The Wheelie Stitcher

Disability shouldn’t stop you doing what you enjoy.

The Tammy Dress Kit

I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to test the Tammy Dress kit, and I couldn’t wait to tell you all about it!

As you know, I’m a huge fan of Minerva’s sewing kits because they make starting a new project so easy. They contain absolutely everything you need to make your garment, so once your fabric has been pre-washed, you can quite literally sit down at your machine and start creating. I love that there is no searching through my sewing room for the right thread, needles or other little bits and pieces that I will inevitably have forgotten!

The Tammy Dress is a beautiful, relaxed tiered midi dress that is perfect for the heatwave we’re having. It has a gentle scoop neckline, a softly raised waist and short sleeves finished with pretty gathered ruffles above the elbow. The skirt has two gathered tiers which give the dress interest without making it feel overly fussy.

I have to admit that I have been pleasantly surprised by just how wheelchair-friendly this dress is. When I first saw the amount of fabric in the gathered skirt, I was a little concerned that it might flow over the sides of my chair or feel uncomfortable underneath me. However, I needn’t have worried. The skirt sits perfectly when I’m seated, without creating lots of bulk or bunching underneath me, and importantly, there is no excess fabric hanging down towards my wheels. That is something I’m always particularly conscious of when choosing a pattern.

I also love that the Tammy is a completely pull-on dress with no fiddly fastenings. This makes it really easy to get on and off, which is a big plus for me. The neckline is comfortable without being too low, and the length of the dress works really well too. It feels like a dress that genuinely could have originally been designed for me in my wheelchair.

For my Tammy Dress I used the gorgeous Swirling Seeds print on a cotton double gauze basecloth. I absolutely love the colours in this design. It is such a vibrant and cheerful print, without being too overwhelming. I think it works particularly well with the floaty shape of the Tammy.

This was also my first time sewing with double gauze, and I have really enjoyed working with it. It has such a lovely soft, lightweight feel and is wonderfully comfortable to wear, making it perfect for a summer dress like this. It was lovely to try something new, and I will definitely be looking out for double gauze for future projects.

I’m so happy with the finished dress. It is one of those versatile makes that make you feel good when you put it on while still being incredibly comfortable to wear. It’s so easy to dress up with some pretty jewellery and sandals for lunch or a day out, but it works just as well dressed down for relaxing in the sunshine.

I think the Tammy Dress is going to become a real favourite in my wardrobe. It’s comfortable, easy to wear, practical for me as a wheelchair user and, most importantly, I feel really good wearing it. Another fabulous Minerva kit and another very successful make!

Thank you Minerva for letting me test this kit.

Image description:(there are six images taken from different angles showing Yvonne sat in her wheelchair in her garden wearing a tiered midi length dress. The fabric has a yellow background with a swirling seed pattern in shades of Green purple, pink and black)