When does inspiration go too far? When you 100% copy someone else’s dress. May I present, my Copy Kat dress:
The lighting may be different, and my wrap goes the wrong way, but yep – that’s the exact same fabric!
The pattern is the Gillian wrap dress, the second pattern by Wellington company Muse Patterns. It features gathered yokes at the shoulders (front and back) and a separate waist band, seen here in contrasting fabric. The pattern includes three different sleeve lengths (long, 3/4, and short) and 3 different skirt lengths (long, above-knee, and top/peplum).
I made mine with the 3/4 sleeve, and the long skirt, although I lengthened mine by 6cm. I’m rather tall (178cm) and have to add length to almost every pattern I’ve used – and I’ve worked out over the years that 70cm is the ideal length for skirts – so all I do is measure from the waist and add as much as I need, without having to hold the pattern up to myself.
I also did contrasting fabric for the yokes and bands – partly for the sake of it, partly because the pattern is so busy already and I wanted to highlight them, and partly because if I’m copying something I should copy it properly, right?
I made the pattern in a size 38 (my high bust measurement), grading out to a size 44 at the hips, and it seems to fit really well. I could probably do with the neckband being a touch shorter so that the wrap sits under my bust rather than over it.
Mainly this photo is about me lamenting my lack of cleavage
It all went together pretty well – it took a few minutes to work out how the waistband worked (it’s done in such a way that the hole through which the tie passes is nicely enclosed, rather than having a raw edge turned and stitched) but it was worth it – I love that it’s all nicely finished without facings, which I dislike on knit garments.
The neckband is drafted shorter than the bodice neckline, which helps reduce gaping. Mine could do with tightening up a bit, but still doesn’t gape, see:
The fabric is a polyester and something blend – I didn’t write it down because, given that I almost never buy synthetics, fabric content is usually easy to remember (either wool/merino, cotton, silk or viscose). It has a spongy texture, kind of like a soft towelling? Which really just means that it feels like a big towel robe like the ones you get at fancy hotels. The contrasting black fabric is a plain cotton/lycra knit.
I’m pretty darn happy with this dress! You know it’s good when the first thing Mr. Guy says when he sees it is, “that’s a nice dress, do you like it?”. And there seems to be some sort of wizardry going on, either with the pattern or Mr Guy’s photography, because I look SLIM in these photos – especially when you compare with how I looked in the last post. WIZARDRY: also known as, well fitting clothes.
I will mention that the yardage suggestions on the pattern are very generous – you’ll notice that, because of all the different variations, Kat has only listen the amount needed for the largest size sewing the longest sleeves and skirt. That places the dress at needing 3.1m – I bought 3m, I think, and I have 1m leftover (keeping in mine I used contrasting fabric for the ties, and that I had to recut one bodice front because of a mistake).
This dress also fits in really well with both the Wrap Dress Sewalong going on at the Curvy Sewing Collective, and Frocktober which is happening at The Monthly Stitch. Are you taking part in either?
Details
Pattern: Gillian dress by Muse Patterns
Fabric: Polyester blend from The Fabric Warehouse, $28
Notions: Thread, from stash.
Total: $28
You look amazing in the pictures Sophie!!
Thanks Tessa!
I love this dress – it looks lovely on you and I really like the print! I need to find some suitable fabric so I can have a go
Louise
It’s hard when you can’t buy knits locally, because they vary so much in quality and stretch. Grr. Fingers crossed you find something suitable!
Sophie-Lee recently posted…Copy Kat: Gillian wrap dress by Muse Patterns
So beautiful!!! That dress looks awesome on you. I hope you’ll make another one!!
tanyamaile recently posted…A Silk Voile Evening Gown [Butterick 5987]
Oh I definitely will! I have the fabric washed and folded for a top version (viscose knit) and another dress (Tencel silk – it’s going to take some guts to cut into that because it feels like clouds)
Sophie-Lee recently posted…Copy Kat: Gillian wrap dress by Muse Patterns
I may be a little bit biased because I just made and posted about this same dress and love mine, but not so biased that I can’t recognize the awesomeness on you! Well done, Sophie … you look amazing.
Thanks Debbie! I was reading about yours last night – now we can gush together!
This is the first wrap dress pattern I really like. Most of them are not my cup of tea, but this one looks great.
And you did a nice job, looks super comfy but well dressed at the same time.
Thanks! I love hitting that perfect spot between – feels like pyjamas vs looking great. I think knit wrap dresses just about hit it 😀
Sophie-Lee recently posted…Copy Kat: Gillian wrap dress by Muse Patterns
I gotta find some good fabric for this pattern and make it up!!
Love yours.
I hope you do! I think it will work with quite a few fabrics actually, from jersey’s to ponte
This dress is SO flattering on you! I love it! I just got this pattern and I meant to work on it this weekend, but time got away from me. After seeing your post though, I feel like I need it NOW so I think I’ll start on it this afternoon! Thanks for sharing the review.
Thanks Megan! I just made the top as well and I think there is some kind of magic, I look SO GOOD!!!
I look forward to seeing yours if you blog it (or enter it in the curvy sewing collective wrap dress competition??)
Sophie-Lee recently posted…Copy Kat: Gillian wrap dress by Muse Patterns
Ohhhhhmyyyygosh!
So I was gonna make it out of this fabric as well cause when we were taking the pics I was totally like.. I need this dress!
I even get to buy Kat’s leftover fabric of it. We’re gonna be dress twins yo!
Jen recently posted…Aww yeah, my sewing space!
Or dress triplets!! If you need any more fabric, I have about 1m leftover too
This looks FAB on you!!!!!!!!
Ginger recently posted…Book Report: Famous Frocks: The Little Black Dress (+ Giveaway!)
Oh I did exactly the same thing on my first wrap dress – made the wrap go the wrong way, well the opposite way to the pattern instructions. Got my left and right a bit confusselled! I love this pattern – it fit directly from the packet, which is very rare for me.
Sandra (Sewist-Stitch) recently posted…Midnight Summer Coppelia
You look gorgeous in this dress, it is really slimming. Love it!!
Wendy recently posted…The holiday table topper
This is such a cute dress on you. The colour suits you so well and it’s very flattering. I think the contrast fabric really sets it off. I can see why you were “heavily inspired”. Ok. Ok. copied Kat’s dress. Definitely a winner
Vanessa recently posted…::Sewing::FO:: Two-Tone Colour Block Scout Woven Tee
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