Sewing Pattern Review N6614 : From Start to Finish

In this detailed review of the NewLook 6614 sewing pattern, I share my experience creating a stylish summer dress, including key design modifications like adding wider straps and a muslin lining. Despite initial expectations, the project turned out to be more challenging than anticipated, but I learned valuable techniques like working with invisible zippers and interfacing. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced sewer, this review provides helpful tips for customizing your own NewLook 6614 dress to suit your body and fabric choice.

Transcript

Hi everyone, my name is Teria with Peace and Make, and today I’m finally reviewing my NewLook 6614 dress! Woo! So, I made this dress using the NewLook 6614 pattern, and I’ll be going over all the details, my experience with it, and what I learned along the way. Let’s get started!

The pattern is labeled as “average” difficulty, and when I first looked at it, I thought, “Oh, that looks easy—I’ll make it!” I was looking for a quick project after finishing the Dax bag, which, while easy, wasn’t the easiest for me since it was my first time making a “real” purse. I wanted something simple this time, but spoiler alert: I ended up having to think a lot while making this dress. I’ll walk you through what made it more challenging as we go.

The dress features an invisible zipper, spaghetti straps, bust darts, and a front panel with a side tie. Now, when it comes to patterns, I often make changes, sometimes big ones. For this dress, I didn’t want the spaghetti straps; I wanted something wider so I could wear a regular bra instead of a strapless one. So, I made the straps wider and added ties at the top for extra flair. I really love the tie detail—it’s a look I keep seeing everywhere and wanted to try out myself.

Another modification I made was adding interfacing to the straps for extra structure. I used weft interfacing because the fabric I chose was a little heavier than what the pattern suggests, and I needed the straps to hold up the weight of the dress better. I also lined the dress with muslin fabric, which isn’t in the pattern instructions. I chose muslin because I live in Georgia, where it’s hot, and I didn’t want to use a polyester lining that might cling to my skin in the heat.

The fabric I bought from Mood Fabrics was on sale—60% off—and while it was a great deal, it ended up being super thin and somewhat see-through. That’s why I added the lining: to prevent any transparency. I’ve never really worked with linings before, so I made it up as I went along. The process was a little unconventional, but it worked out in the end, and I’m proud of how it turned out, even if it wasn’t done “by the book.”

Now, about the front panel: I wanted it to have more structure, so I added interfacing to the panel, making it three layers thick—main fabric, interfacing, and muslin. It sounds complicated, but it was actually pretty easy once I figured it out. I used a technique similar to making a pillow, where you sew the interfacing to the fabric, turn it inside out, and topstitch. The result? A front panel with great structure!

Next up, the invisible zipper. I love how it turned out! The zipper blends so well, you can hardly see it. I even found a cute pink zipper pull from my stash that matched perfectly. I usually don’t use a zipper foot, but for this dress, I did, and it made the process a lot easier. If you’re hesitant about using a zipper foot, I highly recommend giving it a try—it was surprisingly easy!

One thing I didn’t love about the pattern was how the sides of the dress were shaped. The pattern had a trapezoidal fit that didn’t work well for my body. The straps kept falling off, so I ended up adjusting the sides by bringing them in to fit my shape better. If you make this dress, try it on before you sew the final stitches—especially when it comes to strap placement. A quick basting stitch will allow you to tweak the fit for a more flattering silhouette.

To sum it all up: would I make this dress again? Yes! I love how flowy and comfortable it is. It’s perfect for summer, and I’ve already worn it to church and loved how breathable and cool it felt. The next time I make it, I’ll probably use a thicker fabric to avoid the lining, though. While the lining was a bit of a challenge, it was a great learning experience.

Overall, I’m happy with how the dress turned out, even though it wasn’t as easy as I expected. But making this dress really sparked new ideas for future projects. I’d love to hear your thoughts—have you ever had a project you thought would be easy but turned out to be more challenging than expected? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment. I’ll see you in the next video. Bye! [Music fades out]