Finished Project: True Bias - Mini-Southport Dress

I didn't write a pattern roundup last week because the only new pattern was the mid-month StyleArc release. I think I need to re-think the weekly roundup when we're going through a slow period, like mid-summer.

Anyway...I finished this dress about a month ago, but I was just finally able to get pictures on Eva this past weekend. Sewing this dress was pretty uneventful, so this is going to be more of a "look at my cute daughter" post than anything else.

I know that people (validly) complain about the lack of sewing patterns for little boys, but to be honest, there's a lack of practical patterns for little girls as well. I'm always on the lookout for casual dress patterns for my 3-year-old. While I haven't jumped on the Southport bandwagon myself (being somewhat concerned about the gaping armholes that I've been seeing in just about everyone larger than a B-cup), I really like the style of the dress and thought that it could make a good casual dress for Eva. I snapped this one up when it was first released and on sale for $6.

True Bias - Mini-Southport dress

It's an awfully cute everyday dress for a little girl, isn't it?

Eva loves it and asks to wear it every wash cycle. Her only complaint is the lack of pockets, but that will be easy enough to remedy in future versions.

True Bias - Mini-Southport line drawing

Fabric and Notions Used

 

I used a cotton poplin from Liesl Gibson's old Lisette fabric line that she used to have with JoAnn's. This fabric has been in my stash for a while; I bought it either when I was still pregnant with Eva (but knew I was having a girl) or possibly when she was a newborn. I used a coordinating fabric from the same line for the waistband and bias tape facing on the arm and neck openings.

The buttons are generic white buttons purchased from JoAnns'.

mini-Southport: Detail shot

 

Pattern Sizing and Alterations

 

This pattern is available in True Bias' girls' sizes 2T-10, which maps to heights of 33"-57" (84-145cm).

Eva's current height of 36" puts her at the bottom of the range for a 3T, which is what I sewed for her. The final dress is a little roomy on her, but not sloppily so, and she'll be able to wear it for a while.

Pattern PDF Assembly, Drafting, and Instructions

 

The PDF went together very smoothly. I didn't have any issues with lines not lining up or figuring out what pages went where.

The instructions were very nicely detailed, I thought. I've seen that a fair number of people online have had trouble with figuring out the Colette Aster's self-faced button band. I believe that the mini-Southport uses the same technique, but the instructions for the mini-Southport were very clear, I thought.

The only issue that I had with this pattern is that I felt that the recommended 1/2" single fold bias tape created a lot of bulk in the shoulder area. On a small size like a 3T, the armholes are pretty small and tight curves. I think that for my next version of this, I'll experiment with either flipping one set of facings to the outside (armhole or neck) or drop down to a 1/4" bias tape and trim the seam allowances accordingly. (Note that I made my own bias tape for this dress.)

mini-Southport - Back view

Final Thoughts

It's a cute dress, was an easy sew, and Eva likes it. It's a nice little pattern, and it goes together well. If I do any more unselfish sewing this summer, it will likely be another version or two of this dress.