You’ll know if you’ve read my recent blog about pattern companies that I have a ‘mixed’ opinion shall we say of indie patterns. Some of them are great with interesting, original and well-drafted patterns, others are too simplistic, lacking in instructions and poorly drafted. I happen to think that Marilla’s patterns definitely fall into the first category.
I first met Marilla nearly 3 years ago when she organised, via Instagram, a meet up at Walthamstow market in London. It was my first sewing meet up and I was more than a little nervous because it was such an alien idea in principle-turning up in a part of London I’d never visited before to meet a bunch of people I’d never met before! It was like a sewing blind date but I needn’t have worried because everyone (of course) was lovely. I’m slightly embarrassed now that I think about it that it’s actually taken me this long to try one of Marilla’s patterns out, anyway, I’ve broken my duck and I want to tell you all about the Isca dress.
You actually get two quite different dresses for the price of one with just a few similarities. I got mine as a PDF but you can also buy them as paper patterns which Marilla hand-prints and packs herself-what a lovely touch.
I was particularly intrigued by the draped wrap-over front so this was the one I printed off and happily the PDF all went together well. I’m getting better at them now I think because I found them quite tricky to start with. I don’t always print off the making instructions because they can be quite lengthy but I did print these in ‘booklet’ format so now I don’t need to lug the laptop out to the workroom. Although I didn’t encounter any problems Marilla does give lots of useful advice in the instruction booklet about all sorts of details so if this is all new to you either read them first on a screen or print off the booklet before you do anything else.
The pattern has been out for a little while now so there are quite a few to look at for fabric inspiration but I think this striped version by Takaka is particularly lovely, if you search with the hashtag ‘iscashirtdress’ on Instagram you’ll find more for both styles.
I’d found a lovely soft chambray at Hitchin market which was perfect because it had sufficient structure but with drapiness. You could also choose a washed linen, a printed medium-weight crepe could look nice too, nothing with a lot of stretch though because of the neck-band feature-it could be a nightmare of stretchiness to sew then.
Because my fabric was plain it’s a breeze to cut out, yay, no matching!
The sizing isn’t the traditional 10/12/14 etc, take your body measurements and compare them to the chart [in inches or centimetres] and then pick the size nearest your measurements. There’s also a chart of finished garment measurements which will help you decide the sort of final fit you want. I’m really happy with the fit personally, it’s a close fit to the bust and shoulders becoming looser over the waist. One really useful thing Marilla has included, although I personally don’t have to use it, is instructions for a full or small bust adjustment. This would be particularly helpful because the strange shapes of the front bodice pieces could make this a bit of a head-scratcher otherwise.
Although I’m a very experienced dressmaker there is some very helpful guidance if this a more advanced construction to you. Marilla is very thorough about where to trim seams, which direction to press them and how to make lapped or French seams if you want to use them. I didn’t top stitch any of the seams but you could do this if you wanted faux lapped seams for example.
I found topstitching the narrow band at the neck the trickiest part to sew, it had a tendency to twist and I had to unpick and re-sew a couple of sections. It would be well worth tacking this whole area if you’re in any doubt at all, it might save you time and frustration in the long run.
I really like the unusual details in this dress such as the raglan shoulder seam at the back, and of course the draping front section with it’s narrow band.
The pattern pieces for the front may look slightly curious shapes initially but the reason will become clear when they are joined together. There is bust shaping which results in the dress sitting smoothly over the bust and armhole area. This is a very well drafted pattern and a lot of time, care and attention has gone into it. This is the sort of indie pattern worth investing in! A single designer has put so much into this pattern for it to be the best it can be and I really respect that.
When I finished the dress all it needed was a button-fortunately Marilla points out that unless you need the dress to open up for nursing then this can be purely decorative. I had a rummage and found a single beautiful vintage button so I used that, it would have been too big otherwise. 
I finished the dress in time to wear at the Sewing Weekender in Cambridge and it got lots of very nice compliments which is down to the pattern not me being model material!
I’ll definitely make another version of this style of Isca before too long but the shirt-dress version won’t be very far down my autumn sewing list either. Plain or patterned, this is a stylish and unusual dress, in many ways it sums up why I love to sew my own clothes than a more ‘conventional’ style pattern might. You’d be very hard-pushed to find a dress like this in the shops and even if you did it would almost certainly come with a designer price tag! It could be sleeveless for summer in a cotton, or a really soft babycord with a sweater under for cooler weather. There’s room to eat a big lunch as well!!
Marilla has created a number of other patterns, including the Roberts collection dungarees which have been incredibly popular so check out her website to see them all. She’s an amazingly crafty and creative woman and if you want to hear her talking more about her background you can listen to her on the Stitcher’s Brew podcast here. Oh, and she makes her own shoes too…and bras…and soap…in fact I don’t think there’s anything she wouldn’t have a go at making!!
So normal blog service has been resumed and I’ve returned to writing about dressmaking and not just getting uppity about sewing stuff that bothers me….although judging by all the responses I’ve had, much of it bothers you too.
Until next time,
Happy sewing,
Sue
Susan Young Sewing 
Wow Susan, that’s lovely and I am really tempted to follow suit. Btw I wrote a really long comment to your previous post and lost it 🤔 somehow.
Back to Isca. The front crossover is very similar to a Sewing Workshop shirt that has a row of buttons on the front bands, lovely to put together, very clever. I wonder if this would work in a stripe, I have some lovely linen that I’ve been saving for the right pattern.
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This is lovely. I agree about Marilla Walker’s patterns. Beautifully thought out and wonderfully clear instructions. I’m particularly fond of the Roberts pattern.
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I don’t seem to have an eye for seeing how a pattern like this would work for me therefore I never have something so ‘effortlessly stylish’ in my wardrobe! You’re right in RTW this would carry a high price tag. Looks lovely and beautifully sewn.
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thank you
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This post has definitely helped me decide that the next pattern purchase will be a Marilla Walker one I have been eyeing up!
Thank you for writing your interesting last few blogs as well- it’s nice hearing your point of view. I am a young(ish) new(ish) sewer but have been feeling similarly as you about indie vs big 4 patterns. Perhaps becuase my husband and I both work in heritage and craft, we believe that training and experience are invaluable in creating a good consistent product.
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thank you Tiffany, I hope you keep sewing and can draw inspiration from all sources. This is one of those things where the more you practice the better, and more confident, you’ll become.
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I am about to cut this pattern out. I need to make a waist adjustment and am scratching my head to figure this out. I thought for starters i could make the back darts smaller on the bodice and skirt. But not sure how to add to the front or where. I cant seem to find a marker for the waistline on the pattern. Since you have made this i am wondering if you could help me? Any advice greatly appreciated!
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The waist on the version I made is really generous so I’m not quite sure why you’d want to add to the front. If you do want to add more then I’d take the waist on the front as being in line with the waist seam of the back, take it at a right-angle from the side seam and add the extra you require here. If you add it anywhere else it will mean you’ll have to adjust the neckband. You could cut a bigger size just at the waist, or you could email Marilla for her advice too.
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