I really like dresses buttoned at the front, like shirt dresses. So, when the summer version of La Maison Victor magazine came out, I fell for the Divina dress.

Divina is a pretty summer dress with thin straps, buttoned at the front, with a full gathered skirt decorated with 2 front pockets. It has a little vintage touch that I really like. Another advantage depending on the fabric and accessories chosen, you can wear it both in the city and at the beach.

As you can see, I made two versions:

• a first one in tropical 100% cotton fabric from my stock (I no longer remember where I bought it, and it had been waiting for the right project for 3 years) with wooden buttons bought at a craft market in Kyoto.
• a second version in Japanese fabric decorated with crane and flower patterns from my shop c'est du joly. The black shank buttons (very chic) come from Maison Dorée in Ixelles; I bought them in a clearance lot during last summer's sales. 

The look is very different between these two versions.

The Divina dress is designed for woven fabrics like cotton, linen, viscose... The choices are numerous and the versions endless.

It is offered from size 34 to 56 which corresponds to:

• a bust measurement between 84 and 140cm
• a waist measurement between 66 and 120.5cm

Given the fullness of the skirt, it is not necessary to take the hip measurement.

The total length at the center back is about 70cm.

As usual, with La Maison Victor patterns, I cut a size 34. I made a small adjustment to the bustier in my second version to fit it even more closely.

Since the bustier is relatively short (a bit empire waist style), I didn’t have to make stature adjustments. (Even though the stature for size 34 corresponds to a height of 1.66m, and I am only 1.53m tall).

This pattern is featured in La Maison Victor magazine 07/08 2020. 

Seam allowances are not included. You will need to add them according to the magazine’s instructions (1cm for assembly seams and 3cm for hems are suggested).

To make Divina, you will need to add to your shopping cart according to your size:

• 1.50m to 2.20m of fabric with a width of 140cm (allow more if matching patterns)
• 4cm wide bias tape, length between 96 and 146cm
• a bit of fusible interfacing for your button placket
• 8 buttons with a diameter of 12mm
• matching threads

Divina is accessible to intermediate sewers who want to improve by learning different techniques, and it will be a nice piece for expert sewers to make without overcomplicating things.

The technical points are:

• preparing the patch pockets and sewing them onto the front skirt (be sure to mark your reference points well)
• making gathers
• assembling the bustier and managing the assembly with a slight curve
• applying the hidden bias along the neckline
• making the straps
• making the button placket
• making the buttonholes
• hemming finish

I really enjoyed making this pattern; I experienced it as a relaxing sewing moment before diving back into more challenging patterns like a swimsuit or jeans. 

In short, a real moment of sewing pleasure!

I hope you enjoy making this pattern as much as I did.