Pattern Review: Closet Core Nicks Dress

The Closet Core Nicks Dress, sewn with Atelier Jupe Viscose Fabric from Harmer and Huff

As soon as the Nicks Dress was released, I knew it was the one for me. No idea why it took me so long to make it though but now I have started, there will be no going back.

The Nicks dress has a number of views and variations, making it in my opinion, a great value pattern from Closet Core.

View A, which I made, is a full length dress with a button front and long sleeves, there is a non-buttons bodice, a shirt with a peplum, skirt lenght options as well as sleeves.

All of the bodice options feature a v neck with a yoke and gathered shoulder detail. The overall fit of the dress is loose and relaxed making it an easy project on the fitting front.

It does feature a few details that are a little more advanced like rouleaux loops, but if you don’t fancy tackling these you can sew the buttonless versio, or use elastic braid in their place.

The pattern is available as both a print or PDF pattern but if you need the curvy size block you can only get the PDF. You can buy it direct from Closet Core, or from my store Harmer and Huff, or from your local fabric stores.

When it comes to fabric choices this is a dress or blouse made for flowing fabrics. I used a mid-weight viscose from Atelier Jupe which was destined to be a Nicks dress as soon as I saw it.

Naturally the fabric requirements for a blouse version of this pattern vary hugely to the long gathered dress, which is fabric hungry, so be sure to check your needs.

I made View A with the long sleeves and got it out of 4.5m (vs 4.75 on the packet) as I shortened the sleeves a litte.

Aside from fabric, you’ll also need:

You’ll also need

5 buttons
2m of 13mm elastic
Thread
Marking tool

Pattern & INSTRUCTIONS

Closet Core say this is an intermediate pattern and that certainly is true for some elements, but if you like this pattern and don’t feel you are yet intermediate there are ways to sew it anyway.

Using the buttonless bodice piece would be the place to start as this eliminates the bias placket and the rouleaux loops.

There are gathers on the yoke and skirt panels and a couple of pleats on the sleeve which I think an adventurous beginner would be able to tackle.

The instructions were clear at all stages and the pattern well drafted and marked up as you’d expect from Closet Core.

Sewing Process

I took some significant time debating my size before I cut this and settled on the size 20. I would typically need an FBA (or use the curvy pattern block) but I decided given the voluminous ease in this pattern I wouldn’t need it. I’m happy with the finish, but I think it would be too big as the blouse version on my shoulders and waist so will have to make some adjustments for my next make.

I’ve been really trying to level of my standards when it comes to details and finishing and this dress was a great opportunity for me to practise this.

The small details such as the loops and the yoke slowed me down enough to really focus and take care.

I found the sheer amount of gathering a little unwieldy at times, but it’s worth it for that perfect amount of swish!