Great knit dresses seem to be popping up everywhere around the blogosphere. With my shape, I have found many of them to be not quite right. With 14 inches difference between my hips and my waist, many of the knit dresses everyone has been making and loving seem to grab me in all the wrong places. Then, a few months ago I came across Greenstyle Creations and their Laurel Tunic or Dress pattern. The empire waist with pleated skirt was just perfect for my body shape.
Greenstyle’s patterns are in PDF form, and they print and go together like a dream. I had this pattern taped together and cut out in less than 45 minutes. The instructions are concise and easy enough for a beginner to follow along. As a slightly more advanced sewist, I used my serger for the majority of the sewing and changed the order in which things go together. First, baste the skirt pleats on a regular machine (if I were using the pockets, sewing them to skirt would be my next step). Second, sew the cowl together to make it round. Third, sew the shoulder seams together. Fourth, insert the cowl and sew it in. Fifth, sew the sleeves in the flat method. Sixth, sew the skirt pieces to the bodice pieces respectively. Last, sew one long seam from the edge of the sleeves to the lower hem. I usually finish it off with a twin needle at the lower hem and sleeve cuff, though on this particular dress because of the heavy cotton wool sweater knit, I opted to hand sew the sleeve cuffs and lower hem with a whip stitch.
Pattern Name: Greenstyle Creations Laurel Tunic or Dress
Sizing: XXS to 3XL
What size did you make: 3XL
What are your measurements and body shape: 52-50-64 I am a pear shape, but with a bit of a low tummy.
What adjustments did you make and how long did they take: I normally take a sway back adjustment. For this pattern, I just curved from the long torso line on the back bodice, which is the size I used for the front bodice piece, up to the short torso line. This gave me the perfect sway back adjustment! It took me about a minute to make this adjustment. Also, I just left out the pockets that are sewn in the side seams. They would have hit me at my widest area, and from experience I know that they would have gaped open because of that.
What did you like: I like that the Laurel Tunic/Dress comes with so many possibilities. Sleeves alone are offered in short, elbow length, three-quarter and long lengths. The pattern offers regular shirt length, tunic length, just above the knee length, and dress length skirts. With my curvier body, the above knee is more tunic length on me, and the dress length is more above the knee. I am 5’6” and am not sure what height these patterns are made for, but I do realize that the curvy factor takes up some length as well. The pattern also can be made for short, regular or long torsos. I make the long torso for the front as mentioned above, and then grade down to the short torso for the back bodice piece. One last variation, you can make the skirt without the pleats in the back or with, but if you are curvy like me, you will need the pleats!
What will you change next time: Nothing, I love this pattern straight from the printer!
What advice do you have for curvy sewists: If you have a large behind leave the pleats in the skirt back piece. If you are really busty you may need a FBA with this pattern. I am only D-cup, and if you were any larger, you would end up with the waist seam up on your chest. Also, the directions for the tunic are fine as printed, but do yourself a favor and sew the sleeves in the flat method instead of doing a sleeve insertion!
Curvy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! Between the knit materials and the full skirt, this pattern is a 5 all the way for me and the sizing is very comparable to RTW!
Angie from Greenstyle Creations has offered to give a copy of the Laurel Tunic to one lucky CSC reader. Please tell us why you want a copy of this pattern by January 26th (Monday) for a chance to win!
About Me: I am a 30-something plus size gal who is working hard to sew a great wardrobe that actually fits. I also am a thrifter who loves a good refashion, and you never know what great treasures I might find at estate and yard sales. You can follow my adventures in sewing at pandorasews.blogspot.com!
Lovely! Love the color. The look of a sweater in a comfy t shirt. Can someone explain what FBA stands for?
Nice color choices for both garments 🙂
This is such a lovely pattern!
I would LOVE to have a copy of this patten because 2015 is going to be the year I learn to sew for ME! I make lovely things for my daughters but have always struggled with the lumps and bumps of the adult figure. I think the design of this dress would work well with my body shape.
I want this pattern because I am a beginner/dress/skirt wearer and just beginning my patterns collection. I want to try this pattern next!!
I love, love, love the black/white version of this pattern!!
Empire waist dresses or tunics take off pounds. It drapes beautifully on you.
Your dress is beautiful! This looks like such a comfortable and easy to wear garment, would love to try it! Thanks!
This just made me speechless. Its like you are pouring out my mind. I
love making dresses with block patterns. Am E cup and would love to win
this. Thanks.
This just made me speechless. Its like you are pouring out my mine. I love making dresses with block patterns. Am E cup and would love to win this. Thanks.
Well first of all the pattern is so cute, I love it. It seems to have so many possibilities, I think my wardrobe could really be enhanced with this pattern. I am new to sewing, but I really want to start making a lot of my own clothing. Have a great day!
dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com
Love this! Thank you for sharing. We have a similar body type and I have always been wary of knit dresses. I would need the FBA for sure! I would love to try this pattern
I would really like to win a copy of this pattern because, well, it’s awesome!
This is such a cute pattern. I’m also a pear shape so I’d love to give this one a try!
The design elements of this pattern are lovely! It would go well in my wardrobe. Thank you!
It’s a cute pattern and one that would be fun to add to my pattern rotation.
That looks like it fits great!! Thanks for sharing, as a pear shape with low tummy, long body, i would have never thought something with such a high/empire almost seam could have looked this good and NOT maternityish as most high seams usually do on me. So thanks again, you gave me confidence to try this pattern out.
Oh this dress is so cute! I love the pleats and although I typically don’t love cowl necks, I really like this one with the overall shape of the dress. I hope I win it because I have the perfect ponte for it…
I love this top! It would be particularly awesome, since we’re trying for baby #2….
Why WOULDN”T I want this pattern?!? I love cowl necks, love versitility in patterns, and love the thought of “secret pajamas” (ROTFL, Sara A!!!) I have all but given up sewing for myself until I found the curvy sewing collective and all the fabulous designs modeled on REAL WOMEN!!! Thank you for that and for everything you do! Hugs!
I have a hard time with empire waist dresses. I love the look of them, but I cannot get them just right for me. Maybe this pattern will change all that. I sure hope so. Thanks!
Hey, it looks like a lovely pattern and definitely something of a staple. Which is why I would suggest doing an FBA. The seam cuts right across your chest instead of hitting you underneath. I think it would really be worth fitting this pattern properly as it is obviously very flattering on you!
Ginger, thanks for your remarks. I assure you, that the pattern does hit below my bust, the purple tunic was not pulled down properly when it was photographed. It doesn’t fit the way the pattern on the model does, but I wouldn’t like it if it did.
“I am only D-cup, and if you were any larger, you would end up with the waist seam up on your chest.”
Um, take a look at the last photo with the purple tunic. Next time, maybe try that FBA.
Ros, the photo of the purple tunic is misleading and I was trepidatious about including it, but decided to include it any way so that the length of the tunic could be seen. What you can’t see is that shirt is bunched on my shoulders because I was throwing leaves in the air in a previous shot (though you can look at the cowl and tell that the shirt is not properly pulled down). The seam truly hits below my bust, but just below my bust which is how I like it.
The problem is that this is a pattern review post, and what you say doesn’t match with the photo you’ve shown, which makes the review more or less useless. It’s hard to see exactly where the seam hits on the dress with the busy fabric, but on the purple tunic, it’s very clear that it’s in the wrong place. Maybe you do just need to pull it down, but then I don’t want to make a top that constantly needs pulling down to sit right. The point of a review (and, I had assumed, the point of the CSC) is to help the rest of us decide whether a pattern is likely to work for us and if so, what adjustments it might need. I have no clue from this post where the bust seam is placed and whether I’d need to adjust it or not.
Ros, It would be impossible to tell where the seam would be on you based on where it is on another person anyway. This is why you measure the pattern and compare it to your own measurements and/or make a mock-up.
I’d love a chance to win this pattern. I haven’t sewn with knits before, and would love to try – I need a little push to jump in! I love the lines of this dress.
I love this pattern! I love that it can be both a dress and a tunic and that it has different sleeve options. It looks great on Alicia and, since she says a beginner can try it and I trust the Curvy Sewing Collective, I would really like to try the Laurel pattern as my first garment to sew. Thank you for the giveaway! Magistra13 at yahoo dot com
Beth
I would like this pattern. I am still a novice but your (curvy) site empowers me to sew. I am pear shape and am so tired of clothing being too big in the waist and too tight in the lower abdomen. Curvy shows how I can sew to fit me and let’s me know which patterns to use.
I am just beginning to gain confidence sewing with knits and have pretty much conquered t-shirts for my kidlets but would love to try something for myself that might actually look good on my oval (pear upper and apple tummy) body. Would love to give this one a try!
I’m a stay at home mom and I have fallen hard for knit dresses. I need all the secret pajamas I can get!
I am a plus size grandma, semi-retired. I need comfortable, yet professional looking clothing. I look for patterns that are made for knits that accommodate my body shape. After seeing this Laurel dress on Alicia, I know this pattern would work for me.
I am looking at changing careers and need real clothes. Currently all I have are scrubs and jeans. I’m teaching myself to sew so that I can increase my wardrobe. This dress would be perfect for me. It can be dressed up or down depending on fabric and I love the tunic option.
I am learning to love my body through sewing, after depression, antidepressants, and the society I live in have been telling me I am too fat all my life while I just kept gaining weight. This pattern is beautiful, and shows me how lovely a pattern can look on a woman who is the same size as me, rather than how it looks on a thinner model. For all of these reasons, I would love to sew this pattern.
Why would I like to win this? It looks like something that could be a real staple in my growing wardrobe of me-made items. It looks like it has loads of opportunities for hacking and variation. And it’s cute.
I would like to try this pattern as a young military wife with two small children this looks like it would work for me. I am starting to work an internship job and need some stylish comfortable clothing. The internship is need for my associates degree. Sewing is the only way to afford new clothing. I would need to make a Full Bust Adjustment for this dress.
This pattern looks lovely. I am in need of a new wardrobe and have tons of various fabric, so sewing is more cost effective for me at the moment.
That really a cute tunicdress and it looks great on you. Good luck to everyone that enters.
I love this pattern! I particularly like that given the right knit, it can look a bit retro, but with a different knit, it’s far more contemporary (perfect for a pair of leggings.) That’s versatility that I like in a pattern.
Lovely. I particularly like the longer version. That is gorgeous fabric too. Thanks for the review.
II would like to make this pattern for my daughter who is 6′ tall, a 3X and 23 years old. It has been difficult to find stylish patterns in her size. Collete’s Moneta was an absolute hit and I hope that this pattern will be as well. When she looks fab, she feels confident. Sewing for my daughter has been a tremendous gift that I can give her.
I would like to try this dress pattern as I am not a shape that seems to suit the other stretchy dress patterns either, however I’ve come to realise that empire lines are very flattering on me. I’m hanging out to join the latest ‘knit dress trend’ but this is the first pattern I’ve seen that actually might flatter my figure. Looks great on you. 🙂