Vogue 5605

I really like this pattern, it fits well and I like the full skirt and the drape in the front and the back.

Cut it out last summer and just got to it now. Always happy that it still fits!

 The dress is cotton and the overlay is in lace, even went so far as to do a little hand-stitching, Yikes!

Target Dress Copy

This is a copy of the Christopher John Rogers dress from Target last year. I would have preferred to purchase the dress from Target, but it seems like the average consumer has no chance of getting any designer offerings that Target has. It's frustrating and it doesn't generate positive feelings. You think they would know the market better, oh well...

Here are the patterns that I used and I think my version turned out even better!

Got compliments on the dress while I was out and about. And even found a coordinating rose.

 

Finally decided to use this vintage fabric. It's always a risk to use fabric on a never-used-before pattern.

This turned out really well, the only modification might be to make a bust dart to take out some of the fullness in the sleeve and bust area. 

 I added a back zipper and just added width to the straight skirt, easy. The necklace is made by me also. I highly recommend beading for relaxing and mental health! I love sewing because of the creating and the end product, but it is not soothing like beading is.

McCall's 7974

When I'm ready to sew a pattern, I have to go online to see what everybody else has sewn up.
I found The Telltale Tasha online, she had made this pattern with this fabric and I thought
it was fantastic! Since I had the fabric just laying around I went for it.

I really love this pattern, just did my normal adjustments and it fits really well.  Went out to eat pancakes in this dress and received many compliments.

 The bad thing is I organized my patterns and now I can't find it! Have you ever done that?

McCall's 7947

Just made another muumuu and I'm loving it. Love the color and the wearing ease. Used the short sleeves and the flounce, just added length to the flounce.

I used my normal size 16 for the top and graded out to a larger size for the hips. The fabric was from S.R. Harris in Burnsville, MN and it was about 2.99 per yard, deal! And I had buttons in the stash!

 

Simplicity 8640

Pictures not so cute, but the dress, cute. I will sew this pattern again. Normally I have gaping in the armholes, but not with this pattern.

I changed the neckline, it seemed to be more fitting with the style lines of the dress.

Later I changed my jewelry to yellow enamel flowers and different shoes,
looked better but alas, no pictures.

 

McCall's 8348

This dress almost ended up in the bin as they say in England. I bought this pattern on Etsy, they do reproductions of vintage patterns. I think I just ordered a size that was too big.

When I tried this on the front of the bodice was hanging way low over the waistline. It looked like I had surgery to remove fat from my stomach and they left all the skin. Horrible!!!

I hacked off about three inches on the front and none on the back. I added darts to the back bodice and to the front, then sewed everything together and the result was a wearable dress!

 

McCall's 7624

This pattern was cut out for over a year before I got motivated to sew it up. The reason was because I couldn't understand the instructions for the front band. Luckily, I found a tutorial online. She had problems too and posted the solution. Thank you!

Fitting is no problem with this pattern. But it takes a lot of interfacing, so be warned!

 

Simplicity 8875

This is a pattern from 1970, it really looks like one from 1950.  It looks like a dress you would go to a barbeque party in. Sorry I don't have a picture of the pattern illustrations.

Not much to tell, the pattern fits nicely and I liked the scoop neck. Fabric once again from SR Harris in Burnsville MN.

 

Vogue 8901

This is a pattern that I was happy that it had been around for awhile. Because it looked like many had the problem with gaping underarms. I thought that it might look better to bring the seams to the front instead of the back. I tried the bodice on as I went along and pinned the seams where it looked the best. I also stitched along those seams so they wouldn't open up.

I gathered the skirt instead of making all those tucks, too much work!

The fabric was from S R Harris in Burnsville, MN. Love this fabric and it was only $2.99 or $3.99 a yard, bargain!

 

McCall's 7948

I can see why everyone loves this pattern. It seems to fit well and it's so flexible in terms of styling.
I have used parts of this pattern to make up other dresses, but never on it's on before.

Since this is a panel print I cut the top skirt longer and the bottom shorter. I also sewed small darts in the front and added a zipper even though you don't really need one.

Next time I would make the neckline lower. I am going to make this again, I think I'm going to cut up some of my Mexican dresses that somehow have gotten smaller!

The fabric is from JoAnn's and I purchased four panels to make this dress.

Burda 7205

I finished this in the late fall, photographed it and forgot about it. Now that it's finally summer time, time to fish it out! Love this pattern. It is easy to sew, wear and pack if one were ever to go on a vacation.

Flowers on the back too, but no pictures.

 

Simplicity 8259

For some reason I thought this dress wouldn't fit very well, so I had it cut out for over a year
before I got to it. And it fits really well. I've had a lot of sewing failures this year so this was a
welcome change for me!

This dress does have sleeves from another pattern (sorry can't remember which one).
I wanted a sleeve with more ease.

And I even had matching buttons in the stash!