Have I mentioned lately how much I love the California Dress & Peplum pattern? Cause I still do! I got this beautiful tie-dye print brushed cotton spandex this week and it was begging to become a maxi dress … and when fabric “speaks,” it’s hard not to listen!
This time, I made the floor-sweeping maxi length and the only modification I made to the pattern was to color block the bodice rather than cutting it as one piece with the skirt portion. I folded my pattern back right at the marked waistline and cut the bodice and skirt separately, adding seam allowance to all four pieces along the waistline.
I sewed the side seams of the skirt and the bodice separately before sewing them to each other at the waistline with WRONG sides together. Then I flipped them right sides together to sew the waistline casing as the pattern directs, thus also effectively hiding the seam allowance inside the elastic casing!
I love that the California Dress is reversible from front to back! The way the bodice is drafted, you can use either bodice option for the front or back. You can also use the same bodice for both if you want the front and back to match! I often use two scoop necklines because it’s a bit more bra-strap friendly. This time, though, I wanted to switch it up (and, as you can see, my bra straps are still hidden).
Other than color blocking, the rest of the dress was sewn as per the pattern instructions, except that I left a little of the binding peeking out on the right side when I sewed it on the scoop neckline. I did that purposely for a fun, decorative element. I can’t wait to enjoy the rest of summer in my breezy California maxi!
Happy Sewing!! ~ Joelle
Leave a Reply