It’s time for another Tried and True Patterns feature!

In order for me to consider a pattern tried and true, I need to have made it at least three times, and this month the Sew Over It Heather dress joined the list. I successfully made my third version of this comfy jersey dress.

I was wary of Heather at first glance. I was concerned that it would have a boxy, unflattering fit, but after looking at a lot of samples from others who have made it, I made my first one in the fall of last year. I chose a French terry knit with an adorable origami elephant print on it. I selected it mainly because it was on sale, but also because I liked the pattern.

After a little initial head-scratching over how to insert the pockets when I made the first version, I am now a pro at it! As long as you mark your fabric correctly, the pockets don’t have to be a challenge at all. Careful sewing is key.

For the first one, I made the dress in one fabric, but I immediately wanted to make another one so I could take advantage of the color-blocking option. For the second Heather, I used fabric from the Sew Over It fabric club, so I’m not 100% sure what kind of knit it was. However, I was able to take advantage of both sides of the fabric to create the color block effect and use the pattern on the fabric to my advantage. The stripe became the main fabric, while the backside – the solid mauve color – became the accents.

As this was a different type of knit, I found that it fit slightly differently than my first one, but not in a bad way. It was just simply a little looser than my other one (which made it perfect for wearing when I wanted to hide a little vacation eating!).

My third Heather was made this month using another double sided fabric. This time, I had the option of using the polka dots or the stripes, so naturally I used both! I chose to make the striped side the main fabric, as its cut in one giant piece and I wouldn’t have to worry about too much pattern matching. The polka dots became the accent fabric.

As I hadn’t made a version with the short sleeves yet, I opted to do that with this one, and I love the way it turned out.

Heather is a straightforward and relatively easy pattern (once you get past those pockets!), and is a great thing to try if you’re looking to advance your skills working with knits! I know there will be many more in my future, as they make for a super thing to throw on for both work and casual days!