If you’ve followed my sewing journey at all, you’d notice that there’s one pattern that I’ve made more than any other pattern – the Zadie Jumpsuit by Paper Theory. I’ve made at least seven variations and I love them all. Tara, the owner, truly personifies slow sewing and has only released 12 patterns and pattern expansion packs. I’m so excited to be a tester for her newest pattern, the Ray Pinafore dress. This cozy garment is perfect for all seasons, but it’s especially great as a transitional piece. We’re going through what locals call “False Fall” where the temperatures swing from the warm 80s down to the perfect 60s and then back up again.
The Ray Pinafore is a maxi dress that hits right below my calf. I’m 5’7, so if you’re substantially taller or short than me, keep that in mind when it’s time to make adjustments to the pattern. The dress is very loose at the waist and hips but fits close to the bust. Because of this, I mainly used my bust measurements when picking which size to sew. There are three strap options – regular, buckles, or ties – and is designed to cover most bra straps. Ray is perfect for wearing alone or over layers. I wore a regular white tee, but I think Ray would pair wonderfully with a bodysuit.
Most of the fun design elements occur at the side seams. There are gussets at the top to make it easy to slip Ray on and off without the use of zippers or closures. There are two large side seam pockets and two deep vents at the side seams. Honestly, the hardest part of sewing Ray was figuring out the side vents. I don’t know why my mind couldn’t grasp it, but after receiving help from Tara, the owner of Paper Theory Patterns, I was able to make it work. It’s so clean and crisp – I love it! Other than the vents (which was sewist error), the instructions and process for making Ray are pretty straightforward. It’s an intermediate-level pattern, but I definitely think it could be sewn over a chill weekend.
I made my Ray using the Minerva Exclusive Coral Cruise Linen Cotton Blend fabric. It’s mediumweight, non-stretch, and wonderfully breathable. There are cute nautical images on the fabric that are so calming and fun. Because there are white pictures on a dark blue background, make sure to use a color grabber when washing for the first time. The fabric bled a little bit, but thankfully it didn’t stain the lighter portions of the fabric. This linen cotton blend frays a little, but using my serger to finish the seams stopped the fraying in its tracks. This is a great, opaque fabric that I think would work in a ton of different apparel applications.
