You know once I turn a woven into a knit, it’s not long before I make a jumpsuit into a dress, right?
I wanted to make once last sundress for summer, and I specifically wanted it to hide RTW bra straps. I angle my me-made bra straps in at the back so that they fit better under cut-away shoulders, but now that I’ve bought a few bras, I need more clothes to match!
Amy really is bra-friendly, as you can see. To make it work-friendly as well, I halved the length of the straps and hiked up the bodice. I cut away under the arm about an inch to compensate. The only draw back is that the facing inside is no longer long enough to make into a shelf bra, so I tacked it to the side seams and it’s just a facing now.
Once I finished, I realised that my cute border print was going to get cut off when I did the hem… so I sliced the dress in half, shortened it, and added an elastic waist. I think it would have looked without it too!
So, how can you make your own Amy dress? Just fold back the crotch curves for the front and back pieces so that there is a straight centre seam. That’s literally it! I used an ITY knit, but it would be great in a bamboo or rayon, too.
This was a fun, fast sew – I made the whole thing while my husband watched a movie! Knit dresses are definitely my happy space – but I guess from now on I’d better stick to patterns with sleeves for fall!
If you haven’t seen it, the Amy tester roundup is here, and I think there’s actually really good representation of all sizes! Worth a look if you haven’t seen it yet.
What are your thoughts on the Amy jumpsuit? Did you get swayed by the release, or do you feel confident you’d never wear it? Do you already own something similar? I’m always curious when new patterns become the hot new thing – do we sew them because we want them, or because we are caught up in the hype? Let’s discuss!
Crafting A Rainbow 
I love how your dress ended up, that print, that fit, well done! As for jumpsuits, I haven’t worn one in years. That would be a LOT of years. I got caught up in the hype wayyyyyyyy back in the ’70’s! The fashion magazines and pattern catalogues showed svelte women holding martini glasses and looking like movie stars. The reality on me was a lot more frumpy. lol.
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Hehehe – I’m picturing the “ad vs reality” photo compairison in many difference scenarios, and it’s so true! Ad: Woman carries a few items home from the farmers market on a sunny day. Reality: Trying to carry 8 plastic bags of groceries from the car to the house without dropping anything! Ad: Woman steps out of a car looking chic. Reality: Arriving creased and tired after a commute home from work!
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YES I’m caught up in the hype and YES you are definitely part of my problem! 🙂 I can’t stop thinking about the Amy even though it is something I would never generally make or wear… I have bought the pattern and have it cut out and ready to go… I also love the addition of the elastic waist here and saves a bit of fabric on the self-lined belt! Very inspired by your knit versions
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Sometimes I love just riding the wave and making something that I’m in love with regardless of practicality – maybe it will be a new favourite and maybe it won’t, but boy the process is FUN! 🙂 Hope you love your Amy!
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Dur. I was like, CC came out with another pattern? I don’t remember a dress pattern…
LOL!!!
It is super cute. That fabric is amazing!
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Thanks!! I got this fabric on an ends table at Fabricland and really wanted to sew it up before summer ended!
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Gorgeous, love the print!
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Thanks! Border prints always make everything more special, don’t they?
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Very cute! I had a jumpsuit in the 70s, (during that fun adolescent phase) & while everyone looks really cute in them, I have no desire to struggle to go to the bathroom 😉 However, I WILL make a top & wide leg slacks in a cute print & give the illusion that I’m wearing one
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That is a smart plan! I like the ease of a one-piece where I don’t have to worry about things being tucked in or sliding down, but I do love two piece pretend-jumpsuits on other people! And much better for mixing and matching! 😉
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Is it possible to like this hack more than the actual pattern?!?!? Um, yes. This dress is sexy. That is all.
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❤ Thank you!
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Haha your question hit very true for me – I did get caught up a bit in the hype for the Amy jumpsuit, as well as Helen’s pinafore dress before it. I keep scrolling through the tester pictures and sort of liking it in an “well it’s certainly unusual” way… But honestly, I _know_, as long as I remember it, that showing of my waist is one of my favorite things! And with a fairly curvy figure, I get enough waist obscuring clothing in the shops that my sewing is all about an hourglass shape. Plus, I’m a slow sewist and my sewing time (and budget) is limited, so I prefer to spend it on things I know I’ll like.
So thank you for letting me affirm my own preferences in my head! As another commenter, I much prefer your hack over the original pattern. The bra covering is perfect!
I read Shannon’s post on Sewcialists just before yours – and now I feel I can safely say my sewing is all femme, all about showing my feminine side. That’s what makes me feel good.
As always, great make, lovely photos and nice food for thought. Thank you for all your work, Gillan!
Love from Germany, Isi
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I”m so glad you enjoyed the Sewcialists post too! I think Shannon is incredible at making us all reflect and reassess our own assumptions and preferences. And if feminine looks make you feel awesome, then definitely do it! ❤
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Incredible fabric and wonderful hack!
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Thank you! It’s nice to be able to use a pattern several ways!
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These days I’m pretty good at resisting hype and new pattern releases. However I did buy Amy as soon as I saw it! I’d been looking for a particular style of jumpsuit and it really did ‘tick the box’ for me.
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I bet it’s going to be fabulous on you! I can picture it on the beach already. ❤
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This looks great! I probably like it better as a dress, but then I’m kinda a dress girl. 😋 I don’t really see myself making this pattern up but it’s fun to look at!
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Yeah, this is not your jam, I think! 😉 Especially as we head into (shhh) winter.
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😭😭😭 I’m going to make myself a Victory Patterns Lola to make myself feel better. 🤣
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My first reaction on seeing the jumpsuit (lots all at once) was cute, but I’ll never wear it. Then I started thinking about it. Currently I’m checking out a few and trying to find some long torso’d versions….let’s see if I succumb over summer!
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That’s a really cute dress! Honestly, I think I like it better than the original pattern. Fabric choice is tops too! I don’t think I’ll likely make the CC jumpsuit – just not my style and the tester photos didn’t really make me change my mind about that.
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This is an older post (I’m catching up on my reader), but…I don’t see myself making this pattern. I’m all for a good jumpsuit every once in a while, but this particular pattern just doesn’t do anything for me. I am pretty good at resisting pattern bandwagons in general. I guess I have a strong sense of my own style & am good at admiring the things other people make that don’t fit with my style, without feeling an overpowering need to make them myself. It’s also pretty easy to give this design a pass now that the weather is turning colder.
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