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.

Hot Patterns 1178

We went from this to this, what a shock to the system. At least I can wear my winter clothes that I just finished before the trip.

This is a Hot Patterns pattern and I really like it. I choose the measurements closest to mine, added length and sewed. Some people may like their clothes closer fitting, but this is perfect for me.

I added the buttons down the front and used my machine, of course.

This cracks me up, it looks like I'm holding the bird feeder. You can also see the Hi-Lo hem.

Vogue 8873

Happy New Year!

This is a pattern that I didn't think would work so well, but I love it! It really fits well right out of the envelope and I think it's flattering too. The fabric was purchased at the recent Minneapolis Sewing Expo. So happy that Vogue Fabrics could come.

I didn't wear these shoes...just for the photos.

This past week I've been doing all the hand sewing on lots of outfits, some that have been hanging around since last winter. Start off the new year finishing up a few things.

Simplicity 1325

I've actually been on a good sewing spree lately. This was touch and go for a while because I tried it on and it was tight, too tight.

I added a very sturdy zipper instead of an invisible zipper and I added a godet right under the zipper. I really like this pattern and may even sew it up again. The fabric is a faux leather from JoAnne's from a few seasons ago. The fabric sewed up easily with no problems.

Pattern of the Year

Love Butterick 5985, Normally I make a pattern once, but I've sewn this one up in various forms three times. This time I added the bodice and collar from Simplicity 9602.

The pictures are terrible thanks to the cold weather we've been having in Minnesota, you don't want to step outside unless you are forced to. This fabric is from the new SR Harris Outlet in Burnsville. It is a double knit fabric with silver metallic dots.

I once again used the middle flounce only and omitted the zipper.

Vogue 2782

Another vintage patten sewn. In general, I've found the vintage patterns to be more fitted and less revealing than the newer patterns.

So, keeping that in mind I did cut out everything a little bit larger, but it's still a little tight for my tastes, but still comfortable to wear. Since this is a knit fabric I made sure my head fit through and omitted the zipper. I also used bias tape in the neckline instead of the facings.

Did you notice I have a thing for digital print trees? The fabric is from the new S.R. Harris outlet in Burnsville MM. This store has less fabric, but I came away with a lot more because it is a great selection and you can see everything because of the sun coming in the windows. Fantastic!

Simplicity 1801

At first glance this dress looks pretty good, right? Well, not so much. The fabric is so pretty, but it stretched like crazy. Even though I put stabilizer on the neckline it still grew to be gigantic. I should have sewn darts, but I gathered for some strange reason, so I have gathers all over the back (not a good look). Plus the top is way too low cut. And did I mention how the fabric wrinkles? Oh well, on to some fall sewing projects.

I had some other summer dresses all made up, but no more temperate weather. Sad...