Pattern Report: Simplicity, Cynthia Rowley 2305, two more satin party dresses

After finishing the berry colored satin party dress for my daughter, I began the second dress for my daughter. She selected an lovely, emerald green satin fabric from Hancock Fabrics and a Cynthia Rowley pattern, Simplicity 2305.

The Cynthia Rowley pattern, Simplicity 2305 does not have the elastic sleeves my daughter found objectionable in Kwik Sew 3538, but the pattern does have very sculpted and quilted sleeves that produce a puffy look at the top of the sleeve. I pointed the sleeve out to my daughter and we went online to look at finished dresses on pattern review. She thought she liked the look... I spent to hours working on the sleeeves...only to discover that she really did not like the look of the quilted sleeve. Again, the puffiness was a problem...are you seeing a theme?

The pattern envelope has a photo of a girl wearing a skirt that is version D of this pattern and a top that is not included in the pattern options but looks a lot like the bodice before adding the quilted sleeves. I showed the envelop to my daughter and suggested we remove the quilted sleeves. Since she is petite, the sleeves were longer than the photo, almost to her elbows and gave the dress a nice look that would not leave her cold in a party during a fall evening. Dress saved.

My daughter paired the dress with the same black leather belt she used for the berry colored dress so I decided that the waist band was unnecessary work and if I made the dress again I would sew it an one piece rather than the separate skirt and bodice per the pattern.

Simplicity 2305, front vi

The third dress my daughter asked me to make was a fabulous black and white polka dot chiffon that she wanted me to make using Vogue DKNY pattern 1160. After reading the PR reviews, it was clear that the sleeves on 1160 are difficult to make...but more important, had the same unusual design my daughter was finding objectionable in earlier dresses. After examining the photo of the DKNY dress, I decided to use my adapted Cynthia Rowley 2305 pattern to make the polka dot chiffon dress. I omitted the quilted sleeve and combined the bodice and skirt in one cut. The dress was quick to sew and once belted had the look my daughter wanted without the fuss of persuading a teenager to stop for fittings.

Here's the review:

Pattern Description:

Pattern Sizing:
I made a size 6 for my petite daughter, but needed to shorten the dress by about 4 inches and take in the sides quite a bit.


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
My daughter disliked the sleeves, which were quite puffy.


Fabric Used:
Satin from Hancock Fabrics


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I removed the quilted sleeve detail in the first dress.


In the second dress, I omitted the quilted sleeve and cut the bodice and skirt as one piece (omitting the waist band and substituting a self belt).

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes.  I've made this dress twice for my daughter and think it is a winner.


Conclusion: This is a really nice pattern.