The Pirate Crew has had a rough week, to say the least.  The website went down and was under maintenance for a looooong time and our ability to release the Sunshine Dress kept being pushed back further and further.  Not intentionally, Nicole, Judy and I all had these ridiculous outtakes from our photoshoots of our own dresses…but I found it very fitting to add to our newsletter this month.  Ha!

Guess what?!  The website is back up and running and we just released our newest pattern: The Sunshine Dress!  Wahoo!!  It’s a goodie, too.  (As if Judy could ever create a bad pattern….)

The Sunshine Dress has THREE hem lengths, THREE very different bodice types and optional POCKETS!  Shut the front door!  I was literally drooling over everyone’s photos as they were rolling in during testing.  I also joked that maybe we should have named this the “Goddess Dress” because the dresses were so flattering on everyone.

I’m not 100% sure I get the goddess title.  Unless being sweaty and melting during a photoshoot counts.  Then yes!  So me!  It was the muggiest day ever.  And it downpoured on me, as I was running my camera back into the house.  We needed the rain for sure (hello hottest day in 2016!) but it wasn’t doing me any favors.

I actually sewed up every version of the Sunshine Dress, but only one counts as my “final”.  Each of the bodices features a ruching.  Which is insanely flattering and provides for forgiveness in your ::ahem:: fluffier areas.  Back fat, okay?  I’m talking about back fat.

What I’m discovering is that, while I can get away without having to do an FBA on my tees and tops…on more fitted styles (like the Siren Swim Top and this Sunshine Dress), I need to add some extra length for my bust size.  Otherwise it’s more of an empire style top, than one that hits me at my natural waist.  Trust me, having these come to my waist is way more flattering on my body type and I’m happy to make the adjustments.

The average difference between full bust and over bust for Judy’s patterns in the large size (which is what I fit into) is 4″, for a D cup.  My difference is actually a full 6″.  So I added two inches of length to the bodice…with the halter top you have to add to the lining and main pieces, front and back.  As soon as I did that, my top fell exactly where it should, the ruching turned out perfectly and it fit like a glove.

Have no fear, big busted women.  This dress is for you too!!

Do you want to talk about bras?  I feel like you’ll want to talk about bras with me now.

Yes, you can totally wear a bra with the Sunshine Dress.  Heaven help us all if I didn’t.  I know that there are probably some good halter-top style bras out there.  I just have yet to find one.  Back in my college days, I used to go out a lot.  (Sorry Mom.)  And I loved to wear halter tops.  I was working my best asset!  Who could blame me?

My favorite bras to wear with them were ones that I hacked into a halter myself.  I would take a regular bra that I knew fit and supported me well, and I would cut one of the straps off completely.  Then, I would take the other strap, cut it from the back and reattach the strap to the other side at the bust.  So it would go around my neck and I had my own halter.  They worked perfectly.  And I’m wearing a self-made one for these pictures too.  I’ve yet to find a better (and thriftier!) alternative.

Whew.  Okay, enough boob talk.
Let’s get you some links so you can go make your own fabulous dress!!

Pattern: Sunshine Dress by P4P | Fabric: Navy/Pink/Turquoise print from Girl Charlee,
Solid Navy Rayon blend from Fabric.com

**As always, you’ll find some affiliate links scattered within my post, which means I receive a small amount of compensation if you end up purchasing something I’ve recommended.  Thanks for helping to feed my sewing habits!