Another green dress

This is a Franken Pattern (love that term). This is Simplicity 6406, a pattern that I've had in my stash since I was a young whipper-snapper. Don't throw those patterns away...you may need them 20 years down the line, ha, ha. The top is Simplicity 2590. Don't know why I didn't use just one pattern.

 Had a small storm last night.

The top of the fabric: JoAnne's. The skirt: Thrifted bed sheet with embroidered critters (I had to stalk a lady that was carrying the sheets around, when she put them down, I was right around the corner and pounced.

McCall's 6742

This is a dress that I didn't think I'd like as much as I do. I wore it three days in a row! It's strange how the pattern envelope shows a lime green dress and voila, I have a lime green dress. I didn't make too many changes, just omitted the cuffs on the sleeves, gathered the skirt instead of the darts and put the zipper in the side not the back.

The fabric for the top was from JoAnne about ten years ago and the bugs in a jar fabric is a Micheal Miller purchased online.

Burda again!

This is Burda 7205. This is very easy to do. I had looked online for others who had sewed this pattern. Some said that it was frumpy and I think that is because where they had you put the elastic. There is way too much length in the top. If I sew this again I will put the casing below the waist by about one inch.

I used wide silver elastic instead of putting the elastic in a casing, and I cut the elastic for the size 12 and the rest of the pattern at 44.  If you like your dresses tighter you would probably be able to go down a size. I always add length to the hem (I'm 5'8"). The dress was cut on the straight grain not the bias, no problems there.

Fabric from JoAnne's (this year) and handbag by Jonathan Adler.

Another Burda!

This is Burda 8/2014, style 116. When I saw this is the magazine, I knew I had to make it. Once again others on the internet had made this and it looked really cute. The instructions to make this were crazy and just made no sense. Sometimes you just have to sew.

Here is a close-up of the battenburg lace that I added to the front and back. I fused some areas, then did some stitching...hope that all stays on!

On this dress you have to take a picture of both the front and the back. I used elastic on the top and bottom and at the waist line using bias tape even though the top was lined. I also had to make the pattern larger and longer, since 42 was the largest size. I like this dress, but have no desire to make another one, at least not in the near future.

BurdaStyle Dress

I saw that some other bloggers had made this dress and it looked really cute on them, so I decided to get out the tracing paper and have a go at it. It is from the BurdaStyle Magazine 6/2013. The bottom layer is a challis fabric and the top is an embroidered sheer, both purchased at SR Harris.

I had some problems with this pattern. The armholes had some gaping (I added darts in the sheer dress).
It was also too low cut and I think I'm wearing the sheer layer backwards. And the hem is funky. And the shoulder straps kept falling down. Other than that I like it.

If you like this style, use a pattern from your stash that is similar and that you've used before and just make some changes. It would be cute with a slim skirt underneath, don't you think?

Vintage Vogue 5217

This pattern has been in my collection for quite awhile and finally got to it.

I don't think this is my most flattering dress, but it feels comfortable and I did get a few compliments, so that's good. What I like about this outfit are the shoes. They were on a style segment on the local station. I saw them and ran to The Mall of America and Forever 21. I had to hunt them down (big store), but I prevailed and they are mine!

The legs almost match the dress!

Butterick 5747

This turned out better than expected and it fits nice too. I finished this last year but very late in the season, can't wear your sailor dress in the winter.

Because this fabric had no body, I did quilting on the collar and the dickey. I sandwiched the fabric between another layer of fabric and did random stitching in various colors all over.

Wadder

This is Vogue 1102. It does fit, but it just does not look right. I even went out and bought a bra converter, but that didn't work out either. I tried a top underneath and still crappy. My mom suggested a bolero, but I think I just need to donate this one. If you do want to make this pattern I would do a knit on top and something that is soft, not crisp.

Kielo Wrap Dress

Wrap dress number one. I had seen this pattern sewn up online and really liked it so I spent the money and ordered it from Finland. I like the way it turned out, but it looks way different on me. The tie sits very low and because the fabric is denim you can't just tie it up higher. Maybe if I make the flaps smaller it would work the way I thought it would.

Butterick 5362

Hip wrap dress two, without the ties. I saw a pattern like this in the BurdaStyle Magazine, but I was too lazy to trace it out, so I went with this. The fabric is a knit from Hancock, it was cheap and it snags very easy and gets holes. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

You can see the hem better here.

The sweater is from QVC, it coordinates well, but kind of cuts you in half, oh well.

Vogue 9078

Thought I'd better get pictures without snow, don't want to jinx anybody. This dress is made from scuba knit from Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul. I was happy I found this fabric because I love it so much, but then I saw it online at Fabric Mart at about a third of the cost. Just had to get the same fabric in black and grey and shades of yellow. You know you just gotta get it because it's such a good deal! The flounce is an embellished cotton from the old stash.

For some reason I was making funny faces, but this picture shows the fabric better. I usually don't go for straight skirts, but this fit well, probably because it is a knit fabric.

Note to self, don't wear these shoes with this dress, frumpy.

McCalls 4987

Ha, ha, I look like I'm going to blow away. This was taken awhile ago. No, we don't still have snow.
It is the Twins opener today and it will be over sixty degrees.

This vintage pattern was too small so I used the method described in my last post to enlarge. I also added sleeves from a somewhat new vintage pattern Butterick 6238.

This dress is very easy to wear and it would make another good summer dress.

Simplicity 3642

 Another winter dress that I got to wear because spring is late in coming.

 It's made from velveteen and corduroy two of my favorite fabrics. Look at those shoes! I saw them on Dolly Clackett's blog and had to have them, they are Vivienne Westwood's Melissa shoes. They are jellies and really comfortable.

This is a vintage pattern. The pattern that I had was a size 14 with a bust of 34. Too small for me. What I do to enlarge the pattern is find one that's similar and put it under and draw the new cutting lines. On the skirt I did the math and just added the needed width to each piece. Sometimes math is good.

Butterick 6090

Here we are are at the Art in Bloom at Macy's in Minneapolis. It was a cold day so I got to wear one of my winter dresses that I had finished. The vintage design of this pattern is why I had to have it. There are a few things to be aware of. They say to interface the yoke, not really a good idea, it gets way to stiff even with a light interfacing. Watch for the length, I have short legs and added about an inch, would have liked a little more. I changed out the sleeves and I choose one with a sleeve cap that was too small, a little too tight. Over all a nice pattern it would make a cute summer dress.

Another Vogue 1312

Not to much to tell with this pattern. I didn't make any fitting adjustments to the pattern. The fabric is a wool blend with appliques, bought quite a few years ago at Jo Anne's on the Red Tag table. I made it sleeveless so I could wear a shirt underneath.