Oceanside Dress From Itch To Stitch: Easy Style For Every Day!

I've been making lots of dresses this spring and challenging myself to wear them. So far, I have been semi-successful. I'm finding it really tough to get dressed every day knowing I'm going to spend it sitting in front of a computer working at home. I'm really not sure how the Housewives of Bygone Days dressed up every day to clean the toilet and wash dishes. It seems like so much effort when I can hang out in my comfy jammies and use that primp time for sewing instead.

Naturally, my solution is to make some secret pajama dresses for those days when you just want to put your hair in a clip and look cute. Oceanside Dress from Itch-To-Stitch Designs is new today and definitely fits that Easy Style requirement.

Pattern Details

Oceanside is a knit dress with short, raglan sleeves, a fitted waist and a flirty half circle skirt. It's an incredibly comfortable and versatile style that looks great with everything from sneakers to tights & boots!

-Banded raglan sleeves

-Wide band scoop neck
-Contrast V neck insert detail
-Fitted waistband
-Easy to lengthen or shorten skirt

There are no fasteners needed (just a little clear elastic). You can use all sorts of jersey fabric and the color blocking options are endless! Check out all the other tester options HERE to get your creative juices flowing.

What About The Fit?

After measuring myself and checking the fit chart, I found myself to be an 8 hip, a 10 waist and smack between 8 & 10 bust. I didn't have enough "muslin" fabric to test the fit first, but knits are supposed to be pretty forgiving. So, I made an executive decision and cut a straight size 8 from my lovely heather grey cotton/rayon blend interlock. Here's what it looked like with no alterations.

Truth be told: I was feeling pretty frumpy. I checked in to the Pattern Test Group only to find that Kennis, the woman that is Itch-To-Stitch Designs, was already all over a solution: clear elastic at the waist to support the weight of the fabric. 

Back to the sewing machine and look at what a difference inserting clear elastic makes!

Once I had my waist sitting securely in the right place, the one and only change I needed to make was very clear: cut a bunch of length off of that skirt! 

Just How Short Is Too Short?

For this grey version, I got a little scissor-happy and cut it really short. I've been assured by the testers, my non-sewing friends, the husband and even my 12yr old boy that it's great. It is, however, outside my comfort zone. I suppose that's a good thing as I am trying to push my personal boundaries with fashion this season.

Including the hem, I lost 5 7/8 inches from this dress!

It's a little scary when the wind blows....

I settled on trimming the pattern pieces a more modest 4 inches shorter for future versions. I also left the center back of the skirt a tad longer, trimming only 3 inches there, gently tapering up to 4 inches at the side seams. Whether or not I really need that extra back coverage depends on the style, but it makes me feel better, and it's too subtle to tell I have a hi-lo hem thing happening. 

Final Pictures

I've got some final pictures to share for two dress versions! On my second, which is made with a poly knit and matte jersey accents, I used the longer hem length and opted to skip the front V detail. 

You can go with tights and boots if it's chilly where you are.

 

But ballet flats and sandals are perfect too!

My favorite is with sneakers for a sporty feel.

Wrex kept trying to crawl into my lap.

 The more I wear it, the more comfortable I am with the short length.

 What's Your Oceanside Going To Look Like?

This dress looks lovely on all the testers from size 0 to 20. You don't have to have a super short skirt if that makes you uncomfortable. Yours can brush your knee or even strike a midi length if that's what feels good to you. Whether you spend your summer as an air conditioned couch-lounger like me, flitting around from BB-Q to bonfire party or prefer to bum around at the beach, Oceanside Dress is a cute dress that is easy to wear. 

OMG, a Discount AND a Sale?

You can grab your copy through July 3, 2017 with a 20% discount HERE. 

But.... There's a coupon code for additional discount in the Itch to Stitch Designs group for the first 24 hours*!

*Additional discount coupon code only available in the Itch to Stitch Designs Facebook Group, and valid through June 28, 2017, 8am Mountain Time.