How I got the idea to create the Sorrel was born from a need for an 80s prom dress. Yep, you read that right. The theme for my husband's work party this year was 80s prom. At first, I cringed, but then I got on board and thought how awesome the music would be - and rose to the challenge! I came up with a punk prom, Madonna-esque dress using a pink foil ITY from Amanda's Bundles and stretch lace. If you scroll to the very bottom of this very long blog post, I'll post some snaps of this amazing dress!
Speaking of long blog posts, with the exception of the photo overload of my makes at the beginning here, I'll add photos in (more or less) size order so you can easily find what you're looking for. Before we get started, though, HERE are the links so you can grab your very own copy of the patterns!
SORREL CORSET CROP AND BODYSUIT
BOTH SORREL AND ESSENTIAL SKIRT BUNDLE
Ok. Ready? Let's go.
All of my makes are a Size 8 bust, size 6 waist, and size 12 hip.
The View C Bodysuit is the square neckline with the brief cutline and snap placket. The full circle skirt is a heavy weight cotton Lycra with exposed elastic waistband. I used bias tape to finish the hem.
Here is the corset crop View A with the round neckline in a heavy weight cotton Lycra. The A-line skirt is ponte.
The third is the lace-up View B corset made from a long hoarded custom cotton Lycra. I'm very proud of my pattern placement here! The skirt is knee length with a walking vent made out of peached performance.
And last is a View A Sorrel combined with the Essential half circle skirt. This is also heavy weight cotton Lycra and it has the most FABULOUS pockets.
WHEW! Have you seen enough of me yet? Yeah, me too. Let's move on so I can show all the fantasticalness that came out of this test!
Debbie made her daughter a size 2 View C Sorrel bodysuit in a cotton elastane. This bodysuit uses the round neckline and short sleeves. Debbie says her daughter asked her for more, so it's a teen hit!
Carolyn made her daughter two versions in a size 2. On the left is the Essential fitted skirt in a ponte. On the right is a Sorrel View A combined with the Essential A-line in a stretch jacquard. To see Carolyn's bodysuit make, scroll down to her size 18. I LOVE the jacquard! So unique.
Josianne used this gorgeous pink double knit for her Sorrel/Essential combo in a size 4. Josianne chose the View A Sorrel with the sweetheart neckline, and paired it with a mini A-line Essential Skirt. IG: @sewista_fashionista
Kit made a Sorrel/Essential dress in a size 4 with cotton Lycra. Kit chose the View A Sorrel with a sweetheart neck and cap sleeves, and paired it with the Essential half circle skirt. This is so perfect for spring! @kityansews
Sierra made both of her combos in a size 4. The left (stripe) is a cotton french terry. The right is a DBP bodice and peached performance skirt. Sierra is rocking the View A Sorrel/Essential fit combo! To complete her square neck trifecta, her View C bodysuit (mustard) is also made out of peached performance. @si.essentials
Michelle made two Size 6 Sorrel/Essential dresses, all in cotton Lycra. The first is the Sorrel View A with the square neckline and the Essential full circle skirt. The pink is also the Sorrel View A with the sweetheart neckline and the Essential half circle skirt. @my.handmade.heart
Mara is sporting some amazing fabric for her size 6FBA combo! The Sorrel View C Bodysuit is a dinosaur bamboo Lycra, scoop neck bodysuit. She paired it with a pleather half circle Essential skirt. I am digging it! @marzipan.nz
Kelsey made her size 6 Essential half circle skirt using a bright, happy ITY! And POCKETS!
Sophie chose two beautiful makes in a size 8. On the left, she made a Sorrel View A scoop neck crop to pair with jeans and killer heels! On the right, she combined a Sorrel View A sweetheart neck with an Essential A-line (and pockets!). This fabric and that combo is a classic silhouette with a lot of impact! @sewmuch_better
Andrea made two Essential skirts in a size 8/12. The delightful fitted skirt on the right is made from an athletic knit, while the class navy skirt on the right is in a DBP. @happy.things.here
Jenni performed an experiment on the View B Sorrel and, it worked! She made it reversible! Jenni's size 8 Sorrel View B is made out of peached performance. Then she went on to make a whole kind of mix and match capsule! Top we have the green side of Sorrel paired with a Forsythia gathered skirt on the left, and an Essential fitted skirt on the right. Bottom left is the reverse side of the Sorrel paired with an Essential half circle skirt in ponte. Not to be left out, bottom right is the same half circle skirt paired with a Sorrel View C bodysuit in an athletic knit. WOWZA! @earlysews
Lia made a size 8/10 combination. The top is a Sorrel View A with the round neck in a ABP. The skirt is an Essential half circle in a stretch eyelet. I need some stretch eyelet now!
Amy made a size 10 Essential A-line skirt in a DBP. So pretty! @and_sometimes_i_sew
As always, Athena made some super awesome combos in a size 10FBA/14! First, she made this very retro-vibe Essential fitted skirt in cotton spandex on the top left. Next, on the top right, she made a View A Sorrel with the sweetheart neckline in DBP. Lastly, on the bottom, just because she is the best kind of extra, Athena made this midi length Essential FULL circle skirt! @athenamynerva
Carmen made two Essential skirts in a size 10. The red on the left is a half circle skirt in an athletic knit, and the middle and right are A-line skirts in rayon spandex. So fun!
Shardee made this super pretty Essential half circle skirt in a size 10 with french terry. Those stripes give a simple skirt a little something extra!
Christina made a size 10/14 View A Sorrel with an Essential half circle skirt in an athletic Lycra. Great color!
Donna made a size 10 Essential fitted skirt in a ponte. This is such an elegant classy look!
Melissa made a size 12FBA in two versions. On the left is a Sorrel View A crop in nylon Lycra. On the right is a View C bodysuit paired with an Essential A-line skirt. Perfect for the sunny weather! Pretty sure that adorable pupper agrees!
Heidi made a plethora of versions in a size 12FBA. She covered all four skirts AND all three views of Sorrel. I have no idea how she finds the time to sew all these creations!
Ruth nailed it with this ethereal purple ITY size 12 version. The top is Sorrel View A with the sweetheart neck and the bottom is the Essential full circle skirt in mini length.
Anna made this lovely version of the Essential fitted skirt in a size 12. Her heavy weight cotton Lycra sits so well!
June made this sweet combo in a size 10/12/16. That gorgeous color top is a Sorrel View A in peached performance. She paired it with an Essential A-line skirt in supplex. June also made two dresses using the half circle skirt and modal spandex. Beautiful and comfy! @junebsewist
Lisa outdid herself this test! Lisa made quite a variety of versions in a size 12FBA. First up, on the top row, are her beautiful View C bodysuits made from cotton spandex. Middle row is the square neck View A paired with the half circle skirt in rayon spandex. Last, but certainly not least, the bottom row is a two piece set of a View A Sorrel scoop neck and a half circle Essential skirt (with pockets!) in a ribbed sweater knit. @l_chappy
Francisca made two beautiful size 14 versions. The first is an A-line skirt in a happy pink french terry. The second is a fun half circle skirt in cotton Lycra.
Kelsey made two versions of Sorrel in a size 14FBA. On the left is a View A in a cotton spandex. On the right is a View C square neck in a stretch velvet! Love it!
As always, Tasha blows me away with her talent. Both of her makes are in a size 14FBA. She chose the square neck View B Sorrel in a cotton spandex I'm very jealous I don't have. Then she made View A and the half circle skirt into this stunning retro inspired dress using a scuba knit. This outfit is a total knock-out! @sewing.life.adventures
Carolyn made this gorgeous View C bodysuit in a size 18/20 FBA with peached performance (seriously love that fabric). She also made her lovely daughter a size 2 Essential fitted skirt in ponte you can see up at the top of this post. The purple vibes are a family affair!
Stephanie decided to get uber cute at the gym with this combo! She made the Sorrel View A sweetheart neck with the square back. She attached the Essential half circle skirt. This fabulous workout outfit is made from a heavy athletic knit in a size 18FBA/22. @sarcasticsewist
Amy made everybody's tropical day with this fun lemon print. She made the View A Sorrel matched with the Essential half circle mini. Amy made a size 24FBA using DBP. I'm searching for my paper umbrellas! @double_a_studio
Oh my GOODNESS, isn't that an overwhelming amount of epicness?! Yes, that's a word now. Now, as promised, here are my 80s prom dress pics. This is the View B Sorrel, but I cut on the corset line for the dip in the front. For the skirt, I cut a shorter and longer skirt and gathered it to its very limits. Each skirt was 3 yards gathered to a 30" waist. Doubled. I actually broke the timing on my serger, but that's a story for another time. :-)
Thanks for making it to the end! Don't forget to go grab your patterns!
SORREL CORSET CROP AND BODYSUIT
BOTH SORREL AND ESSENTIAL SKIRT BUNDLE
Happy Making!
Rachelle