Simplicity 3831

Does this count as a TNT pattern if it's the second time I've used it? This is a pretty good dress for free. I ordered the fabric online and when it came it had a huge white streak throughout the entire length of the yardage. Luckily without too much trouble they let me have this and sent a replacement fabric (different because they were out of this). So, I had to squeeze in this pattern and did not get the ideal placement of the design in the fabric.

Next time I sew fabric with a nap, I need to remember that I like it with the nap up, because it has a richer color. On this dress it is down when you pet it.

Did you notice my squirrel friend chowing down? We have a whole family of five fat squirrels living in our trees. Can't grow tomatoes because of them, but I like them anyway.

 

McCall's 8032

My last few items I've made have been wearable, but I'm just not thrilled with them.  This pattern does fit nicely, with my normal adjustments, including making the dress longer.

I like that this is a summer print that I can wear in the winter because of the faux suede trim. The sleeve flounce is strange because I decided to fold it in half without adding any width.

 

McCall's 8024

This top is pretty good and it was super easy to make.  I like the cuffs because there is not much fabric by the top of the cuffs and that they fit snug to the wrists. I don't like the wide neck opening and how much fabric there is in the mid-section and bottom.

I would probably use this top as a pattern for the bodice of a dress with an elasticized waist.

 

Simplicity 9380

This dress looks a lot like the dress on the pattern envelope, when you see something it gets stuck in your head sometimes...ha! 

I made the sleeves shorter (too short) and the skirt longer. In winter I like my skirts longer, but not enough fabric. This fabric was ordered online, it is vibrant and soft, but it could have been thicker.

I'm planning on making some kind of cowl collar from the scraps, it looks a little bare at the neckline.

And, looking at the pictures, I think unbelted looks better...next time!

 

Simplicity 5034

I need to go to the Pub! I really like beer, and my beer drinking dress with the adjustable waist to accommodate beer bellies!

Fabric from Fabric Mart. It was inexpensive so I thought I would make my husband a shirt, no such luck, needed it all for my dress.

The only thing about this pattern is the neck is very high, and I would scoop is out just a little bit.

 

Vogue 1395

Keeping the picture small because all the pictures looked bad, even though I really like this dress and felt good in it. This is the Rebecca Taylor pattern that many people sewed up quite awhile ago, and once again I am one of the last to use the pattern. I lengthened the waist length a bit, the length and the ties.

That is one of the advantages of sewing it after everyone else, you get to take a look and make it right for yourself.

 The fabric is from SR Harris and it is actually a polyester eyelet, very pretty and not expensive.

McCall's 9505

Notice how the belt matches the fabric perfectly? Ha ha! The hardest part of making this dress was the fabric layout. 

The fabric is from Cali Fabrics, they had a really good selection of scarf print fabrics. Later I saw some of the same prints at Fabric Mart.

I will probably make this again!

 

Finally, a pattern that I like and fits decently. I did have to go back and take out some of the fullness out of the princess seams at the top, but luckily that was an easy fix. It looks like the model on the cover of the pattern had the same fitting issue as I did!

I added sleeves because I did not want to deal with any armhole gaping. I did get compliments on this dress when I wore it out.

 The other version of this dress looks cute too! This is a keeper.

BurdaStyle 6134

 The tie version of this pattern, in dress form, is what I had in mind for this pattern, however I did not have enough fabric, so this is what I came up with. I used some colorful seam binding for an outside elastic casing and just made a tie out of a scrap of fabric and sewed it on. There was some gaping at the armholes, so I went back and sewed some darts. Love the fabric from Mood, it is what makes the dress.

I bought this top at a thrift store and sewed up the skirt because I thought they went perfectly together. In the pictures it does not go together as well as I thought they would.

I also thought the pattern would fit like a wrap skirt and be kind of flowy, but it is more form fitting. The picture on the envelope looks really different. I might keep this for another year and then donate it, the pattern is going now.

No compliments on this outfit when I was out-and-about.!

 

Re-make

This is a re-make of the previous dress. It is more comfortable, but still not one of my favorites. The top was cut from BurdaStyle 07/2011 #138. I wanted it to look like the Anna pattern and it does replicate that quite good.

McCall's 7319

This dress looks okay, but I already ripped off the top and I'm going to make a new dress that doesn't bug me so much. The bottom of the wraps stood out like wings on the hips (they are just pinned down here). It is made from scuba knit and it is way too thick for this pattern.

The fabric is from Minerva and luckily I had some spare fabric, just because the fabric is measured in meters, not yards. I took apart three dresses that I just did not like yesterday.
Since I have so much, if I don't love it, I need to fix it, give it away, or for a few items they are allowed to sit in the back of the closet for a year.

First pattern, don't like, Butterick pattern, love. The Butterick pattern has a nice flared skirt and the fit is much nicer.

 

Vogue 9363

I do love this Vogue pattern, just a few changes. I made a waistline at the back because fitting is easier and also because of the pattern in the fabric.

I made the dress then tried it on, then had to rip out the ties because they were placed too low. The ties would have been better with just a single layer because the fabric is quite substantial and the print shows on both sides. I bought the fabric from a seller on Etsy and with the shipping it's about forty dollars for five yards. Really great deal for the quality!

Have a great day!

 

Simplicity 9325

Sill in the non-photogenic mode. I saw this fabric online and had to have it, took awhile and here it is.
It is very pretty fabric, but also very flimsy. I chose this pattern because I didn't think I'd have any fitting issues, but I did. The bodice is too long in the shoulder area, so everything wanted to slip down.
I went into the shoulder pad stash and sewed a pair in. That helped a bit (and also to keep the sleeve flounce up).

I used every bit of the fabric and couldn't make the flutter sleeves or make the dress longer. I did have enough fabric to make the ties longer, don't like ties in the back too much. If I make this pattern again I would shorten the shoulders, make a facing on the armholes instead of binding and raise the godet it the center without making it wider. It is wearable, just not as cute as I thought it would be.

 

Butterick 6351

Just two pictures, I haven't been too photogenic lately! I made this dress two years ago and never wore it, because I couldn't find a bra to wear with it. This pattern was easy to sew, but I don't like the way the back fit. I should have allowed for a broad back and I should have lengthened the back as well. 

 I did just sew the back together, otherwise it would really be open in the back. I'm glad to be wearing this dress because I love the fabric so much. Kind of match the house...ha, ha! 

Butterick 6677

I have been sewing, but not as much as normal and some of my sewing projects have been taking such a long time (to come later). This was easy and no fitting required.

The fabric is from Minerva, it's pretty, light, and stretchy.

In Minnesota it has been really hot, dry and smoky, but you still have to be outside because it's summer!