GUYS. I had the pleasure of participating in the pattern test for this dress back at the end of 2021, and hello sorry here I am talking about it TODAY. It’s April. Whoops.
(I mean to be fair, I had some minor things going on in my life like being a mom to a 3 year old and a 3 month old, returning to work after maternity leave, and planning holidays with our family but hey nothing that big so my bad.) Anyways. I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw Paradise Patterns beginning to look for pattern testers – the skinny straps, the low back, the effortlessly chic feeling it evokes. I couldn’t wait to get on board! Despite it being the dead middle of winter and no beaches or sunshine in sight, I couldn’t wait to get this in my wardrobe! I even considered this as a NYE option, but ultimately my pajamas were the best choice that night.
In an effort to make the dress a little bit winter-friendly, I opted for this dark floral motif from Atelier Jupe (PS – if you haven’t worked with their fabrics you are missing out! This was my second opportunity to sew with their line, and they are absolutely lovely, wearable garment fabrics. The quality is top notch, the colors are beautiful and saturated, and the fabric feels fantastic against my skin!). As I finished up the dress and took some quick fit photos, I layered this over a Nikko Turtleneck top, out of convenience, and found that this made for a rather cute winter way to wear this dress in chillier weather!
For my dress, I sewed up View A of the Smultron Dress Pattern. This view includes some sweetheart shaping along the front neckline, and a straight across, elasticated back. View B offers a straight neckline with ties to create a bow in the back! I chose my size based off of my upper bust measurement, and added 7.5” to the length of the dress pieces. The main body of the dress is constructed of two main pieces – the front and the back – both cut on the bias of the fabric. The amount of length you are able to add directly to these pieces is very much dependent on the width of your fabric. If your fabric cannot accommodate the final length you want, another suggested option was to simply cut a rectangle in the desired length and add a tier to the bottom. A few testers went this route, and it is very cute (and very on trend!).
Despite choosing a moodier floral, this gal is still going to get plenty of sunshiney summertime wear! I love the way this fabric drapes, and that the dress is so swooshy. You have no choice but to twirl regularly in this dress, and from time to time lift the skirt up to the side just to feel it float back down.
As with all of the Paradise Patterns line, this dress feels absolutely meant for a beach and a light fruity cocktail. I don’t know if I have beaches in my immediate future, but trust me that I will find my way to a poolside piña colada as soon as it is warm enough! (obviously with more sunscreen than was applied on this date – look at that sassy V-Neck sunburn stealing the show!)
Have you had the chance to sew this one up yet? If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is peeking around the corner and now is the time to start filling your closet with Smultron dresses. I am looking forward to looking through my fabric shelf to find something to make a fun mini version next!
Dress: handmade by me
Pattern: Paradise Patterns – Smultron Dress
Fabric: Minerva – Atelier Jupe Viscose Challis Fabric Multicoloured
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Prym Sewing Machine Needles
Gutermann Sew All Polyester Sewing Thread
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this pattern! The fabric used for this post was provided to me by Minerva in exchange for photos of my finished garments and a review of my experience with the fabric, to be posted on their website. The pattern was provided to me by Sanna of Paradise Patterns in exchange for my participation as a pattern tester. All words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
