Hey CSC, Martha from @GariChild here to review the Olympia Dress by Love Notions.
Disclaimer: I was a tester for this pattern and received it for free, but all my opinions are my own.
The Olympia Dress features a reverse shawl collar with V-neck with five sleeve lengths: sleeveless, short, elbow, ¾ and long as well as two skirt lengths: knee and maxi. The pattern also includes instructions to make the Olympia Dress nursing friendly with a zipper in the centerfront.
Size Range: XS-XXXL
Bust: The pattern includes four different bodices for B-DD sewing cup sizes and can fit women from 33 – 52 inches.
My measurements:
Measurements: 47/45/58
Body Shape: Pear-ish
Height: 5’7
Bra size: 44DDD
What size did you make? XXXL with C Bodice graded 3 inches at the waist. Knee length.
Fabric: Sweater knit from Walmart that I picked up for $1 a yard. Yup this dress cost me 3 bucks!! #doublehandclap
What was the construction process like? Did the instructions make sense to you?
I was actually surprised at how the dress comes together relatively easy. I was apprehensive about the shawl collar construction but the pattern includes a short video tutorial that pretty much held my hand through the process and before I even realized the hardest part was over before I could break a sweat.
How did you like the pattern’s fit? Do you think that the design works well for your body shape?
If you are a fit and flare kinda girl, this is definitely a pattern to add to your collection. The shawl collar takes it up a notch and that v-neck is beyond sexy!!!!! I saw this dress done in a variety of knit fabrics and was amazed at how many different looks can be achieved with one pattern.
Will you make this pattern again? If so, what fit or design changes will you make?
Definitely…I need to make this into a peplum top to go with my pencil skirt like ASAP! I have already envisioned that I will be making this dress in velvet with a very full maxi skirt for the holidays. Side Note: I detest winter but I am seewwwww looking forward to my holiday looks this year…lol!
Do you have any advice on this pattern for other curvy sewers? Are there any resources or materials that helped you sew this piece up?
As tempting as it is to go by your bra cup for the bodice…DON’T DO IT! Trust your measurements. The instructions are very clear as to how you should determine which bodice you should use to fit your body. These triple D’s fit perfectly in a C bodice. **Putting on my testers hat: The designers went through about 8+ iterations to make sure the bodice fit was on point. #laboroflove**
Another great resource is to join the Love Notions group on Facebook and see some of the other fabrics that were used for the Olympia Dress. It will blow your mind!!
Pattern Rating (1-5):
Size range: 4
Instructions: 5
Construction process: 4
Final fit: 5
Overall rating: 4.5
I consider this pattern a great curvy sew for my intermediate/ambitious beginners. Overall, I personally love the way the dress looks on me and has been on heavy rotation since I made it.
Until Next time, GariChild
I love purple too, and this dress fits and looks terrific on you!
Martha, This dress looks great on you! You did a great job and your comments are helpful.
I’ve been eyeing this pattern since it’s release and I think your review just nudged me into buying it! I love your version and the sweater knit reminds me a bit of Missoni, what a find!
Thanks for that great review! And that dress looks spectacular on you. It may have inspired me to sew one myself!
Love it! I just posted my sleeveless version of the Olympia dress on my blog yesterday as well. https://smallseams.wordpress.com/2017/04/17/olympia-dress-for-easter/
Such an easy and versatile pattern – I know I will be making more!
That fabric is just ahhhmmmmaaaazzzzzing!!!!! I’m wearing my wearable muslin today and I definitely think a sleeveless one would be a great addition to my wardrobe…Thanks for sharing!!
love your dress! Can you tell me if the front bodice is lined (double fabric) or does it have a neck facing? Thanks so much.
Its more of a facing. I’m not sure how you would add a lining to the bodice if your fabric is on the thin side. My sweater knit was a bit see through and I chose to wear a slip under my dress.
Thank you for letting me know about the facing. Sounds perfect for me. I’ve seen another company who has a similar top and it’s double layered in the front. That’s way too hot for me. LOL
Stunning, Martha! Thanks for writing this review for us!
Thank you sooo much for the opportunity as always!!!
Martha, you already know how much I adore this make! Allllll the heart eyes!
Thanks Abbey!!!
Very nice!
It looks totally gorgeous on you. Good job 🙂 I’ve had it printed out since release day but I haven’t got any further than that. You’ve made me want to get stuck in. Thanks 🙂
You look soooo good in that dress.
Yes! This dress is a win! I can’t believe you got that fabric for $1/yd at Walmart. Lucky and clever you!
You look absolutely great in this dress. Fantastic.
I love how you rock this dress. I’m not a dress wearer, but I’m reconsidering my position. Thank you!
Lol…As a person who has a million and one bottoms and no tops, dresses have become my best friend!!!
So, I was looking at the pattern outline and thinking ‘okay, I guess, maybe a little boring’ and then I scrolled down to your finished garment and I was like “DO WANT!”
Which is to say, your fabric choice and personal style are awesome.
Hahahahah, Thank you soo much!
I love it!! I’ve been looking at this pattern since it came out, but I couldn’t make up my mind. This looks fabulous on you!!
I love this pattern, fabric and it looks fantastic on you.
This dress looks really good on you. You’ve got a great sense of what’s flattering for your figure in both patterns and fabrics. I made special note of the level hem line, with no hiking in either front or back. On point. I don’t get the shawl collar description on the pattern though. That’s not like any shawl collar, I’ve ever seen. – reverse or regular.
Ohhhhh my sew sister!!! I too am the watcher of an even hem line #hifive
This looks fantastic. I’d like to make it. Question – did you raise the waist? In the drawing it looks like the seam sits on the natural waist, but yours looks like it is just below the bust (which is what I want). How did you achieve this’ll?
thank you! no adjustments were made to bodice length but I attribute fabric choice to where the bodice fell on this dress. I made another Olympia dress in a 4 way stretch and the bodice lays more at my natural waist. The weight of the skirt can affect the bodice. The pattern has two cut lines for the bodice to help factor that in.
do you think the size of your bust has anything to do with pulling the fabric up in the front? if you have a very big bust wouldn’t that raise the waist seam? I think you’d have to compensate for that by using the longer length choice on the pattern or making the front even longer to suit your own body. thoughts?
also, for a very big bust, do you think there would be that dreaded bunching up under the arms because the bust dart is missing or is the cup variation enough to take care of that? some of the pictures look good (yours included) but some have that extra fabric.
I started to follow your posts because our body shapes are very similar and continued because of your style and comments. yours came out great and, as usual, the workmanship and choice of fabric is right on.
For this dress I think the fabric definitely contributes to the visual that it is pull the fabric up in the front. The bodice, which I happen to be wearing today, sits at my natural waist which is what the design calls for. This fabric is super lightweight (I wear a slip underneath) and fidgets a lot more than i would like. I made another one in a midweight knit and the weight of the skirt pulls the bodice down a little lower than my natural waist even though its the same skirt length. Thats why the testers recommended that she add 2 lines to the bodice. Some of the testers with bigger busts did encounter the dreaded bunching up of the fabric under the arm and felt they needed to add the dart. I encourage you make the adjustments necessary for your fit. I didn’t have the excess and so I am happy with the bodice fit as is. Thank you so much for the kind words and I hope that I have been a help!
WOW!! You really rock that dress and that fabulous fabric!! Gorgeous!
That dress looks beyond fantastic on you! One of the best patterns I’ve seen in a sea of great looks. Thank you for sharing it.
Looks awsome! I totally dont understand how both you and my mother luck up at Walmart on fabulous fabric finds!
Thank you soo much! Walmart has been hitting it out the park as of late!!! When you can get good fabric at a good price, why not sew something beautiful!
You look adorable! Great review.
I love the fabric and the pattern. You made a beautiful dress and it looks lovely on you. Good job.
Very nice job. I love how it flows. Looking at the drawings I would not buy this pattern but its tempting. I love the way it looks on you. The fabric is beautiful. Way to go girl $1 a yard!!!
Betty, I was thinking the same thing that based on the drawings I would have just gone “meh” and kept moving on. Now this is going to be a serious contender for actually being made!
Excellent dress and very helpful review!
I agree this dress suits you perfectly! Beautifully done and I’m sure Love Notions will be grateful for this thorough review of all their hardwork too 🙂
I love this dress! Thanks for sharing the pattern and your tips.
Thank you!
Beautiful dress, beautiful on you.
Thank you soo much!