The Woolfork Dress came out at a perfect time for me, right about when I was starting to dive into creating my own wardrobe! As I’ve gained weight during the pandemic, I thought this was the perfect time for me to dive into sewing my own clothes. There was no desire to spend a ton of money when I was only going into an office about once a week. I had the dream to create my own fully handmade wardrobe. Plus with the way commercial clothes were fitting me or not suiting my style any longer, this was the perfect excuse to dust off my sewing machine.
Woolfork was the perfect piece from the Embody book to base a capsule wardrobe around. The book in itself is a capsule wardrobe. But, I knew I had a few other pieces that I had already knitted or was close starting that I wanted to incorporate into this collection. Now, to be super real here, I planned this collection in August or September of 2021, I’m writing this a year later and there are still pieces shown that have not been started. Looking at this plan now, I will probably omit the Boothbay sweater from this plan. Although it’s been in my queue for a long time, it doesn’t feel necessary for this collection to be “complete”. Here’s a quick image of what this collection plan was!
Although, it doesn’t seem like this homemade dress made a lot of appearances in the collection, it’s become my most-worn item. Let’s get into the details!
The Pattern
Woolfork by Jacqui Cieslak from her Embody book. This is available as a physical copy that also comes with an ebook, or just an ebook. As quick tip: I got the digital version of the book printed and bound for easy use while sewing. The pattern isn’t exclusively a dress either. You can also choose to make this pattern as a tunic or crop top, with or without sleeves. The dress itself has an option for pockets and a waist tie, but I didn’t have enough fabric for either.
This pattern is so versatile and I know I’ll come back to it time and time again.
Pattern Review
This is an amazing and well written pattern with beautiful and elevated finishing techniques (if you follow the pattern). The french seams are an absolutely beautiful touch, and I’m so glad I figured them out. She does give you the option to use your preferred seam finishing technique, but I’m so glad I followed the pattern and figured them out after my little brain-blip.
Adjustments
I didn’t do french seams along the front bodice because I got confused. This was my first encounter with this kind of technique and just didn’t follow the pattern correctly on it. I almost did it again on the backside or on one of the side seams but I caught myself before I took the fabric to the machine! So we’re disguising this mess up as an “adjustment.”
Also, I shortened the dress a few inches, so that the highest part of the bottom seams wound up just below my knee. I was worried that the longer sides would be dragging along the ground if I left it longer, but if/when I make this dress again I’ll take less off the bottom! It’s probably needed regardless since I’m only 5’2″, but I’d probably give myself a little more leeway or make the curve of the hem less drastic.
Fabric
I used the Sahara Linen in Rust from Ewefibers.com.
Care has been easy! I allow the dress to get wrinkled and beat up because it’s linen, and it’s really going to end up that way anyways! Unless the fabric is extremely wrinkled in an unfortunate area I let it do its thing. I could make a million pieces in this fabric, it’s soft, breathable, light, and the color is just drop dead gorgeous. It was so easy to sew with too!
Is this dress good for beginners?
I’d say absolutely! This was only my second or third garment that I’d sewn and it’s my top worn item in my closet! It’s so easy to pair with my knits, and it has really become my summer uniform. I’ve seen someone often this summer and had to start changing it up because every single time I ran into them I was wearing this dang dress. We just needed to be sure they knew I owned other clothes!
The techniques can be hard to wrap your head around, hence my mistake on the front seam, but Jacqui has great video tutorials linked within the pattern to help you along the way.
Do you plan to make this dress (or shirt (or crop top)) anytime soon? Let me know in the comments. And until next time, keep on making friend!
