Simplicity 8621 Dress Pattern Review

When looking for inspiration to showcase my latest fabric collection for Lewis and Irene, I knew I wanted an elegant yet simplistic pattern design. I was immediately drawn to the dress in the Simplicity 8621 pattern and its clean, classic look which exudes a timeless charm. Being such a simple pattern, we were excited to put our own creative spin on this versatile design which we did by using two fabrics in the skirt, rather than just one to create a subtle yet different look.

This pattern comes with several variations, including a dress, a vest top, knitted camisole and trousers. We chose to make the dress, (variation B) in an age 8 using fabrics from my quilting cotton collection 'The Water Gardens.' For the bodice we used 'Serenity' in 'Forest Green' and for the skirt we used 'Wild Harmony' in 'Cream' and 'Pale Truffle.'

We found that the Simplicity 8621 pattern provided clear and concise step-by-step instructions that were easy to follow. One of the aspects we particularly enjoyed when working with this pattern was the ability to add personal touches. As well as selecting and playing around with the perfect fabric combination, it wouldn't be too difficult to customise the length of the skirt or adjust the size of the straps if you wished to customise it further.

Often when choosing a dress or garment to make, we look for dresses which can be dressed up or down. This dress while has a summer feel to it with its thin straps and shorter length, it could easily be teamed with a pair of tights and cardigan for a party look or for colder weather, you could add a long sleeved top underneath and leggings.

We were really pleased with the final outcome of the dress. We found the sizing to be very accurate for an 8 year old. The true test though was whether my daughter liked it and it has passed with flying colours, she absolutely loves it. I think there may be a few more variations on the way in the future and we can't wait to share them with you.