Cambie Dress

Cambie Dress, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

I think I'm the last person on earth to sew the Cambie Dress.

I had a few glitches, first of all I had too much fabric in the skirt back, I couldn't gather up all the fabric, so lopped off about four inches on each side. I'm very long-waisted and the pattern runs long. I ripped out the sleeves and sewed them further into the bodice, it's still a little long, but I'm done with this dress. I think this dress is pretty and easy to sew.

I did learn something new and that is how to sew the lining to the zipper by machine. If you go online and search Cambie Dress and zipper there are plenty of pictures to guide you if you haven't done this method before. It's slick!

Cambie Dress, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

Simplicity 2215

Simplicity 2215, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

I think this is another well loved pattern in the sewing world. I added about eight inches in the skirt. It's a little big in the front armhole, but I think they drafted it that way to allow for the blouse. All in all I like this pattern and might make it again with a contrasting hem band and shirt.

Simplicity 2215, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

Don't you love it when you have the perfect buttons and belt in your stash?

Simplicity 2215, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

McCall's 6711

McCall's 6711, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

I'm on an easy sewing binge and this fit the bill! I used some leftover faux leather for the yokes of the dress and the fabric was from the red tag section at JoAnne's.

McCall's 6711, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

Butterick 5892

Butterick 5892, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

Something easy to sew. I lengthened it about two inches. I had a floral print that I wanted to use with this stripe, but I just couldn't figure it out. So the stripe is the skirt and the other print will be a dress.

Butterick 5892, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

McCall's 6553

McCall's Fashion Star Pattern, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

I've had this dress ready to go since March, but the weather hadn't been cooperating.

The center portion is silk, the most expensive fabric I've ever purchased (Harts Fabric). I washed the fabric before sewing. The black linen lost all of it's hand so I used about three layers of spray starch. Silk is easy to preshrink, just hand wash in shampoo, wrap in a towel and iron dry. I do this with vintage scarfs that I find.

On this dress I added a casing on the front because I know from past experience that just adding a belt does not work because it just get bunchy.

I do like this dress, it's very comfortable.

McCall's Fashion Star Pattern, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

I had this dress longer in the front and I think it's still too short, it hits at a really strange spot on the knee.

McCall's Fashion Star, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

And the pattern.

McCalls 6695

McCalls 6695, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

Finally two nice days in a row. Celebrate!

This pattern was easy to sew, but not easy to cut out. It seems like the pattern layout was not correct for the two tone dress. I had to make copious notes to make sure it turned out correctly and it did.

McCalls 6695, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.

On this dress I changed the pleats to gathers, except for at the shoulder. This seemed to work better with the crisp cotton fabric.

McCalls 6695, a photo by becky b.'s sew & tell on Flickr.