Burda 6288

Yes, Another flannel dress. It does keep me warm indoors, but outdoors it is freezing cold! This is the BurdaStyle pattern that I purchased at Joann's, I think the same dress was in the magazine, but sometimes you are just not in the mood to trace the pattern. This fits really well without any adjustments.

 Butterick 6450 is very similar, but I have that cut out in summer fabric and I didn't feel like sewing that first to get to the pattern. I just did that with the New Look wrap dress pattern. The spring version fits well, so it's on to the winter version.

Hot Patterns 1186

 I thought I had blogged this, but I couldn't find it anywhere! I love Hot Patterns because they fit. This is made from a corduroy that is heavily embroidered. Instead of inserting the pockets in the side seams I lined them and top-stitched them to the fabric.

I purchased some hot pink feathers to put on the bottom, but those need to be removed to wash, so haven't figured that out yet. For awhile I kept them on the porch to air out and the cat got into it and was dragging hot pink feathers around. It was so funny!

McCall's 4950

Another flannel "nightgown" dress. I'm kind of surprised this fit so well because the pattern was a size 12 and I had to increase it to a size 16. I purchased a sizing tool from Canada, but I haven't taken all the time it needs to watch the videos and actually do it. I pulled out one of my patterns that fits well and used that as a guide.

 I also wish that the design details showed up better, but I think the only way to accomplish that would to use a solid fabric. The neck is also a little wide and I didn't even touch that when sizing.

Wadder: BurdaStyle 6438

 This was an unexpected wadder. I had made the adjustment for larger upper arms to no avail. When I tried it on it was so tight in the arms and upper chest I couldn't move. The only way to fix this would to be to rip off the sleeves and add different ones. We shall see, but I think it's goodbye.

BurdaStyle 8/2018 #101

 I think BurdaStyle makes patterns for shorter people. I lengthened this about four inches (as much as I could) and it is still to short. It cuts you in half, which is not ideal. Once again the instructions were worthless, so I look at the drawing and match up the small numbers and sew. I omitted the opening in the back and I still could get it on.

The fabric is a lightweight wool with such a cute print from S.R. Harris in Burnsville. They might have some left, but I think I'm going to add black trim to one of my slips and let that compensate for the short length.

This pattern would be cute with the sleeves and the back in a coordinating fabric, something to contemplate for the future.

McCall's 7973

I'm not quite sure what I think about this dress yet. I loved sewing it because it looks like Neapolitan ice cream, but the colors are too close to my skin color to be flattering. The neck bow also seems kind of wimpy and I'm not a fan of ties in the back. Also, this dress took five yards of fabric with none to spare.

The sleeves came from a blouse I had from long, long ago and I saved it because of the embroidery by the cuffs.

Even though I don't need to add any fluffiness to my body, I like this outfit with the vest so much better, much better suited to my personality.

Just shrunk some of this fabric and trying to figure out what coordinates and what pattern would work.

McCall's 7804

I have been sewing, but the weather has been January cold, so I've been wearing sweaters and wool and coats. Mimi G had sewn this up and made a good recommendation to add ties to the side of the dress. If you don't do this it will be way too baggy.

For the life of me, I cannot sew inset plackets. Luckily I had some bias denim to cover up the wonky edges. The main fabric is from S.R. Harris in Burnsville, MN and the rodeo fabric from the stash.

I'm going to use these sleeves on something else too, love the two tone. This dress would be cute in the summer with short sleeves. Boots from HSN (Sheryl Crow) in case anyone likes them too!

Burda Style 5/2019 #117

 I wanted a top that looked like it came from the Sundance catalog. The top that I liked was $150. If you sew, you know that is way too much money. The pattern was traced from my Burda magazine and the fabric was from Jo Ann's, probably from the 90's. So, in essence, free!

I traced the largest size with no adjustments and everything is spot-on. Since it seemed too long for me I did an old fashioned hand stitched three inch hem. I also did no pressing, horrors, because that's the Sundance look.

This picture is horrible, but it shows off the embroidery on the velvet better. Well, I'm off to Jo Ann's for a pattern sale...see you there!

Vogue 7494

This is the second time I've used this pattern. This time the dress is made from remnants from
SR Harris. I was hesitant to put the two fabrics together, but it turned out to my liking.

Simplicity 7277

 I did a little pattern mixing on this dress, but the black was not planned. Once again I forgot to cut two of the skirt gores, so maybe the black side panels are slimming, ha!

If you are busty or short waisted, I would not recommend this pattern. I am neither, but it sure makes me look that way. I'll keep this for awhile just because it is comfortable. It might be cute for a summer dress made up in silk with the short sleeves.

McCall's 7894

 I really like this dress, but I was going to have pictures taken, then take the dress off and put on something else, because the fit was not perfect in the back (more on that later). My husband said to just keep it on because no one would notice and it looked good.

 I also made the sleeves about two inches longer and they still seem really short.

Here's the back. If I make the again I will slash the pattern in the back and make some darts at the waist. Wanted the sleeves to hit at the waistline...

The fabric is glittery cotton from Jo-Ann's dot discount section. I think it was about three dollars max!

We went up north the day after Labor Day, we were all hoping for a swim but the weather did not cooperate. Still beautiful though.

BurdaStyle 5/2019 #105

 I wanted something easy to sew and this dress from Burda fits the bill. I don't like pockets, so those went away. I sewed the dress up without looking at the instructions since we all know how terrible they are anyway. The pattern runs really long in the waist, but it's okay for me.

The fabric is from so long ago that I have no idea what it is or where it came from.

My slip is showing again, but look at those cute shoes! You could just add some pom-poms to some sandals that need to be spiced up a bit.

McCall's 7500

 Here is another pattern that nobody has sewn up. I like this pattern, but would make a few changes. The front panel is way too wide. I would need to take in about two inches on the top portion of this pattern. To wear it I just pinned it and I don't think anyone would notice.

If you use this pattern use a lightweight fabric, because there is a lot of gathering on the insert.

I also added as much length as my yardage would allow and it's still too short. At this point I'm not going to mess around with it, just wear it. People ask my how I dress on my casual days...this is it!

Simplicity 4468

I  had such a good sewing run, but now everything is just okay. The only thing I really like about this dress is the vintage print. The shoulders slide down so the sleeves don't sit properly, might need to add strap holders to the dress. 

Another thing that's just okay is the weather in Minnesota, it has been like fall and it seemed like we had only one month of summer and swimming! Yuck, but less yucky than winter.

Wadder

 This dress looks bad on, and it broke my good sewing machine, and that machine was out for a month getting fixed. I would like to salvage this and make a skirt since the fabric was a little expensive even on sale. While my machine was out I pulled out a Singer machine that I had purchased at an estate sale. Luckily it was easy to figure out, the only drawback was that it was much louder than my Pfaff.

New Look 6497

Why have not more people sewn up this dress? This is a great pattern for using contrast fabric and a great pattern for using up fabric in the stash.

I did have this in the stash and when I pulled out the cut pattern, I had only cut two of the side skirt and I needed four! Thank God for the internet! I ordered it and it wasn't too expensive and in came in two days. Yeah!

I will most definitely use this pattern again. I just did my normal adjustments and it fits quite well.

Burda Style 03/2018, Style 113

When I opened up my Burda Style magazine and this was in it, I was so happy! I love the twist of fabric at the bustline. This design seems to be polarizing, either you love it or hate it. It does seem like a summertime dress, so I made short sleeves. For winter it would be cute in a flannel with the long sleeves.

The sleeves and skirt are from Butterick 6203, I just didn't want to mess with the fit in the hip area.

The fit is pretty much spot on with normal Burda Style fitting. The fabric is once again from Hobby Lobby and again from this season...YIKES!