As we write this post, it dawns on us that we may have been extra sneaky about this little lady joining the BHL gang. Perhaps it was the superstition of jinxing things after blabbing excitedly about the Holly before she was released (and we all know how that went down)... Whatever it was, she's ready for you now and we cannot WAIT to see what you think!
A sweet and simple princess seamed A-line dress. Variations include a sleeveless option with a high bateau neckline and centre back zipper, or a fun and flirty button-down option with rouleau straps.
Variation 1
Variation 2
Light to medium weight wovens with a bit of body such as quilting cotton, cotton silk, viscose rayon, wool crepe etc will work beautifully with your Sabrina, as will stable knits like ponte or double knit.
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Victoria Elliott
Comments on this post (10)
I’ve finished my Sabrina dress in a pretty Japanese fabric… it turned out great, I’m so proud! This was my second attempt to sew a dress from a pattern and I’m more than satisfied.
I had less fabric than the pattern calls for, so I used another fabric for the facing. I made variation 1, I have a size 6/10 on top and 8/12 for the bottom part of the garment. Even though the pattern calls for 3m of fabric, I made mine (version 1) out of 2 meters of 1.15m wide fabric. And the remnants were even enough to make 7 (!!!) pouches in varying sizes.
I’m really very pleased with the result, though it does really show that you can make the garment with a lot less fabric, which I find quite surprising. (I did cut everything on grain.)
— Rose
Hi Rose,
The reason that you need to cut one pair of the centre back panels for Variation 1 is because that’s where the zip goes! If you cut the back on the fold and the front on the fold, you’ll have no way of actually getting in and out of your dress… Hope this helps!
— Elisalex - By Hand London
Hi all,
I purchased the Sabrina pattern, have my fabric waiting for me, so I’m almost ready to go and make the version 1… I was jus wondering: the centre back pattern piece tells me to cut a pair for version 1, while version 2 is cut on the fold.
Since the centre back piece is just a straight line, wouldn’t it work equally well to cut it on fold, following the fold line indicated for version 2?
Seems to me that it saves a bit of work and a bit of fabric… and it wouldn’t change the shape of the garment… Am I right?
— Rose
Hi Jessie,
We will indeed be going through the lengthening & shortening in the sewalong – but in the meantime, have a look at the lengthening/shortening tutorial we’ve just done for the Holly Jumpsuit – http://byhandlondon.com/blogs/by-hand-london/15478389-holly-jumpsuit-sewalong-alterations-week-part-1-lengthening-shortening-the-bodices – the principal is basically the same. If you’re still having trouble, shoot me an email and I’ll see if I can help further!
x
— Elisalex - By Hand London
Hi there! I just sewed up a muslin of the sabrina dress and sadly the bodice is much too long for my 162cm frame ):
Would it be possible to do a tutorial on how to alter the bodice length in the sew along? As there is no seam joining the skirt to the bodice I’m quite at a loss as to how alter the pattern to get a good fit (or to salvage my muslin for that matter)!
Thanks very much!
— Jessie
Hi Michelle, thanks so much for voicing your concerns – and you’re definitely not the first! We are very keen to cater for plus size girls in the future, but at the moment it’s simply something that we can’t take on. Designing and pattern cutting for plus size is a thing entirely on it’s own, unfortunately not just a case of adding sizes to an existing grade! But please rest assured that it is something we are working towards.
x
— Elisalex - By Hand London
I wish you would increase the size range to cater up to 50inch bust, you would pick up so many more sales as up plus girls are neglected when it comes to indie brands, but it is slowly getting better
— Michelle
What a wonderful woman! I whish all those models nowadays would have normal figures and would be allowed to smile again…
— Litha
omg! Omg! OMG!!!! I love it!! I’ts so beautiful! I have purchased the pattern already even though I’m not done with the Holly! Can’t wait to try it!
— Sophie Bach
What a brilliant dress – it is going to be an immediate best seller. Perfect for “work” teamed with a jacket or cardigan this autumn. Well done BHL!
— Clarinda