Wednesday 9 January 2013

Raglan Sleeved Knit Dress


Top of my sewing plans for 2013 was to sew more knit dresses to wear during the colder months here in the UK. The reason was partly to keep my Peony-esque dress company and partly to prevent it from falling apart from overuse. I have two Maria Denmark knit dress patterns that were perfect candidates, and as I'd never used her patterns before, I went with the more simple of the two - the 2007 Kjole raglan sleeved dress.  

Onion is the name of the company but I'm not sure what a Snitmonster is, any ideas? 

I made the basic, long-armed version, without the bias panel at the bottom and it was pretty simple to put together: front piece, back piece, sleeves, neck binding. It was my first time sewing raglan sleeves but they were easy once I'd figured out how they fitted to the front and back pieces.The actual dress could hardly have taken more than half an hour to sew up. Add another half hour for adding the neckline binding and hemming and you have a dress in an hour. Hoorah, exactly what I was after.

You can see the raglan sleeves and bust darts in this photo

I used a £3.50 a metre turquoise sweater knit fabric from the Goldhawk Road that actually looks like it's knitted. I got carried away and bought 3m but barely used half of it to make this dress. I'm quite tempted to make a knit top with the rest and pretend I knitted it… The fabric is almost certainly a polyester blend (I've heard some suspicious crackling going on) so I'm not expecting it to keep its shape and look good for years, but if it lasts this year I'll be happy as I intend to get some serious wear out of it.   


I made a size 40, which is a size larger than I'd choose in a woven fabric, but I was worried about unsightly bulges showing through as the dress is a straight up and down style. It was a bit too big though, and not very flattering. After mulling the problem over for a whole minute, I simply sliced off about 1cm from each side and arm seam. The difference was dramatic, the dress was now fitted and about a trillion times more flattering. The moral of the story: sew the size that corresponds with your measurements instead of trying to be clever.


If you're looking for a simple pattern that's specifically drafted for knit fabrics, then this may well be it. The pattern that arrived in the post is in Danish, but an English translation of the instructions was emailed to me as soon as I'd purchased the pattern.  And the finished dress is SSSOOO cosy, it makes me want to make a cushion nest on the sofa and eat crumpets. Which is exactly what I'm going to do. Happy Wednesday everybody. x

70 comments:

  1. I don't know what a snitmonster is but I think I will use that word anyway. Jane, this looks great - and I LOVE the way you have paired it with red tights, you look awesome! x

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    1. Thanks Roisin! Yes, I'm going to start using the word Snitmonster too! x

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  2. The colour is gorgeous, I think I need some one hour dresses too

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  3. Gorgeous! I love this shade of blue with the red tights, the whole outfit looks very cool indeed! I'm definitely tempted by this pattern now!

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  4. I love this Jane! Since seeing your peony style dress I have been pondering how to get a knit dress that is not a wrap dress into my wardrobe. This looks perfect, simple but shapely! fantastic colour too.

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  5. I LOVE THIS DRESS! It looks so cozy and cuddly but still chic and sophisticated, what a blinder. I am super jealous of your cushion nest and crumpet activities, I love crumpets. x

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    1. A blinder indeed, thanks Alice! And yes, I LOVE crumpets, I could eat a packet in one go if I was allowed! x

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  6. That's just what I need: an easy pattern to get into sewing dresses :D Thanks for the inspiration!
    Snitmonster means sewing pattern or "cut pattern" if you translate it literally. No, I don't speak Danish but Google does :P And it's close to the German word "Schnittmuster". Great word in any case!

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  7. Ooh lovely - perfect mix of style and comfort! I think I was introduced to this pattern when you mentioned Maria's pattern in a blog post before, and it's very similar to a Jigsaw dress one of my work colleagues wears that I really want to make a version of...might have to take the plunge and buy it. OR is there any chance you might lend the pattern to me when you've finished with it? I can see you making a few more of these!

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    1. Of course you can! For once I traced the pattern rather than totally butchering it so it's all set to copy. Email me your address and I'll get it off to you.
      x

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  8. I normally don't like raglan sleeves but with those small darts this sews up as one gorgeous dress. You look wonderful in it. Bravo.

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    1. I'm not much of a fan either but they seem to work with this dress. Thanks for your lovely comments, from another Jane M! x

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  9. Well, if that is a snitmonster- it is something to aspire to! Love it!

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  10. Snitmonster is Danish for average monster (according to the untrustworthy Google translator). Nothing average or monsterous about this fabulous dress!

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  11. You look lovely! It must be comfy too, even better! I do like turquoise with red. It just looks so zingy-cool.

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  12. I speak Swedish (not danish, but pretty close) and snitmonster simply means pattern! Anyways, you look really fab in the dress, the color suits you!

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  13. Oh my gosh. This is just a.maz.ing! I love that this pattern has bust darts. I may have to make this...and, as always, your styling is spot on! Where do you buy your tights from?

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    1. And...this would look super cute shortened to make a tee or tunic. The neckline is just so lovely!

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    2. Thanks Evie! Most of my tights are from Marks & Spencer or H & M. Marks don't tend to do very bright colours but have fab patterned tights, the red ones are from H & M and have lasted ages. I've also got nice coloured tights form Primark but the fit and quality are rubbish so wouldn't recommend. x
      And I agree, the pattern would look great shortened to a T-shirt. x

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    3. Must try H&M. I love Marks tights because they last and don't go all saggy, but they really could do something with the colours. I avoid Primark like the plague. It just makes me grumpy.

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  14. It is adorable and you've styled it beautifully! I love your colors, Jane.

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  15. Beautiful dress- I love the colour! Raglan sleeves are my favourite style to sew for my daughter because of how quick they are to put together. I can run her up a tshirt in half an hour. I have an early 60s raglan sleeved pattern that I intend to make up for myself at some point too.

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  16. Thanks Jane, it looks great. I wish I could finish things so quickly!

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  17. Hi Jane, the dress is a fantastic fit,i love the colour too, you look great. i have bought fabric in Goldhawk Road, and will be visiting again in the next couple of months, i only saw black, grey and brown knits last time must look for other colours. I bought the Sew me Knit (i think that is the name i am not sure) book for a chrismast present for myself and am intending to make more dresses including knit ones in 2013.

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  18. You look mahvelous, dahling!

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  19. That looks SO comfy! I hope it washes well, because it looks like the sort of thing that will be moving from body to washing machine and back to body again without much of a break in between!

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    1. I hope it washes well too, it seemed to be OK after its pre-wash anyway. I plan on doing the whole body/washing machine/body scenario until it falls apart! x

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  20. lovely - what a great colour! i really like the kimono tee pattern so might need to get this one too - looks really versatile.

    random qu - do you know if the goldhawk rd shops are open on a sunday?

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    1. Yes, I might try the kimono tee pattern too. I don't think the Goldhawk Road shops open on a Sunday I'm afraid. sorry! x

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    2. Thanks jane - I thought that might be the case! An afternoon off work for fabric shopping jt is then!

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  21. Oooh, so lovely - like a big cozy snuggly TURQUOISE sweater. Turquoise looks so so good on you, btw (have I said this before? If I did - it bears repeating anyway haha!) - and I love the red tights with this.

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    1. You can say it as many times as you like! Thank you! x

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  22. Awesome dress, and in just an hour? A total win, I'd say. I'm always a bit scared of knit dresses because I fear they will show every little bump but between your dress and some other lovely ones I've seen lately I'm inspired to try one. Worse comes to worse I could always wear a slip, right?

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  23. What a lovely dress, and I love how you've accessorized it!

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  24. What a lovely cozy dress, and i love that you paired it with the red tights! It looks great on you.

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  25. Great color!! So cool with the red tights.

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  26. This type of dress is perfect for winter accessorizing! I bet it looks great with all sorts of combinations of boots, scarves, cowls, jackets, etc... I really like that you used such a bright cheerful color. It's going to transition well between the cool weather seasons. Well done! :-D

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  27. I love the colour; it looks very good on you. I like the idea of a dress that's so easy to make up and looks really good.

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  28. I actually did a little snort when I read snitmonster. Hahahahaha! I love the color and fit of the dress; it looks so cozy, and fits so well! And, those red tights! Perfection!

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  29. Wow - I love this! I bought an e-pattern from the designer (on Craftsy, I think). But I might have to get this...

    BTW, did the bra arrive and what's it like??

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    1. Yes, it arrived today and it was disappointing, I'm sending it back. I'll email you my review! x

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    2. Oh, thank you. I can't wait to hear about it.

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  30. I love these knit dresses of yours... they look so cosy, but also so cute! I'm gonna be making the Tiramisu soon - the lure of cosy knit dresses is intoxicating isn't it? ^__^

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  31. That is adorable on you! I wouldn't have given the image on the envelope much of a second glance, but seeing it on you makes all the difference. Love the color, too!

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  32. Looks great Jane. I'm with you knit dresses are perfect for UK winter. Comfortable and easy to layer

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  33. This is snitmonster-tastic! What a fab fast make and the colour is rad on you (especially with the red tights) I love MariaDenmark's stuff :)

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  34. wow - gorgeous dress Jane! you carry bright colours so well. love this style of dress, and it really suits you too. hmmm.... i need to sort out my knit-fear. Did you sew it up using the serger, or did you use the regular sewing machine?

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    1. Thanks Shivani, I sewed most of it on the overlocker and sewed the hems and neckline with a double needle. x

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  35. I love the colours you use and put together! The tights and the blue dress are just lovely.
    And as for snitmonster? No idea - although it does sound like one of my daughters when she is tired and cranky...

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  36. Such a very simple, but great looking dress. I think the fit looks just right.

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  37. What an awesome dress; it looks fab, and cosy too!

    Do you use any sort of seam finishing on knits? I don't have an overlocker, and overcasting with a zig-zag stitch always looks messy. The internet tells me I don't have to finish the raw edges because knits don't unravel, but having just tried my first French and flat-felled seams, I love how neat and professional properly finished seams look!

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    1. Hi, I used my overlocker to make this dress so the seams are already finished. I've left the seams unfinished on other garments made with double knit before and they've been absolutely fine. French or flat felled seams would look really neat though! I'm naturally lazy so would never use them on knits if I knew the seams weren't going to unravel! x

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  38. This is a gorgeous look!! I LOVE the red and turquoise together. I'd never have chosen that, but you always make it look sooooo good!

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  39. Lovely dress! Snitmønster is the Danish word for sewing pattern and directly translated is means Slash/cut/type(as in a certain characteristic) ('snit' - which can be translated in many ways) pattern ('mønster').

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    1. Thanks so much for the translation, now I know what a Snitmonster Is! x

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  40. That's brilliant! Simple but still elegant and very you with the brooch and tights.

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  41. Adorable dress Jane and as well as comfy, stylish and blimmin quick to sew, I'd also say it is such a fun dress in that colour! I want one now...............x

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    1. You could make one in your sleep Winnie! you should make one, you totally rock the knit dress look! x

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  42. Your dress is lovely, the fit is great, and I love the colour. :)

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  43. Looks lovely, great colour. I've just made a knit skirt- might need to move on to a dress! Where did you buy the patterns? Hoping for a UK stockist!

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  44. Beautiful dress! The brooch is the perfect touch to finish off the look :)

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  45. You look a million dollars Jane and thanks for the link, I had never heard of that comp before. Happy New Year xox

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  46. Only you can rock a knit dress like that! You look amazing Jane. My favourite colour combo with those tights too. Cushion nests and crumpets... now you're talking! x

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  47. Love it! One of my favourite colours too :) the raglan sleeve is not my favourite sleeve type - but I'm really liking this. I'm a sucker for an unusual bust dart placement!

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  48. This is Outrageously Cute, looks awesome on you !

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  49. Love you dress and thanks for the link to Maria Denmark. Just downloaded the perfect draped neck shell top pattern. You look great in that colour too!

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  50. Love the design and colour choice! I've not heard of Onion patterns before, but being scandinavisk, mønster would relate to pattern. Snit, I imagine, would be sewing or stitching.

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