So….my friend Catherine put out a tester call for a dress that I NEEDED to make, despite not having time for it / planning a Disney vacation for the first time in my life / being my typical creative-brained self who is terrible at planning.  I’d purchased fabric earlier in the spring that I was desperate to turn into a dress with a waistline seam, and as soon as this pattern came into my view, I knew it needed to happen.

ALSO.  Also.  It’s named after one of my very favorite people.  Not only favorite in the sewing community, but favorite in my life.  Aaronica is a fricken boss and I’m honored to call her a friend.  If you want to learn more about the namesake of this pattern, she was my first podcast guest on I Can Make That: Aaronica Cole.  Go give it a listen AND THEN remind me that I need to get back into podcasting because it was so fun to interview all of these amazing people!!

Okay, let’s talk sewing.

The Aaronica pattern is SO. FREAKING. FUN.  Of course, it’s full of options.  Because that’s how Made for Mermaids does things.  It has multiple necklines, sleeve lengths, can be made into a bodycon dress (in mini  + midi lengths) or a gathered dress (in mini + dress lengths) AND is also available as a romper (in shorts + pants lengths).  WHEW.  My brain hurts just trying to come up with the different options I can mix-match along the way!

The options I used:

• Sleeveless.
• Gathered skirt, dress length

Adjustments made:

• Added 1″ length in the bodice pieces, to accommodate my longer side waist.

Obviously the thing we need to focus on the most for the Aaronica pattern is this freaking amazing back.  It’s a gorgeous cross-back feature with a cute little peekaboo element.  I’m saying “cute” because that’s what it is on me.  But if you see other testers….it’s hella sexy.

I just don’t pull off sexy well.  So we are sticking with cute, ha.  And also when you use blueberry fabric, “sexy” really isn’t something you’ll ever achieve.  [I digress.]

I love that this style still allows for wearing a regular bra.  I feel like I talk about bras a lot on here, but they’re important when you have a larger chest like I do.  I can’t go without one comfortably, and I really don’t like when mine show.  This crossover has a wide enough coverage to allow for any typical bra to be worn, and the sleeveless option more than accommodates for straps.  So I’m covered on all angles.

I feel terribly guilty that I’m a week behind in sharing this pattern.  But I blame Disney for everything.  It consumed my brain for months and now I’m home, post vacation, and just coming out of the haze.  Katy is back.  Kinda.  Or at least i’m trying, ha.

Patterns: Aaronica Crossback dress & Romper by Made for Mermaids
Fabric: Blueberry + Green/White Stripe from Raspberry Creek Fabrics