirt... Haha! The pattern is drafted well, and includes notches which makes it super easy to get everything matched up evenly for a beautiful result. I also added the suggested clear elastic to the waist to prevent the waistline from getting stretched out.
![Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJd5kUa4WbFztgfWfpcrFZmscvO154nd8Qx89yoA62KzvsZa0jZw1TD_kWomcWf1qrBce2wN9xIML7opCPttEnFGsXMnwnxZNRfBnvXlsSb1PuM5VxnldebRX2l6H2Mo69oqo7VJzT8Ze/s1600/IMG_6408copy.png)
She loves her new dress! With that twirl factor though, what girl wouldn't?!
![Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls Janie Dress - Pattern Review // Sewing For Girls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g1jEnBPTmfJPn_AwFwXKyBKFrxUjE0Ye7esvO-O5wjPjA7kJChsBKvCUAJODdQOUwVJAo7eldHLv-U7KfaPvJXlqYBjafNCyskdxYraeb5pqvSmt7YQnbcNqWJnXUMP1afoINpTV1MF0/s1600/IMG_6454copy.png)
Thanks so much for reading! We love our new summer dresses!
![Anza Dress & Janie Dress // Pattern Review Anza Dress & Janie Dress // Pattern Review](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNcfTV24mrslwbU6kp1SoYsxChl2-WnZn0kOdODDHpa7E3_yR0g_NSpglQBAjYOkApaYRBb2pmyluXZm-O9vo9QAUnkoHYnihsSJG-fBfF-5cGXeeJGdHCsfn8gSJF-7b-PlT43a4mG3Z/s1600/IMG_6324copy.png)
Came upon this while searching for Anza dresses people have made. I LOVE yours! And your daughter’s circle skirt falls so perfectly. Your other posts look like great sewing inspiration, so I think I’ll follow on Bloglovin’ :)
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