Sweet Allie Top & Dress by Lily Bird Studio
/You probably saw the release of the Sweet Allie Dress in the Designer's Challenge, and it is our honor to get to review it today. This pattern comes with options for a dress or top and with sweet details like the notched cuffs, contrasting side panels, and button placket; the finish product looks anything but 'home-made'.
Lily Bird is offering a great deal of 20% with the code: SWEETALLIE20 . Valid for 20% OFF on orders at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLilyBirdStudio. Code valid until Sunday, December 8th at midnight (ET).
You can also win a copy by entering the giveaway below!!!
Now here are Jessica and Ellen sharing their takes on the Sweet Allie...
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As much as I love the name "Sweet Allie," I think the name should be changed to "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner." Because you know you have a keeper on your hands when you sew a bazillion dresses for your kid and your husband says, "Hey girl. This is my favorite, so far, of all the dresses you've sewn. You should buy more fabric so that you can make 10 more." Except my hubby is WAY hotter than Ryan Gosling. I digress.
There are SO many reasons why this dress is great! I love the lines of it...so sophisticated and sweet! Definitely something to try if you are tired of peasant dresses or feeling like you've ruffled everything that isn't nailed down. So many gorgeous details, from the sweet hang loop on the back yoke, to the dainty princess seams and banded collar. This is also a pattern that you could use for every size, from 12M to 10, all in one place!
Here are a few more details about the pattern:
- There are pattern pieces...you don't get a shape like this from a cutting chart! But there are some dimensions for rectangles, so you don't have to print those.
- There are markings galore! No guessing as to how to line up your pieces! It's all spelled out for you!
- This pattern could easily be done by an adventurous beginner or someone at an intermediate level.
Now for the drawbacks…if you can even call them that:
- This took me a good 3 hours or so, had I timed myself and had no disruptions (like diaper changing or refereeing or making lunch) . Details like the ones seen in this pattern DO take time. So this is not your Lydia-needs-a-new-dress-for-church-and-it’s-Sunday-morning dress.
- There is only one sleeve option, which means this is a short sleeved dress. This does not fly for us in the winter in the Midwest, and Sweet Allie is way too cute to be covered up with a cardigan! I would love to try this with an elbow sleeve next!
- There are buttons. A LOT of buttons. And buttonholes. SMALL buttonholes. But they really do make this even more adorable and if you avoid buttons/buttonholes like Walmart on a Saturday afternoon, then there are instructions for snaps!
In my version, I did make a few changes. I didn’t fold up the cuffs, and topstitched the seam to the sleeve, which is just as lovely. I also did not do the belt loops, but those are included in the pattern. Overall, I would say that I’m definitely making more of these for my Sweet Lydia!
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I was lucky enough to review a beautiful pattern by the Lily Bird Studio this week. It's the Sweet Allie Top and I love it!
The pattern comes with options to make a dress or a top. LOVE getting options with a pattern. It also goes from size 12 months to 10 years! It is made with woven cotton and there are charts for yardage for both the top and the dress. I would say it's an beginner/intermediate pattern.
The pattern has photos at EVERY step and I found the pattern very easy to follow. It is 47 pages long. The only negative is that there are a lot of pieces to cut out. It takes some time for sure, but I found that it sewed up very quickly and easily and was VERY pleasantly surprised. But all those pattern pieces mean it is a shirt with contrasting details and personality! There are 14 pattern pages to print out, match up, and tape together.
Lily Bird Studio includes directions on putting snaps on the front or buttons. I chose to pick from my button supply and do lots of different colored ones in pinks and purples. My daughter liked this and it makes the shirt unique!
It is an extremely sweet top that flares out at the bottom. I chose not to make the fabric belt and belt loops since I just loved the shirt as is, but the belt would be beautiful too. The directions to add this are very clear and easy.
The sleeves have a very modern and simple cuff that folds up and adds some nice detail and contrast to the sleeve.
This pattern is a HIT! It's very unique with the contrasting side panels and I love the simple collar, sleeves and flared waist.
I made a size 6 for my 6 year old daughter and found the fit to be perfect. She is on the small size and there was a lot of room in the top for her to grow into. I think the sizing was right on (length of top included).
This sums it up-LOVE!
I will be making this pattern in a dress next and definitely a lot more tops.
I have two wonderful kids, love living in Colorado, and adore to sew for them whenever I can. I have a blog, an etsy shop (where I sell custom girl bandana skirt sets, matching American Girl doll skirt sets, knot dress, purses and more) and Facebook page. Please visit me and say hi! Thanks for reading my review of such a cute pattern!!!! -ellen
