tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post8061722368560487241..comments2024-03-01T00:15:25.848-08:00Comments on Made By Meg: Anna Dress - Good Idea, Bad PatternMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01455909792052564401noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-58619632978864038312017-03-02T05:20:47.031-08:002017-03-02T05:20:47.031-08:00I just saw a dress pattern on etsy that is very ne...I just saw a dress pattern on etsy that is very nearly the same style as the Anna, and wondered if you might like it. Butterick 4435, has similar lines.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-50050737787014078582017-02-13T18:19:09.644-08:002017-02-13T18:19:09.644-08:00Another idea may be to take a plain bodice that fi...Another idea may be to take a plain bodice that fits you well and modify it to resemble the Anna. Turn any waist darts into tucks or put tucks in a more loose design, make a muslin or two, and you've drafted something that will fit you even better! You can even use the Anna pattern for reference since you've already purchased it, but a better-fitting pattern as your base. Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01455909792052564401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-41933959629767361412017-02-13T18:08:33.161-08:002017-02-13T18:08:33.161-08:00I love the look of this pattern and last Summer I ...I love the look of this pattern and last Summer I decided to give it a try. I found I had a bunch of issues-- I had to do a small bust adjustment, do some work on the neckline, adjust the darts, etc. I think I made 2 or 3 muslins of the bodice and put it aside. Of course now I can't even remember whether It was OK or still needed work. Now that I read your review and adjustments I think I would benefit from starting over and making the changes you made. I can't say that I'm rushing to fiddle around with it but I would like to get it right eventually. Your turned out beautifully in the end. Terihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06638144134832327062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-5767144756684315122017-01-27T05:48:51.760-08:002017-01-27T05:48:51.760-08:00It's refreshing to read a review that is not a...It's refreshing to read a review that is not all sunshine and rainbows. As I am working to increase my garment sewing skills, it's helpful to know which patterns to avoid. I want my challenges to be focused on garment construction techniques and fit...not trying to overcome pattern drafting issues. The digital economy allows anyone to put together a pattern and offer it for sale.....I'm now spending more time reading about their qualifications and experiences before I plunk down $15-$20! Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341593767272569113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-73474596553427519182017-01-11T11:53:29.205-08:002017-01-11T11:53:29.205-08:00Oops I'm a bit late replying to this! The fabr...Oops I'm a bit late replying to this! The fabric is from Fabric Mart and is called "Peachy Pink/White/Dark Blue/Multi Watercolor Floral Print Poly/Lycra Textured Jacquard Double Knit 59W." It was only $4.40/yd which was very cheap! I bought it back in August so I don't think it's available any more. Good florals are hard to find!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01455909792052564401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-42319282030734796982017-01-11T11:37:14.514-08:002017-01-11T11:37:14.514-08:00Thanks Marilyn, good luck! I do love the dress if ...Thanks Marilyn, good luck! I do love the dress if you're willing to put in the work!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01455909792052564401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-77794630331595880772017-01-11T11:10:33.694-08:002017-01-11T11:10:33.694-08:00Great review, thank you! I bought the pattern even...Great review, thank you! I bought the pattern even though I'd perused reviews and seen there were problems, and I bought fabric because I just know it will look great in this shape. When I saw the line drawings of the skirt, I realized this was going to take some concentration, so the dress has been sitting on the back burner. Thanks to your review, I have a fairly clear idea of what I think I'll need to do, even though you and I are completely different sizes/shapes. Your dress came out great!marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398638273258938481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-69930261176997301322016-12-20T04:43:48.411-08:002016-12-20T04:43:48.411-08:00I really commend you for your honest review. Also,...I really commend you for your honest review. Also, I've been swooning over that fabric. Can you tell us where it's from? It looks so gorgeous! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-50656774593716399352016-12-03T18:33:33.231-08:002016-12-03T18:33:33.231-08:00Wow - what a great and honest review! I think you...Wow - what a great and honest review! I think your dress looks amazing despite your issues. I've made Anna a few times when I was first starting out with sewing, and I found it quick and easy to make, but I never used the skirt pattern pieces, I always added a gathered skirt. I have made the Kim dress, and while I liked it, it took a lot of adjustments to get it to fit, and it's still not exactly how I'd like it.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03039252141722591717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-45773486627955057842016-12-02T10:26:46.166-08:002016-12-02T10:26:46.166-08:00Hi Meg, great post, excellent review. I would just...Hi Meg, great post, excellent review. I would just like to add I think you were very clever on addressing the issues you noticed; I know I would have tried and tried and never would have succeeded. I have this pattern, I also love the silhouette, but will save it for a faraway future when I have time and patience.<br />great job, you look lovely <3julianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17254769822628258833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-41136505007514157922016-12-01T01:57:53.410-08:002016-12-01T01:57:53.410-08:00Thanks for your frank assessment! I did not sew th...Thanks for your frank assessment! I did not sew the Anna dress, but I did make up the Elisalex dress. I had the same problems as you around the shoulders and neckline, which leads me to believe this is an inherent problem with their block. The skirt proportion is total bullsh*t on my 5'1" frame so I replaced it with the Simplicity 2444 skirt. That ended up being the redeeming bit because I eventually ripped out the skirt section, added a waist to it, and made it into a standalone skirt. <br /><br />You're right that it's perplexing that so many reviewers on Pattern Review recommends the pattern, but when you dive deep into it, people either had to do multiple muslins or do quick fixes on the fly. That's so dishonest! I too, like many other commentators here, thought it was my own amateur fault. I mean, the pattern bears the name of the founder! I didn't expect it to be so flawed!<br /><br />I've given away my Elisalex pattern at a swap. I still have the Victoria blazer pattern. But I just can't bring myself to sew it. Irisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-50617118576268894952016-11-25T21:23:36.970-08:002016-11-25T21:23:36.970-08:00I think this pattern was maybe the third time I ha...I think this pattern was maybe the third time I had done a small bust adjustment. I just reread my post on my first Anna dress and realize that I made three muslins of the bodice to get it to fit right. All the work was on the front bodice pattern piece. I was really happy with how my fabric worked with the dress so I didn't really give the pattern's flaws much consideration. Thanks for pointing out the problems, which I couldn't really articulate at the time - likely because I stayed up late sewing it up. I love the first Anna Dress I made and wear it a lot. If I were a beginning sewist, I'm sure I would have given up on it. It's the only BHL pattern I've made. Chuleenanhttp://csews.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-64597939627094248492016-11-23T08:58:08.845-08:002016-11-23T08:58:08.845-08:00Thank you for this review, so my sewing nor body a...Thank you for this review, so my sewing nor body are to blame for not being able to make this dress work and sending it to the plastic bag of UFOs :-)<br />I'm sticking to Burdastyle, Ottobre or Knip now<br />GejaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-45434221711241602412016-11-22T23:19:36.050-08:002016-11-22T23:19:36.050-08:00Thank you for writing such an honest review. I ha...Thank you for writing such an honest review. I had the exact same issues with the bodice 2 years ago and it was incredibly frustrating, especially since I was still very much a beginner and was so excited about the pattern. After making the Anna and reading an extremely unprofessional comment posted by BHL on someone's blog (in response to an honest but critical review of their patttern) I also decided to steer clear of BHL.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09638902813082235123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-7381130788882033932016-11-22T13:58:53.426-08:002016-11-22T13:58:53.426-08:00Thank you SO much!! I love my Anna and still wear ...Thank you SO much!! I love my Anna and still wear it on every occasion that I can as it fits great and looks smashing - I once tried to make another and cried as I couldn't make it look the same. The first was fitted to my body by a sewing friend and the pieces resemble yours more than the originals, I'm not quite ready to tackle it again, thank you for shedding some light on maybe why that is.MaciNichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165307130447217668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-38995043576668156342016-11-22T13:53:21.844-08:002016-11-22T13:53:21.844-08:00Thank you for your post. I made this dress some ti...Thank you for your post. I made this dress some time ago. I only used the bodice and my biggest issue was the extra fabric in the back. Some of my friends had the same problem, also with other bhl patterns, so we joked about that fact that every person in het UK probably looks like the hunchback of the notre Dame. So yeah, that's bad pattern drafting. Due to the fact that I used a vintage curtain to make this dress I didn't use the skirt pattern because of the limited fabric I had. Glad I didn't do because I would be crying if waisted my pretty fabric on that. ps, here is the direct link to my dress: http://bouquetofbuttons.be/en/blog/2014/02/18/curtain-anna-dress-2/Lieke // A Bouquet of Buttonshttp://bouquetofbuttons.be/ennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-30811801143299945062016-11-22T06:07:28.222-08:002016-11-22T06:07:28.222-08:00Thank you for your honest review. We need those in...Thank you for your honest review. We need those in all aspects of our lives. Thankfully, your frustration netted you a beautiful dress (and a great line I've already seen quoted, "The Anna Dress is not a pattern, but rather the idea of a pattern."). I'm sorry it took so much unnecessary time and effort to get such a nice result.<br /><br />And if I may address the comment above mine, <br /><br />"We all know that (usually) these small scale pattern companies put a lot of thought and effort into their work and no one likes to criticize that hard work"<br /><br />But what about the work WE put in to earn the money we use to purchase their products? No one should feel bad about or intimated by writing an *honest* review. Those who sugarcoat should maybe feel bad about a dishonest review, especially when such reviews lead fellow sewists down the road of self-doubt.Debbie Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601675304884019607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-21038616800066294352016-11-22T05:32:22.685-08:002016-11-22T05:32:22.685-08:00Thanks for the honest review! I had a similar prob...Thanks for the honest review! I had a similar problem with Grainline's Portside Duffle Bag, there were some major issues in how the dopp kitt was drafted and after pouring through reviews, only two blogs mentioned the issues they had. I think it can be hard to give negative reviews about products online. We all know that (usually) these small scale pattern companies put a lot of thought and effort into their work and no one likes to criticize that hard work, but when it comes down to it, poorly drafted is poorly drafted and that's all there is to it.Carleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14356064748101319191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-19181569372383643652016-11-22T02:27:51.731-08:002016-11-22T02:27:51.731-08:00I have made this pattern up several times (not max...I have made this pattern up several times (not maxi length). Made no adjustments and it fits perfectly. The Charlotte skirt was another matter, never completed mine. I think this is a great pattern but obviously won't work for everyone. Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686701585138892761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-77252392913270752342016-11-22T01:10:21.679-08:002016-11-22T01:10:21.679-08:00Another thank you for the honest review. I really ...Another thank you for the honest review. I really love this silhouette and have been tempted by this pattern so often - but amongst the many great versions I've seen sewn, several bloggers mention but gloss over the issues you've picked up on. This post is the nail in the coffin, another indie who won't be getting my custom. neurulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02050259622678438962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-88274217831346290192016-11-22T00:42:00.885-08:002016-11-22T00:42:00.885-08:00Your dress looks so lovely and the fabric is gorge...Your dress looks so lovely and the fabric is gorgeous. I often wonder why people buy these basic, basic designs from indie pattern makers. Even if they were drafted perfectly (as some probably are) there are multiple patterns out there that you could buy at a thrift shop for .50c.... people gush over peasant blouse and t-shirt patterns that some designers give out for nothing. A really frank review that is overdue and welcomed.Summer Flieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092393256871735567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-42671872761085920522016-11-21T22:36:09.368-08:002016-11-21T22:36:09.368-08:00This is why I don't buy patterns from independ...This is why I don't buy patterns from independent designers...I enjoyed your frank review. Sarah Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17566072246120028926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-8163428028863020782016-11-21T19:51:54.203-08:002016-11-21T19:51:54.203-08:00Thank you for such an honest and thoughtful review...Thank you for such an honest and thoughtful review. It's refreshing to read a review that doesn't sugar-coat issues the writer faced in creating the garment, something I see a lot in other blogs. I purchased this pattern when it first came out because the design was so striking. Now I regret the $20 I spent on it!Dianahttp://hailbritannia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-89378900201146481042016-11-21T16:13:23.287-08:002016-11-21T16:13:23.287-08:00Of course there are corners of the internet where ...Of course there are corners of the internet where beautifully-drafted and strikingly-original indie patterns can be found, but all too often they are mediocre at best, as you have demonstrated so clearly here. Your lovely result is due entirely to the fabric and your skill and hard work; no credit is due to the pattern. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813031881624424068.post-12175995070885105522016-11-21T14:32:22.078-08:002016-11-21T14:32:22.078-08:00It's refreshing to read an honest review. The ...It's refreshing to read an honest review. The dress looks fantastic on you but I don't know if I will rush to sew this pattern up any time soon. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com