Tate Crop and Bodycon Dress
This isn’t my first time testing for Caramiya and it’s hopefully not going to be my last!
One of the things I admire about Caramiya and her patterns is the fact that she really makes sure that there are plenty of options and variations available with her patterns. With the Evie One Piece (actually the pattern that inspired this pattern!), there are numerous styles you can pick from between the neckline and back depth, strap width, coverage, and leg points, you can mix things up endlessly!
Looking at the Tate Crop and Dress, that’s the case yet again! While you can definitely have the crop top for a quick and easy sew (also can we get a round of applause for it being fully lined?!), you can also choose a bralette option (that you need to cut as well for the lining of the dress), a longer tank, and, finally, the bodycon dress!
The Crop
Before The Dress, there was The Crop. If you’re new here and if it wasn’t obvious, two of my all-time favorite styles to wear are crop tops and bodycon dresses. Are you getting the hint that this pattern slid into my closet perfectly?
When it came to the Crop, I instantly knew which fabric I wanted to pull from my Stash! I purchased the last of this 90s/00s printed Artistic Vibrance Viscose Jersey from Lady McElroy (from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics) back in January specifically to make myself a loungewear set or two so having a crop top in this print? It was fate! I throw this crop top on regularly with my leggings while working (shout out to working from home - I love you) or with my cutest pairs of denim shorts throughout the summer but I have another pattern slated to make myself a matching set of short shorts to finally have my loungewear set! The other portion of the fabric? My sister decided to claim it and asked me to make her a matching set as well. So I have to make another Tate Crop real soon!
This is such a great basic top option (and, again, you can also work with the longer tank version if crops aren’t your style) to add to your rotation even if you’re like me and in the middle of cooler weather. Again: loungewear and cardigans and jackets for the win!
The Dress
One of my favorite dresses I’ve ever owned was a bodycon RTW sweater dress with ruching along the sides. I was devastated when I had to let go of it (seriously I wore it at least once a week in the fall and winter) and I’ve been working ever since on trying to create the perfect duplicates for my closet that I can wear year-round. The Tate Bodycon is the perfect warm-weather version!
Now obviously we’re well into the fall and winter here in the midwest but I’ve still been pulling this dress out at least once a month. I’ve been using this dress as an “around the house” dress for when I get yelled at to put on something other than my pajamas. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been wearing this dress with a chambray button up during the summer. While it’s still definitely my go-to styling look, I’ve had to get a bit more crafty with wearing with colder weather so I’ve been opting to add some tights and booties along with my denim jacket. I’m sad to say I think I’ll have to opt to only wear this around the house starting this week since temperatures have officially dropped below 50*. I think I’ll have to make a long sleeve hacked version in the next few weeks!
The Review
My only “complaint” about this dress would be the length of the shelf bra that lines this. However, since I have a larger bust measurement, I’m assuming that the shorter length is simply because I’m a larger bust. That said, if you’re looking to make this pattern and are DD and higher, I would probably recommend opting for the crop length when cutting out and then, depending on your preferences, shorten it just a touch. I also “made up” for the shorter length by adding a wider 2” soft elastic around the hem of the bra.
Since this pattern is a knit, I would definitely recommend sizing down on at least the hips of this style, especially if you’d like that more traditional. super curve-hugging silhouette that I chose here! I believe I chopped off at least 6” from my chosen size (though the higher stretch content of my rib knit fabric could definitely have had something to do with that). On the bright side, if you try it on and the hips are still a bit wide, it’s pretty easy to take in the sides some more!
The Hack
I don’t even know if I would call this a “hack” but after sewing everything up, I took 3/8” wide elastic and sewed it onto the seam allowance to create the ruching detail you see here! I think it adds a nice extra detail to the look and it mimics the RTW dress I mentioned being obsessed with!
How would you hack this pattern?
