Is there anything better to wear in winter than a thicky cosy sweater dress?

I have to confess that I find it hard to look passed them.

So when, at the end of summer, I scooped up three different colours of this organ woolen mold sweater knit for 50% off – well, I knew there were sweater dresses on the horizon!

For my first sweater dress, I decided to go with something very simple, so I started with the LB Pullover by Paper Theory – a pattern I’ve sewn before. The LB Pullover is available in sizing catering up to a 142 cm (56″) bust with a 146cm (57.5″) hip.

Hacking the LB Pullover into a simple sweater dress

I simply started with the LB Pullover pattern that I already had cut out from my previous projects, which was a size 12.

In order to turn it into a dress, I added 55cm in length to the pattern.

It was also very evident to me from trying on my existing LB Pullovers that there was no way the ordinary width would make it over my thighs, so when I extended the pattern to dress length, I did so using a slight A-line shape.

I also added a narrow fabric belt. I had initially wanted a wide fabric belt but just didn’t have enough fabric (my collar is cut out in three pieces to make this work!). It can also be worn without the belt (looks a bit less dressing gown-like without it!) but I forgot to take photos like that! As my 7-year old is so fond of saying “sowwwwwy”!

You can see that I also added pockets. I’ve used a lighter weight jersey for the pockets.

Now, I am a BIG proponent of pockets in garments. However, I think I am almost reaching the conclusion that when using knit fabrics, and especially in garments which don’t have a waist seam, side seam pockets can distort the lines of the dress and how it hangs.

This one looked better pre-pocket – so maybe I will have to rethink my blind tendency to “whack a pocket on it!”.

Still, they will be endlessly convenient!

I’ve finished off the bottom of the dress with a split hem for added mobility. You can see in these photos that I have had some wavy hem issues. It does look better after pressing. I also discovered, in a subsequent project, that this fabric responds much better to being hemmed with triple stitch than with zig zag stitich – which is what I was using here!

You live, you learn!

And, voilà, a simple cosy winter dress all wrapped up!

While sewing this, I also really liked the way it looked sleeveless. It was looking very minimalist and sleek. I actually was very unsure whether to add the sleeves. And, having done so, in this thick fabric (it’s 360gsm) the seam where the sleeves are sewn is visibly bulky.

In view of this, if I do something similar again, I intend to skip the sleeve and plan to wear with a merino turtleneck underneath.

So is anyone else in team “chuck on a chunky sweater dress and be done with it, when it comes to winter dressing”?