Minerva Crafts October Make – BHL Anna Dress

Hello everyone!

I come to you today dressed to the nines in my new frock for my latest Minerva Crafts Blogger Network make! I decided I wanted to tackle a proper evening dress, a very popular pattern and some serious lace sewing so here is all three combined in my version of By Hand London’s infamous Anna Dress… That I have decided to call Racy Lacey!!

AnnaDressFeat

I am afraid it looks suspiciously like this pattern has sold out on Minerva now, so I can’t link to it, but do track it down- it’s a beauty! The rest of my kit, however, is luckily still available and I fully recommend it all!

This floral lace is so easy to use – it cut brilliantly with the rotary cutter, didn’t fray, sewed up and pressed well. I wasn’t used to sewing with lace so I did some blog research and found out that if you have an overlocker (and luckily I do) the best way to attach the lace to the underlining is to cut the pattern pieces in both fabrics,  pin and serge the edges together – easy peasy! It did add a bit of time on but I really think it’s a great effect. I think the hardest thing about sewing with lace is deciding which is the wrong side and right side – honestly took up most of my time at the beginning! 😉

The lining I used is the Polyester Habotai Lining Fabric in black. This is a great underlining – it has a lovely sheen to it without being ultra shiny and has a lovely drape which feels soft against the skin. And it’s anti static- yay!

I chose the Anna dress pattern by By Hand London because I’ve wanted to try this pattern for ages! I’ve seen so many great versions on the blogosphere and love all the options it has for length and necklines. I chose the boatneck as it’s such a classic shape and fits the full length look so well. I think the lace works really well here – it looks like a vintage ballgown – so luxurious- and that naughty thigh high slit puts some serious raunch factor in…

I do love this dress and I’ve already decided I’m wearing it to a tres chic restaurant I’m going to with my future in-laws for New Year’s Eve – it’s perfect for it! I think I got the best compliment yet for it too as my mum really didn’t believe I had made it- yay! That is a first – normally it’s blatantly obvious that I’m wearing a handmade from the odd thread showing to wonky hems etc etc so I’m really over the moon that this one has such a professional finish!

I really am so happy with this dress and kit thank you so much Minerva!

Until next time – happy sewing all,

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Hello I’m Gabby! When I’m not singing with my band 'Gabby Young' I’m mainly sewing, dreaming about fabrics, patterns or knitting and vlogging or blogging about it all! Come join me! Xox Gabby
6 comments
  1. It’s lovely!It really does have a vintage type feel with the lace – happy wearing 🙂

    1. Thankyou Emma! The lace looks much better in the flesh too! 🙂

  2. Wow, that is stunning. I saw that dress pattern advertised in Love Sewing magazine and immediately adored it. Slightly put off by the fact that it’s a PDF though, how many pages did you have to stick together? Cassandra

    1. Thank you Cassandra! PDFs aren’t that bad but I got this as a paper pattern so have a look out for it- I’m sure there’s a few knocking about on the net! Xox

  3. That will be so perfect for New Year’s Eve! I’m planning my second Anna for a Christmas ball, but can’t decide whether to leave it as is or do some dramatic hacking in the backless direction…

    1. Ooh I want to see dramatic back hacking!! To non sewers that might sound mighty weird!! haha! Xox

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