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.

Sewaholic Lonsdale Dress

Finally made the Lonsdale Dress. Sewaholic patterns do fit nicely. The only problem I had (on any style like this) was too much fabric under the arms. Luckily I tried the top on and added elastic under the arms.
Is there such a pattern adjestment such as hollow armpits? I also made the straps shorter and attached them to the back of the bodice.

Do you like my tanlines? YIKES!
I saw fabric like this in the Burda magazine and wanted (needed) some.
I went to S.R. Harris in Burnsville and there it was, happy dance.

Vogue 8894 and Simplicity1803

I finished this dress last year, but today was my first chance to wear it. It is a mash-up of three patterns. Simplicity 1803 for the top, Vogue 8894 for the skirt and I have no idea how the sleeves came about.

I guess my husband was using the soft focus lens, ha! The skirt is made from a vintage, dyed tablecloth. The top fabric from Jo Anne's. I don't know about this dress, it looks kind of weird.

I should also know from past experience to make the top front the smaller size and add on to the back. Other than that it fits well. Look for this at your nearest Goodwill at the end of the season.

McCall's 5842

This pattern was cut out for two years before the sewing took place! I hate sewing gathers.
At least it still fits. Once again it was cut to a size 16 with no alterations.

 

This dress is made from sheets from Crate and Barrel. I ended up liking this pattern, except for the gathering.

Butterick 6582

This pattern has been used by so many and looked so cute, I had to go for it. I thought I had this in the pattern collection, but I didn't for some reason and had to go out and buy it. The fabric is from Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul. I love the color, it is a very unusual color of blue.

This was fun to sew, because it was different as far as the construction and how the pattern went together. I made no pattern alterations except for using a different skirt because I couldn't fit the one included on the fabric.

I don't like these shoes with this dress, they look too heavy...oh well.

Butterick 6051

Finally, a nice spring day! I had cut this out last year and just got to it now. Both fabrics were from JoAnne's. The top is a knit from last year and the bottom a cotton from a few years back.

If you make this view of the pattern, don't plan on going to anywhere where you might need to raise your arms. Sporting event, prayer meeting or the like, just pass, or add length under the arms or use the sleeveless view. The waistband construction was strange. I cut out two fronts and backs, and sewed the waistband normally and inserted the elastic to the whole waistband, with the gathers in the back. If I make this again. I would interface the front and have the elastic in the back. But other than that I like the pattern.

Our new frog is anxiously awaiting his new home!

McCall's 6700

Finally, a nice spring day to wear a dress. The other nice spring day was spent in Houston stranded in the tax day flood!

This is a pattern many have used and made really cute maxi's. This inspiration (or copy) came from Mimi G.

I had this cut out for a year. I didn't want to work on this because I didn't want to turn the tubes for the ties. Instead, I used braid and backed it with binding, but you probably wouldn't even need the ties.

Look at those trees!

McCall's 6987

Here is one of the dresses from my "hurry-up and finish winter sewing, so you can move on to spring" sewing projects. I made the dress longer and graded out at the hips. As you can see there is plenty of room, so you probably won't have to do that. The dress is made from fabric from the stash. Velveteen for the main fabric, brocade for the ruffle and flocked cotton for the yoke and sleeves.

My husband said, "that looks like a dress your mom would wear." So, I guess he did not like it too much, but I do!

Vogue 8825

Originally, I had not purchased this pattern when it came out, but then I saw others wear this dress and it looked so cute on them, so I thought I'd give it a try. I did not buy it at first because the skirt looked too slim in the drawing, but it ended up fitting quite nicely.

When I looked at the other dresses online, the pattern seemed to run large, especially on thin girls, so I cut size 16 on the top and graded out on the hips. I cut off about an inch on the sleeves (short arms and legs)  and made the cuffs smaller and added a stiff elastic inside. I did the standard longer skirt for winter so I don't have to wear tights.

Did you notice I'm a little off on the plaid? I originally wanted the plaid for the sleeve fronts too, but there was no way I could even begin to match anything. The fabric was from remnant bundles from Vogue Fabrics when they came to the Minneapolis Expo.

Fleece Overload

I took this picture before we went to California for our winter get-away. I had so much fleece in the stash and I had kind of turned up my nose to fleece for a long time, until I thought, what's not to like? It's easy to sew, lightweight, washes well and keeps you warm. This is a pattern from 2006. It is Simplicity 3926. It comes with a matching dog coat, to bad I don't have a dog...we could match.

In real life this looks better. These photos are just not too flattering. This is Vogue 8906. Really love the pattern, very simple and easy. This is from a glittery blue fleece. I have some more fleece coming, just need to take some pictures.

This dress is Vogue 8463, with a vest from Herberger's and boots from Kohl's purchased this year. This is a vintage pattern and I do like it, but the fabric pulls a bit between the tie at the waist. Probably because I put in elastic instead of running the whole tie through the casing. I bought the fabric from Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul. I always shrink my fabric before cutting out and it was so strange because it got red dye on my sewing machine and I can't get it out! My sewing machine now has a pink color. Bad!

This is down the road from where we stayed in beautiful Shell Beach, CA. And below was from our back yard.

Fabric purchased from Beverly's in California and patterns from thrift stores around town.

I have been fighting a cold and doing a lot of sewing since getting back. I forced myself to wind six bobbins of black thread so I could finish off much of my winter things that I had cut out...so may not get to model them until next year, we shall see!

Hot Patterns 1032

 

Hot Patterns is another brand that I like for sewing patterns. It's nice to use your actual measurements when finding your size and it's not too big or too small. The fabric is from JoAnne's, purchased this winter. I had some ribbing in the stash for the neck and armholes, but not enough for the flounce. Went back to JoAnne's and got the gray fleece (and some other things).

This is a good dress for Minnesota or other cold climes.

Another Colette Moneta Dress

 

Did I mention before how much I love this pattern? It fits great and it's so easy to sew.

 

 

The fabric is from Hancock Fabrics. Other than that, not much to say except I love this pattern!

Colette Moneta Dress

I resisted getting this pattern for a long time, glad I finally broke down and purchased it. It is super easy and fits great! I liked this dress so much that I cut out another one and sewed that up right away. This version is about five inches longer in the skirt, must have the longer skirt for winter.

The fabric was purchased from Vogue Fabrics when they came to Bloomington, MN this fall.

Got my copy of Threads, all ready to go.

McCall's 7242

Phyllis Diller just called and she wants her hair back. Ha!

This is one of those dresses that took a long time to sew and it's just okay. I used corduroy and I think the fabric was too thick. The one thing I like is the flounce, I found a silk/velvet remnant and it coordinates really well. If you use this pattern and are busty beware, add darts if you can, or use a fabric with stretch it seems to run small.

No Pattern Skirts

Didn't want to make this picture too big, because it's crappy. Anyway, this skirt did look good in real life and I did get a ton of compliments and it's fun to wear because it is so swirly when you walk. This is pre-ruffled fabric.I went to the No Big Dill website where she has tutorials to make a few different skirts.  I think I need more in different colors.

This is a faux metallic fabric. I folded the fabric in half, cut the waist circle and the hem circle and sewed the seam and added an elastic waistband, super easy!