I have several Adrienne blouses in my wardrobe – it’s a classic pattern. You can find my previous post on the blouse here. Three pattern pieces makes it a very simple make but such an effective one with the billowy sleeves.
As much as I love the pattern, I find that I do not reach for the blouses too often; my instinct is to put on a dress rather than wear separates (saying that, I’ve been much better at wearing separates since I started sewing my own clothes. So the answer? Hack it.
I bought the fabric (a viscose jersey because you want drape for this pattern) from Jenny Stitches Fabrics, my go to for floral prints.
I decided to add a gathered skirt to the top to make it much more wearable. Truth is, it is the most basic of hacks that you can do to make any top a dress! I basically marked the point I wanted the top to end on my body by using an Adrienne top from my wardrobe, drew a new pattern piece based off the original and added a 5/8″ seam allowance.
I also measured out where I wanted the skirt to end on me and cut two full widths of the fabric (60′). I love lots of gathers but that’s a personal preference.
I added pockets, sewed the seams together and then attached the skirt to the bodice.
TIP: Once I sewed the the skirt to the bodice I sewed elastic into the seam because it will help to stop the waist from stretching out of shape with wear and give it a little more support (remember I used a made a lot of gathers).
I’m pretty sure, going forward, this is the only way I’ll use this pattern.
Et voilà!
