By now, pretty much the whole entire blogosphere has made the By Hand London Anna Dress. So yes, I am late to the party (or with this fabric should I be saying I’m late to the luau?), but I am still at the party! Woot!
I sewed along with the sewalong, but faltered at the last curve being late, late, late with photos.
Now she’s not a hard make, but if you’re not feeling confident, the sewalong had great tips and pics, making her even easier to sew up.
I made the maxi dress version with the boat neck, but got a little crazy and added a second split to the skirt. However craziness was dialled down when I reduced the height of the split – no-one needs to see that shiz.
I traced the pattern onto Swedish tracing paper in a 14 – it was way too big and I ended taking off about 6-7 cms off the side seams at the end. Make a toile people – it will save the unpicking!! And while I’m handing out hot tips – if you’re a tracer, GET AMONGST the Swedish tracing paper, it’s so much easier to work with than any other kind of paper.
I cut about 5cm off the hem, and my current hems are still huge! 8-10cms I reckon. I love that these BHL ladies design for us taller style people, this is the only pattern brand where I’ve ever had to shorten!
I overlocked most seams to finish them off, and hand blind stitched the splits and the skirt hem.
This lovely lady is made a tropical rayon from Spotlight that I nearly wet myself when I found amongst the fabric rolls because it was exactly what I was looking for for Anna – and I got the last 5 metres of it – HAH!
If you’re gonna get all technical like, the fit is probably not perfecto. For example, the waist seam is hitting me too high, but c’est la vie, I’ll fix it next time. On the other hand, my invisible zip insertion is divine – even if I do so say myself. What’s even more interesting is that I can’t remember the last time I actually hung out with an invisible zip. Needless to say, I was happy.
I can’t wait for some more Anna appropriate weather. However, I did wear her last week with boots and jacket, and I think she worked those boots 😉
Come at me – what are you working on right now?
Z xx
ZoSews 
I’ve got some Spotlight rayon – it’s navy with the bright florals… love it – can’t bear to cut it… yet…
Love your Anna – such an addictive pattern isn’t it? I’m running out to the postbox every morning waiting for Georgia to arrive! I think she’s going to be just as fab!
Why doesn’t Spotlight buy more rayon… it’s so hard to find in Australia! Best fabric ever for our climate.
I know! Lets start a rayon movement for Oz. I love the florals on the darker colours but I thought the lighter background would be better in the heat. Cut that stuff – I wanna see what you make!! 🙂
I’m rather tempted to have a go at Colette Oolong…. Colette scares me though, the fitting is so difficult….
You can do it!!
Fab make. You hit the jackpot with that fabric. This looks great. I’ve got the pattern but haven’t made it up. I’m a shorty so I’d better watch that hemline!
Thank you! Yep, you’ll be cutting metres off then! 😉
Love your Anna! But you haven’t convinced me to join the bandwagon. What am I not working on?! Little black jacket, Suzy pants, linen dresses and a swag load of Xmas gifts.
Busy lady!!
LOVE this madam! You look smoking in it! I think I might give this a go myself!
Thanks Ms Bobbin – do it, it’ll be hawwwt 😉
This is amazing! So summer time fun. The double split is a bit of treat.
I did the same with my first version, way too big and had to take it in at the sides, I still wear it heaps and I think it makes it a little forgiving for the old big lunch. Lovely make!
Thank you! Hehe, I considered not bringing it in because it would be nice and loose for summer, but then I revisited versions like Roisin’s, and the tight fit is what I love, so I couldn’t resist!
Your Anna is gorgeous! I just made my first one too 🙂 I made the midi length but I have a v-neck maxi up next. Such a great pattern!
Ohhh nice! You’ve got a factory line of Anna’a happening there 🙂
You look so fun in this! It’s a great dress. I’m waiting anxiously for my Anna pattern – I think it must have gotten lost in the mail at this point. So, I wish I were making an Anna, but instead I’m muddling through pants. Great dress!
Oh noes! Hunt down that postman to get your Anna stat 🙂 Good luck with the pants too 😉
Your Anna is fabulous! I LOVE the fabric, it’s so bright and cheery. It’s a pretty great pattern, I’ve already made two!
Thank Lynne!! You’re an Anna addict!!
This is GORGEOUS! I love love love the fabric– it’s so summery! Absolutely lovely! The fit looks great to me!
Thanks lady!!
Love the dress – so bright and summer-y! Looks great on you!
Thanks muchly – just need the summery weather now 😉
Ooooooo, ahhhhhhh.
Beautiful!! Go you with the double slit, reowwww!
Great fabric too, Spotty has some fab find. I snatched up 4m of floral cotton lawn a couple of weeks ago, 60% off!! Was so awesome.
I’m waiting for Xmas to come round, I think I’m getting Anna for pressie. In the meantime, I’m getting my maxi fix buy lengthening all my skirts to floor length!
Oh yeah, I needed a double split, cos everyone wants to check out these pins lol, did I say pins, I meant trunks hahaha. Spotlight has totally picked up its game right! 60% off ‘ey… may have to wander in again 😉 Your maxis are are looking totally rad btw!!
Very pretty, bright and fun fabric! Definitely a perfect choice for an Anna dress. I have 3 v-neck maxi Anna’s so far… And I am looking at using a turquiose tropical print for another one next Spring… 2 slits! Nice idea! ~Laurie
Another Anna addict hey?! Turquoise tropical would be GREAT!!
Such a great splash of color! looking great. Perfect for summer! I am now longing for summer too!
Woah. That is gorgeous! Come the northern hemisphere summer I’ll have to remember how awesome a tropical Anna is!
Beautiful!! Looks like the perfect salsa dancing vacation dress.
This tropical Anna is lovely!! The most fun Anna I’ve seen yet!
Very pretty dress! Impressive that you made it.
Gorgeous 🙂
Absolutely fab dress! You’re so ready for summer now and I’m so jealous! I love the colour combo in that rayon. Is is easy to get Swedish tracing paper in Oz? I’m in Germany, right next to Sweden and I can’t find it here? What’s going on?
Christine
Hi Christine (sorry my super late reply!!!!) – I ordered the paper online, it was from the first Aussie supplier I’d seen actually. You should totally be able to get some easily – being right next door to Sweden and all!!
Oh, that tropical print is so perfect for the Anna. I wonder if Spotlight in NZ carries the same fabrics as the Aussie ones? I saw some pretty awesome geometric rayon prints there on Saturday but I’ll have to go on a hunt for tropical ones now
Hope you found some tropical rayon! I’m on a fabric shopping embargo at the moment 😦
Ooooh, so pretty and in Rayon! I adore (x100) rayon and I’ve seen the exact fabric you used at Spotlight in NZ before. I’ve bought some of the plain coloured rayon but I wish it was sold more in Aus/NZ as it’s my favourite fabric.
I ❤ rayon too! It's divine. Totally agree that there should be more it around (attention local fabric buyers 😉 )