I’m writing from the smoky… one might say “hazy”…. outdoors of a northern Manitoba campground. Forest fires are causing the skies to be a bit extra hazy today and we’re hoping and praying for rain. Not something one typically wants when camping, but we need it. Today we’re hanging out in the dining tent and enjoying a lazy day doing some computer work and I’m doing my laziest best to still get a pattern released that I wanted to get done BEFORE we left. It didn’t happen as I planned so here we are a month or so later.

This newest pattern is called Haze and it's another woven dress for the store. Woven dresses have never been the “Sofiona thing”, but every once in awhile we get in the mood for a dress. This one was inspired by linen and feeds into the need for a dress that is easy to wear, not too fancy, great for school or a picnic, and looks SO GOOD with that “lived in” look of linen. 

Looking for the simplest option to start? It’s the box pleats on the front, the plain V section on the back, and the simple hem. 

Looking for the most details? It’s the bubble tucks on the front, the narrow pleats on the back V section, and the deeper pleats on the dress hem.

So what DOES the Haze include? Here’s the details:

• Short Sleeves
• Peplum top with simple hem
• Knee length dress with simple hem OR pleated hem
• Waist ties
• Box pleats OR inverted box pleats OR bubble tucks on the bodice
• Plain back V section OR Narrow horizontal pleats
• Pockets (dress only)

So let’s talk about the things to know about Haze….

The is a pull-on-over-the-head dress. And it’s woven. Guess what that means! It means a bit of a wiggle to get it on and a slightly stranger wiggle to get it off. The littlest kids might need help with this and especially if they are used to knit garments. There is a bit more ease on the very smallest of the girls’ sizes but the higher end of the girls’ sizes is drafted with enough ease to get it on and off and still maintain a bit of shaping around the chest. Just a bit.

The bodice. It’s front and centre and pretty unique, I’d say. It can also go wrong if it’s not done carefully so my word of wisdom is to pay attention to the widths on those pleats and bubble tucks. For example, there are 5 columns on the bodice and if you are off even 1/8” on each one you end up with over an inch of extra or not enough bodice room!! It adds up fast so take the time to be precise.

There are 3 options for the bodice. The bubble tucks (my fav), the box pleats (the easiest) and the inverted box pleats (just do them on the other side of the fabric!) Take the time to press the bodice properly as per the instructions. It’s important for the bubble tucks to lay nicely and not just look like a super bubbly chest area. And it’s also important to create a nice transition from the bodice to the fuller skirt at the waist.

Tying the bubble tucks can be a bit tricky for some so we have this YouTube video that I hope will help.

The back features a V section that can also be done a few different ways. Leaving it plain is a good way to make construction faster and it’s a perfect spot to showcase fancy fabric or embroidery. The other option is more detailed with narrow horizontal pleats that give some texture and visual interest to that section. The tutorial gives instructions for a specific grouping of pleats, but it’s really all up to you how you want to play with that area. Simply use the pattern piece as a template to cut the piece out after you are done whatever pleating you’d like to try. I feel like this is an area that someone could really surprise us with something magical. 

On this one I hacked a bit so that the scalloped edge of the fabric would be the top edge. Of course it folded over for pics.

The hem of the shirt is has only the simple option (although I’m wondering if someone is going to show us a hacked version with some pleats…..) The dress has the 2 options for hemming. Keep it simple or do the deep pleats. You’ll find that the structure of the pleats on the hem create a slight bell shape that is super cute. Even more so when the ties are done up. I’m loving that shape on those little ones especially.

Something to note about the ties - They are there to add a bit of shape to an otherwise loose dress, but there’s no need to cinch the ties in tight. If they are too tight and sewn in too low they tend to cause the whole garment to sit up high sort of hovering over the shoulders. This is especially with the shirt that has less weight to pull it down.

That’s about it. We love seeing your makes in our Sofiona Sewing Group on FB or on IG so please share your Haze makes with us. Use #sofionadesigns #sofihaze #sofihaze #hazeinthewild

Now go have some fun with your new Haze!