Pearl's Zipper Top and Dress by Simple Life Pattern Company
/Hi y’all! It’s Kari from That’s-Sew-Kari with a review of Pearl’s Zipper Top & Dress by Simple Life Pattern Company. This pattern is designed for woven fabrics and features a gorgeous gem neckline, a low-cut zippered back, 3 sleeve options, 2 skirt lengths, and an optional ruffled hem. The sizing covers 2t - 12 and is suitable for an advanced beginner.
In the listing, it reads: “Pearl’s Party Dress is the perfect mix of elegance and sass.” My daughter, without having read the description, definitely has the sass portion covered. We are working a little on the elegance.. Haha! Seriously, though, this dress is the perfect combination of the two and depending on fabric choices, you can favor one over the other if you like.
This dress looks challenging to sew, but with all the tips included and the easy-to-follow tutorial, construction was pretty simple. I was able to sneak away to my sewing room and complete the majority of it in a couple of hours. Bonus: SLPco always adds her cutting charts to the bodice pattern piece so you don’t have to refer back to the computer when you are busy cutting!
I found sizing to be true to the provided measurement chart. My daughter is very petite for 8 years old and measured into a 4 chest, 6 length, and a 3 waist. Because the back is lower cut, I graded the side seams down from a 4 to a 3 to be fitted for the waist. This prevents the back from gaping open. The best part about being able to customize the fit is that no one except me (and well, now all of you...lol) knows that she wears such a mix of tiny sizes.
I love all the details that this pattern provides. You can tell each one was well thought out and perfectly executed. This isn’t my first zipper that I have installed, but it may be one of the first ones that was actually enclosed into the lining as well. This may be my favorite detail of the whole pattern. Shhhh… I actually used a jean zipper because Hobby Lobby was closed and Walmart was out of 9” white zippers. Plus, the gold happened to match her bodice and the zippers on her boots.
I was pleasantly surprised with the sleeves as well. I *almost* made the dress sleeveless because I thought for sure that my daughter would not want them. At the last minute, I asked her (because the sleeveless construction is slightly different) and she REALLY wanted those sleeves! I am so glad I asked her!
The fabric used is Cali MOD by Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit. I love it and had been saving it for the perfect pattern to showcase the big blooms. My daughter immediately wore this dress the next day to school, even though it was PE day!! I call that a win!!
Today Kari reviews Pearl's Zipper Dress and Top by Simple Life Pattern Company. This final product looks like it would be a difficult sew but Kari found the tutorial made it easier. Lots of attention to detail in this sassy dress.