With the launch of my Dressmaking 3 course back in December, I thought it would be nice to share my collection of Betty Dresses with you. Then you'll see why I chose this pattern to teach as a course.
With a fitted bodice and full circle skirt, Betty is super flattering for all figures, nipping you in at the waist and flaring out to create a beautiful silhouette. The dress fastens with an invisible zip down the centre back, has facings around the neckline and armholes and a machine finished hem.
I own a total of 8 Betty Dresses in very different colours, fabrics and styles. My very first one, I used a colour and pattern that didn't suit me. So there isn't a picture existing of me wearing it. Small prints like this just don't suit me.
The very first wearable Betty Dress, I wore at a friends wedding in the UK. The fabric I had purchased in Kuala Lumpur and love it. I love the shade of green and the different floral print. I remember that the fabric wasn't wide enough, so I had to creative to cut the fabric and add length to the skirt.
My second dress is made out of a light cotton lawn purchased in Australia. Following this dress I also made two work appropriate dresses in plain colours but with fun lining fabrics. Gotta have some fun fabrics underneath if you keep the outside plain.
I then fell in love with this yellow print - which by the way is a duvet cover. So you don't have to use expensive fabrics, you can easily use bed sheet and duvet covers. These offer a lot of fabric yardage.
The Betty Dress is very versitile, and you can hack the skirt. What I have done with most of mine is change to a half circle skirt, instead of full circle. And these two versions, I have changed the skirt into a pleated and gathered skirt.
And of course, the two latest versions to promote the course itself, I made a dress for me and a friend of mine.
So you can see that the Betty Dress can be made in many different fabrics and styles. You can change the skirt but also the neckline. If you love this dress now as much as I do, come join the course.
Thanks for hanging out with me. Happy Sewing!
