Pattern: McCall's 5850
Description: Lined dresses are 4" above knee and have back zipper closure; package features interchangeable components to create your own design; choices include three bodices, two midriffs, gathered skirt, bubble skirt, bubble skirt with hem band and optional bows; included in package are tips for embellishing your finished dress.

Pattern Sizing: 4 - 18. I cut the 4.

Did it look like the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it does.

Fabric: I used a white polyester brocade from Jo-Anns that I found in the bridal section. I used a black matte satin for the contrast.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very! I only read over them initially and never referred back.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? My daughter loves and often buys Trixxi dresses. She showed me a couple of styles she liked and ask me to make her a white dress for graduation. I thought this pattern was the PERFECT one!

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I cut the size 4 and graded to a size 8 at the waist to the hip.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would definitely recommend this dress. It's very easy and a real quick project. I'll sew it again if Amber wants me to!

More graduation pictures:

Description: Misses'/Miss Petite Dress sewing pattern in three lengths with skirt variations. Separate patterns included for B, C, D, cup sizes. Fit For Petite.

Pattern Sizing: 4 - 20. I cut the 4 and blended it out to the size 10.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it does.

Fabric: Special Occasion fabrics from Hancock Fabrics.

Were the instructions easy to follow? This instructions weren't really needed. If you've ever made a similar styled dress, you could easily wing it.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Amber loved this pattern from the moment she flipped through the Simplicity catalog and saw it.

I'm currently working on a slightly modified version of Simplicity 2440, View A. These are the fabrics that Amber picked from Hancock Fabrics. I completed the bodice (late) last night. I'll do the skirt and the organza flowers today. Pictures to come this weekend!

This pattern was well drafted and the instructions were very easy. I cut this dress in a size 6 and made the petite adjustments. I sewed the boning and the bra to the lining. I inserted the zipper after sewing the back panels together and then I sewed the rest. I attached the lining to the dress and underlined it. I attached the lining to the zipper tape with slipstitches. I honestly don't remember the exact measurement for how much I shortened. After the petite adjustment, it may have been 4 - 5 inches. I purchased the floral appliques and sewed them to the neckline and to the skirt. I tacked the petticoat to the lining at the side seams for fear that it may slip down. I purchased the petticoat from CaLyCo Crossings.

She really, really loved this dress (as if you couldn't tell from all of her hamming it up) and the sweetheart neckline is very flattering on her.

I recommend this dress for anyone that needs a formal. I will not be sewing this one again. God forbid she is forced to wear the same dress or something similar! LOL

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This is a lined clutch bag with a self-fabric bow and knot and an inside pocket. This design is based off of the Valentino Bow Clutch.

Since I used the lame fabric and just as the name suggests, it's tissue thin. The pattern said to use sew-in interfacing. I wanted to make the bag a little more sturdier, so I used some scrap denim I had for the front and back. I used muslin for my sew-in interfacing for the facings. I used fabric from the dress for the lining. I really like the contrast of the pink against the silver. The zipper is attached to the facings and the facings are attached to the lining. The lining is sewed together leaving an opening in the bottom. The lining is attached to the outer part, right sides together. The outer part is pulled through the opening and slipstitched. All of the pattern pieces went together perfectly and the instructions were very easy.

As usual, Kwik Sew never lets you down when you need basics! These are flat front trousers with back welt button pockets and slanted side pockets. These pants are drafted so well that I'm going to have to go back and look at their ladies' trousers. The size small fit Brian perfectly out of the envelope with no alterations. As I sewed, I compared these pants to a pair of RTW and the drafting and design was almost identical. I used Palmer Pletsch's no roll waistband and it turned out great.

I recommend this pattern to anyone needing to make a pair of men's trousers. This will by my TNT for the in my life.

It's that time of year again... Homecoming. It's September 26th, so there will be no sewing for me until all of this is done. (I do have one finished piece that I'll share at some point this week.) This time, I will be dabbling in menswear by making an outfit for my son as well. He asked and how could I say no?

For Brian, I'm making a vest like this one:

I'll be using Vogue 7488, view A.

and Kwik Sew 3267 for the pants.

Homecoming at my kids' school falls between semi-formal and formal. They attend the homecoming football game and the dance follows. This is why I would never do a long gown for Amber. I have terrifying images of heels getting caught in hems and her tumbling down the steps in the stadium. Brian decided that he just wanted a vest instead of a jacket and I agreed because it's still quite warm this time of year.

Her fabric (which hasn't arrived yet) is a soft pink. We decided to add a crinoline petticoat underneath and to shorten right above the knee. this is our inspiration dress:

This is such a fun dress and hopefully I'll be able to capture the essence of it. I'll keep you updated with progress reports.

Description: Lined, loose fitting, A-line dress, with cut-in shoulders, 5" above mid-knee, has gathered neckline, back opening and bias turned down collar with button and fabric loops.

This dress was very easy... it only took a few hours in an afternoon to complete it. This dress only had 6 fabric pieces (front, back, under and upper collar and the front and back lining pieces). I cut a size 4 above waist and blended to a size 6 from the waist to the hem.

The instructions didn't recommend interfacing for the collar, but I did it anyway. Since the collar was cut on the bias, I felt the the interfacing should be cut the same way. The fusible that I had was only 22" wide. Not wide enough to lay it on the bias. I use cotton muslin as sew-in interfacing and it was the perfect weight for the collar.

What really made this dress easy was the fact that it had no zipper. Only 2 buttons and the fabric loops at the collar. Notice that the top button is sewn on top of the collar. I used hem tape for both the shell and the lining.

I had planned on making the leggings also, but I couldn't find the type of knit I wanted. The only thing I could find locally were the shiny power knits. I didn't care for those. They scream -- on my way to dance class. I decided to just purchase a pair that looked almost like a sweater knit. We decided to accessorize with black suede platform pumps and a silk wrap since it was a rather warm night.

Once again, my Burberry-esque trench sits unattended and unfinished on the dressform. *sigh* You ask why? Well, I'll tell you. Amber so kindly reminded me that her Winter Dance is Wednesday and I had yet to even purchase fabric! This sent me into an immediate state of panic. What if I can't find fabric locally? My first thought was to say forget sewing and do the thing I dread the most -- going to the mall. I hate malls with a passion and avoid them at all cost, I adore boutiques though, but I digress... So, the thought of me buying a dress from, God forbid, the "mall" had Amber at the point of tears. She is serious when it comes to not wanting to be the carbon-copy of anyone else.

I took a chance today and went to Hancock. Luckily, I was able to find a lipstick-red wool crepe and it was 30% off and the notions were 10%!

I chose this dress for my 15 year old daughter's homecoming dance. I cut the bodice is a size 6 flaring out to a size 8 at the waistline. I cut the skirt in a size 8. Amber is 5'3", so I made the petite adjustment on the bodice by reducing the length by 1". Also, we decided against a floor length skirt and cut it down to tea length.

This is a great pattern. There was nothing that I disliked and we both love the corset-style bodice. The drafting is superb... all of the pieces matched perfectly. The instructions were well written and very easy to interpret.

Underpinnings are extremely important, especially in evening and formalwear. Creating a solid foundation in a bodice is very important in offering great support. In addition to the boning I added, I also added bra cups.


The bodice lining was sewn by placing the lining's wrong side to the bodice's wrong side and basting together. Then I added 5/8" grosgrain ribbon to the basted seamline and stitched it using a zipper foot to maneuver over all of the thickness. I trimmed the SA down to 1/4", turned the ribbon to the inside and stitched to the lining (while keeping the bodice free).



Here is the inside of the dress. The neck strap was done the same way of making a spaghetti strap. I added dress hangers by using 1/4" twill tape. I inserted a handstitched invisible zipper using tiny backstitches, a hook and eye. I handstitched the lining down by slipstitching to the zipper tape and also slipstitch the bodice lining to the skirt lining. BTW, all of the seams in the skirt and skirt lining are french seams.

And for a special detail, I created a waist stay with grosgrain ribbon. A waist stay provides support and holds the dress in place. I did this by cutting the ribbon, 7" longer than the waist of the dress (3 1/2" on each side). I folded back the ends a little over an inch, stitched it down and added a hook and eye. I sewed the waist stay inside the dress at the waistline seam. You just fasten the stay right before zipping the dress.

I let the dress hang for 24 hours, allowing the bias in the skirt to set. I made the hem of the lining by turning the lower edge 1/2" and stitching... turning again and stitching.

For the dress, I turned the lower edge 1/2" and stitched once. I sewed hem tape to the edge and handstitched the hem in place by using tiny prickstitches so that it would be virtually invisible.

This was my first attempt at anything remotely couture and I'll let you guys be the judge of whether or not my attempt was successful when I post my final review on tomorrow.

These are all of the bodice pieces after the were cut out and underlined with the netting. As you see, I hand basted them with white thread so I would be able to see it. These are the white threads that you will see in the next photos.

Right here, I have sewn together all of the bodice panels, added the boning and handstitched the sequin trim.

Here is the front of the bodice after I added the trim. As you see the seams have been toptstitched 3/8" from the seamline. I used black embroidery thread for this. Black is terribly difficult to photograph indoors without too much flash so I hope you can see the details. If not, I guarantee there will be plenty more photos to come.

ETA: I got a better detailed shot:

The start of school means that Homecoming is readily approaching. I have until September 25th, to find and construct Amber a dress. She's a 15 year old sophomore. I want her to look beautiful, but not too "grown" (know what I mean). No plunging necklines! No low cut backs! No minis! No slits up to "there"! After seeing how some of those young girls go to homecoming and prom, I have to wonder what kind of crack their parents smoke?! They look more like they're going to a party at Hef's mansion than to a school-related event. I've been searching and I have ALMOST narrowed down my choices.