jorna dress

My friend Jenna had the 2013 goal to learn to sew knits, and being the opposite of a slacker, she made herself this and this. Then, she decided to draft her own pattern for a garment that would be easy, flattering, and comfortable. Or as she said, “I’m creating a pattern called the Jorna. It’s a dress or a jumper or a top. Want to test it?”

Heck yes, I’ll test it! Oh, wait this is a knit? Hmm… knits and I, well, we don’t hang around and sew very much. Sewing this Jorna dress was first time I sewed with a knit by machine since I made a very frustrating dress for my daughter back on 2006. But, the Jorna was not at all problematic. I bought myself a ball-tipped needle, sat down at my not fancy sewing machine using a regular old straight stitch, and I was fine. The Jorna only has four pattern pieces – a front, a back, and facings – so the sewing was straightforward.

The result is this dress, which I really like. The neckline is high enough that I don’t worry about gaping, the arm and necklines fit smoothly, and the skirt is all swishy jersey, which makes me feel quite dancy. With this long dress length, I felt like a needed a belt, but if I make the shorter, above-the-knee, jumper version, I wouldn’t wear a belt. And I will make one. This will be the summer of the handmade jersey dress.

Jenna has the pattern live now. My biggest feedback was that the top could have been a little more fitted in the front, and I know she’s adjusted for that. If you make it, I do recommend twirling like a five-year-old. It’s fun and the blur is quite slimming.

Good Jorna to all, and may your summer be full of comfortable dresses!