Say a big 'hello' to Melissa - the new addition to the Muse collection!
Melissa is a wonderfully versatile pattern - make it as a dress, as a blouse, or as a skirt! The Melissa dress is a sleek shirt dress, ending just above the knee. The blouse ends just above the hip. The skirt sits at the natural waist.
Double princess seams at front and back, originating at the shoulder and extending to the hem, bring a touch of 1940’s elegance. V-shaped pocket openings on the bodice and skirt, a V-shaped inset between the shoulder blades, and short sleeves with cuffs that rise into a gentle point all add to the subtle 1940’s influence. Slim pockets on the skirt are the right depth for a mobile phone or pens.
We're pretty excited to include a new option with this pattern - Melissa has bodice pieces for both B-cup and D-cup bust sizes. Along with the double princess seams, this helps make it easy to adjust the fit and get it just right for you. (Unsure which cup size you are? In sewing patterns cup sizes refer to the difference between your high bust and full bust measurements. A full bust that's 2" bigger than your high bust means you're a B-cup. A 4" difference in measurements means you're a D-cup.)
With the pocket edgings, back inset and cuffs, you can make Melissa all in one fabric, or play with contrasts. The dress looks fantastic made up in fabrics such as sateen, linen, and chambray. The blouse also works well in lighter weights such as silk/cotton blends, voile and lawn. Or go a little bit heavier for the skirt with a lightweight denim a linen/cotton canvas.
(Want to know what we used? The dress is made in linen, with cotton as a contrast. The blouse is a cotton voile, with lightweight cotton drill contrasts. And the skirt is a lightweight denim.)
The Melissa pattern is inspired by, and named after, another amazing women. A girl who likes clean lines, collars, dresses and blouses. She's a fun mix of sporty (mountain biking adventures anyone?), creative (she designed the Muse logo!), geeky (both computers and sewing - I know no other women who own as many computer monitors or sewing machines), and a heck of a lot of fun to hang around. Just the sort of person to inspire a pattern that can take you from the office to high tea, through to a picnic on the top of a hill.
In honor of the Muse who inspired the pattern, for the first week Melissa is on sale (until 27 March 2015) 100% of the sale price from the pattern (less bank fees) will be donated to a charity of her choice - the Life Flight air rescue and air ambulance services.
And just for you, you can get 15% off the Melissa pattern between now and 27 March - use the code 'MELISSA' at check-out.
Kat as ever you are totally brilliant. Love you so much for producing this item. Is it named for that lovely lady who returned to the USA?
This dress is a life saver – no other way to put it. I have a brown linen one plainer than this beauty, which I bought when living in Wgton, it has been worn and washed so often, that I have been darning and patching it, lots or peachy orange flowers on the plain fabric now, for quite a while, (like three summers!) I had to admit at the end of last summer that I needed to make /buy /acquire something similar and soon. To that end I have just purchased three metres of a beautiful linen teal? or is it kingfisher blue, which will be perfect for this.
Thank you so much you amazing woman. I cannot wait to start cutting, when I have my hands back working ( next week hopefully).
You have made my day thank you so much!
Lordy Lord, I love this pattern! Purchasing now.
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