I've decided to take the plunge and give Burda a try again. I'd been hearing all of the hype surrounding the July issue and wanted in on it too! LOL I've gone out and bought some tracing paper and I just need to decide which project I'm going to do first! Now if only I had someone to do the tracing...

Description: Close-fitting, lined, flared dress has princess seams, midriff with assorted beads and invisible zipper closing. Above mid-knee length

Pattern Sizing: 8 - 22. I cut the 14 in the bodice and graded to size 16 at the waist.

Did it look like the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Very much so!

Fabric: Tangerine 100% linen (from Hancock)
Lining: Ivory Bemberg (from Jo-Anns)

Were the instructions easy to follow? I only read over them briefly if that's any indication.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? This is another great designer pattern that I've had stashed for over a year now. I initially purchased it simply because it IS a designer pattern. In spite of that, I thought it looked rather frumpy on the pattern envelope. I didn't really appreciate the style and design until I saw Ann's version.


Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made a 3/4" FBA to both the bodice and the lining pieces. I also added 3" to the length.

I suppose if you forego those things, this could be a very simple project. But if you're like me and want to drive yourself mad with all of the "extraness", then be prepared to commit a couple of days of your life.

One thing I would do differently IF I ever were to sew this again?
I would use a wider hem instead of the scant 5/8" hem that was recommended. When I look at it, I'm just not loving that part. But that's just my personal preference.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably will not. Too many dresses, too little time. I think this is a very flattering dress to a multitude of figure types and I highly recommend it!

Description: Fitted, straight skirts A, B, C, D have contour waist and back zipper; dress A is above mid-knee; dresses B, D are below mid-knee; dress C is mid-knee; dresses B, C, D have back slit; dresses C, D have soft front pleat.

Fabric: Linen blend (55% linen/45% rayon)

Pattern Size: 4-20. I cut the 16.

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

Were the instructions easy to follow? What instructions?! LOL It's a pencil skirt!

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Normally, I would have had to add length. But I used view B, the longer version. And this is where it stops on me! LOL I did add a lining. I don't like wearing slips in the Summer and it was a MUST that there be something in between me and the sheerness of the linen fabric. I used THIS method so I didn't have to hand stitch the lining to the zipper tape.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The only thing I didn't like about this pattern is that there wasn't a lining included. But it was no big deal to just add one.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would sew this again and again and again! Yes, I highly recommend this to anyone that would love to add basic pencil skirts to their wardrobe!

I'm amazed at how much I had to say about a simple pencil skirt. I was actually planning to do one of those "Look at what I've sewn" post with a limited amount of text!

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.