Hacked Burda Coffee Date Dress

This one is my first re-blog of an old project from a while back. I took it out to wear on a ladies lunch the other day and thought “Man, I still really like this dress… I should re-blog it.” Especially considering my photography + blogging skills have significantly increased since then, I felt this beauty had gotten buried in the stacks.

The pattern is Burdastyle’s Coffee Date Dress. I originally sewed this dress up to submit to my application for FIT (we had to show examples of our sewing work, and I probably picked it because its a free pattern). I like the simplicity of this dress and how the ruffled bodice dresses it up a bit. When I want to make it more conservative I just throw on a cardigan and it looks like I’m ready for the office!

I don’t recall making any changes to the fit. I did, however pull a serious hack on the pattern. I got a wild hair and decided to try something different with the back. I simply sketched out the open shape on the back bodice pattern piece free hand (which explains it’s odd shape), and cut 4 instead of 2 to have everything clean finished nicely. I used a shorter zipper that ends at the waist. For the upper back closure I used a button and loop in self fabric.

The only places my beginner skills really show here are in the zipper. It was my first time with an invisible zipper and the fabric near the bottom of the zip has some ripples in it. Fabric choice was another rookie move.. as I’m pretty sure this fabric is meant to be a lining, and the weave is starting to loosen at some of the stitch points. Oh well! You live and you learn (and I still got my acceptance letter so there!)

Pattern: Burdastyle Coffee Date Dress – FREE!
Fabric: Grey poly
Notions: Large button, invisible zip
Difficulty: Beginner
Adjustments: Hacked back piece to create an open back
Finishes: Serged seams, faced neck, back, and armholes
Sew it again? Probably not, I don’t really wear this style of dress anymore. One is all I need!

Happy Sewing!