McCall's 8348

This dress almost ended up in the bin as they say in England. I bought this pattern on Etsy, they do reproductions of vintage patterns. I think I just ordered a size that was too big.

When I tried this on the front of the bodice was hanging way low over the waistline. It looked like I had surgery to remove fat from my stomach and they left all the skin. Horrible!!!

I hacked off about three inches on the front and none on the back. I added darts to the back bodice and to the front, then sewed everything together and the result was a wearable dress!

 

Simplicity 8248

I spent a lot of time sewing this dress and when I first put it on I did not like it at all. But, after wearing it for awhile it's good. I did not like that the waist was too loose, so I just needed to think of it as oversized and luckily that is in style now. Yes, I am wearing knee highs, I hate tights!

The top is Simplicity 8248 and I did check the pattern for size because it was a vintage pattern. I'm glad I cut a larger size than normal (except for the waist) because it would have been too tight. The sleeves are from a different pattern as well as the skirt. McCall's 6742 is the skirt. I used black velvet and brown velvet for the color blocking, but it's hard to see. 

The dog pin and the shoes make the outfit!

Simplicity 8504

I was intending to wear this dress on Christmas, but when I sewed it up I thought it would be a good idea to leave out the sleeve lining. Don't do this, it's what keeps the sleeve up! When I put the dress on the sleeves were just hanging there and were very long. I tried adding elastic and that didn't work. Much later I cut off about three inches of the upper and lower sleeve and sewed it all back together, but it doesn't look like it should.

The skirt is cut very narrow, just like the drawings show, so add more if you usually need to. Also, make the matching belt if you have enough fabric, it would really make the dress look better.

This ended up being my Easter dress, yes, it was snowing. I have packed away my cut-out winter patterns and have started sewing summer things now. I'm sewing masks too, but my max is ten per day, I don't want to feel like I'm forced into making masks and strangely enough want to be thinking good thoughts when I sew them.

Today it might get up to sixty, but I will have to clear the gardens of leaves before doing anymore sewing.

Hope you and your families are still healthy and happy and not too stressed out!

McCall's 4808

 I have been doing a lot of sewing, but the weather has just not the best for taking pictures. Love the style of this dress, but it has a few issues. The dress does have darts at the bodice side but the fabric has tucks because of the dolman sleeves. I might try making the sleeves shorter.

You also need a dresser, I can't zip this dress on my own. This fabric came from the cheap table at Hobby Lobby, so the dress cost about $12.00 or less. The pattern probably cost more than the fabric.

Here I am posing by the Honda Civic, ha, ha!

McCall 7163

I'm finally using some of my vintage patterns! This was fun to make because it had a little twist from modern patterns with the bodice closure. Since I used a stretch material for the top I didn't add the zipper. I added a bit to the back width and that was about it for alterations.

I also used just a plain skirt pattern. I had wanted to use the skirt that came with the pattern but the bugs did not want to run diagonally.

Here are the ladies standing on the street corner. And, no, I did not pay five cents for the pattern.