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:

This is a sneak peak of my version of Vogue 1154. Boy, is this a fun a project! I've become almost addicted to dresses with a corselette foundation.

What are YOU working on?

Description: Fitted, lined dress, above mid-knee length, has princess seams, midriff, straight skirt, back zipper, slit and topstitch trim. Purchased belt.

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

“I love that [the patterns] are
giving women the freedom
to create for themselves
and express who they are.” - Kay Unger

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? What's not to love! If I didn't have time to make a dress and needed one for an event or occasion, I'd buy a Kay Unger! The cut of this dress is so flattering! The midriff section is contoured and makes the waist, hips and butt look great! I love princess seams! And I love the topstitching. I am curious as to why the topstitching wasn't continued in the skirt part of the dress.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added about 3 inches to the hemline. And I sewed down the front opening. I knew there would be gaping right there. Even though the flat pattern measurements seemed to fit my needs, I could have used a small FBA. Notice my opening is much more than the original.

Pattern: McCall's 6069 - View A

Fabric: Knit from Vogue Fabrics

Description: Pullover, above mid-knee, semi-fitted straight dresses A, B, C have elastic waist casing, stitched hem and bodice variations; dress A is sleeveless; dress B has three-quarter sleeves; dress C is sleeveless with self sash; dresses A, B, C have optional back strap; optional purchased belt.

This dress was so easy that I really don't have a lot to say about it. I did my usual lengthening alteration -- 1 inch for the bodice and 2 inches at the hemline. There's nothing I didn't love about this.

I was looking for a QUICK and EASY rainy afternoon project and this one was perfect!

Project Details

Pattern: McCall's 5574, View C

Description: Dresses A, B, C, D have self-faced bodice and midriff, front gathers, back elastic casing, tie ends and A-line skirt in two lengths; dresses A, B have V-neck and ties around neck; dress A has purchased trim; dress B has contrast midriff, bodice back and tie ends, mock belt with purchased buckle; dresses C, D have front casing and ties around neck; dress D has contrast midriff, bodice back and tie ends; dresses A, B and C length is 2" above mid-knee; dress D length is 1" above ankle.

Pattern Size: 7-16, I cut a size 10.

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

Fabric: Yellow cotton interlock - 100% cotton.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I can't really say, because I didn't use them. And I doubt that another experienced sewer would need them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? After the last dress I made, I needed something really easy before jumping back into another project for myself. I love the style of this dress... it's really cute, stylish and also age appropriate. I decided on this particular view because I didn't have to make a muslin or give any thought to the depth of the v-neck on the other one.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added about 2.25" to the bodice front and back. When I pretreated my fabric, I guess I didn't anticipate as much shrinkage as I got. With that said, I didn't have as much fabric as I needed. So, I cut the front part of the skirt on the fold and the back in two pieces. That's why my version has a CB seam.

I stabilized the waist seam and that CB seam with clear elastic. I didn't want her to have "saggy butt" after sitting. And I also added clear hanger loops. I made them longer than the annoying ones that are one RTW so they would stay tucked in.

Pattern: Vogue 1174 - Cynthia Steffe

Description: Close-fitting, strapless, lined dress has seam details, piping trim, princess seams, foundation with boning, side front pockets, pleats and darts, above mid-knee length.

Pattern Sizing: 4 - 18. I cut the 16.

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

Fabric: 55% Linen/45% Rayon

Lining: China Silk - 100% silk

Notions: 12"/14" Invisible Zipper, Hooks and Eyes, Two ¹/2" Hook and Eye Closures, 1¹/4 yds. of ⁵/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, 1³/4 yds. of ¹/4" Covered Boning, 2 yds. of ¹/2" Seam Binding.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were good, there were parts that made me scratch my head... I'll get to that later.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love that this is a designer pattern. This dress is actually still in the stores now and retailing for $345! I love that the dress had a "foundation".

But I didn't like the the way the foundation was attached. This is what had me scratching my head. I've never constructed a design like this. I would have *assumed* that the foundation would be on the INSIDE... as in between the shell and the lining, instead of the outside. Well, for this design, I was wrong. I do however appreciate that this dress is constructed with a boned foundation and a waist stay. This is NOT something you see often in RTW. I don't recall ever seeing a waist stay in HIGH END RTW. And I do a lot of snoop shopping. I have seen a lot of lower end RTW versions of this type of dress that did not have boning and I thought, "How flimsy." And I wondered if the strip of clear elastic around the inside of the neckline would really hold this dress in place?!

I really liked the piping. I thought that was a great detail!

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added 1" to all of the bodice pieces. I added 3" to all of the skirt pieces. I didn't want a "mid-thigh" length dress and thought that one stopping at the knee would be more "appropriate".

Like I said, with RTW dresses, they use a strip of clear elastic that sticks to the body to keep the dress in place. Well, instead of doing that, I put a 1/4" elastic strip in between the foundation and the lining.
Even though I made a muslin and "perfected" the fit, when I made the shell it was still excessive fullness. I understand that different fabrics reacts differently once you start handling them. But this one grew once I started sewing and applied heat to it. I added the elastic so that it would mold to the body. Before, the sweetheart neckline stood away.

I also added hem tape to the hemline of the shell and lace to the lining.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I wouldn't sew it again. It's simply too many more dresses I want to make. But I do recommend it.

I hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend! I'm currently working on Vogue 1174.

I've already completed the shell. Now it's time to make the lining and build the foundation.

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!