It's a really simple v-neck pullover top with cut in sleeves. I cut the size 14, and I lengthened it a couple of inches because I knew I would be tucking it in. 

I used leftover red crepe fabric from this dress.

It's the end of August and I'm wrapping up summer sewing. This will probably be my last summer dress of the season. This year, I probably made more spring and summer dresses than I ever have. I haven't done a count, but it sure seems like it. It was just my 'thing' this year.

This dress is Vogue 9311. Compared to a lot of the other dresses I've been making this summer, this one is practically minimal.

For this dress, I cut the straight size 14. I did lengthen skirt pieces by 3 inches. My fabric is this luscious Kelly Green Double Cotton Gauze from Mood Fabrics.com. 

This fabric is exceptional. It's not like the cheap gauze fabric you may often see. It's two layers fused together. So, it has a good weight and it's not translucent. And the texture is beautiful.

I knew the original design of the bodice was not going to work for me. It's very similar to Vogue 9253. Those low-cut, sternum-baring styles just don't work with my bustline... at all. I don't make a lot of statements on what body types look good in what. But in my opinion, that sternum-baring style looks best on those in the "Itty Bitty Titty Committee". If I had small boobs, I'd rock every top plunging to the belly button. I love that style... but just not on me.

So, I stitched the center front up 3 inches. It's still low-cut with good decolletage, but bra-friendly and not all wide open.

I typically don't like empire waist styles. The remind me of the available clothes that I wore over 20 years ago, the 3 times I was pregnant. All of the maternity dresses back in the day were empire waist and tied in the back. 

So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that even in that style, this one has a nice skimming fit along the waistline. But I still tied it to the front.

It has pockets! I love pockets and they make me happy every time I sew them into a dress. Sometimes I just need a place to put my phone while I do something else with my hands. They come in handy.

For the ruffle flounce, I used my gathering foot. It's the truth and it stays coming to the rescue... I'm not about the string pulling life.

I love this dress. And plan to make the long sleeve version for this fall in some great fabric and awesome fall color.

I’ve been seeing it used on a lot of high-end designer clothes, and also on accessories such as handbags and shoes.

My summer dress streak continues. This time, it's a Tie-Shoulder Dress. 

This dress was inspired by the Saloni Ruth Polka Dot Midi Dress.

Once again, I had on the tv and glanced up at the screen and it was sewing kismet! There was a dress that I had to have!

Hilary on The Young & The Restless (she's pregnant in real life) was wearing this striking pink dress with bows on it and I had to know more. My favorite site for locating wardrobe from my favorite tv shows, never lets me down.

The dress is Black Halo Mystic Bow Dress.

To make my dress happen, I simply looked at the lines of the designer dress. The main thing: princess seams with no waist seam. So, I knew I'd be starting off with Vogue 1532. For the neckline, I went with a pattern I'd already used prior -- McCall's 7728.

First thing first, I had to marry the two patterns and picking fabric. My fabric is from my Spring/Summer Fine Fabrics Haul. It's an ivory rayon/viscose crepe.

For the center front, I cut it on the fold eliminating the center front seam.

I left the back like Vogue 1532, well... I lowered it by 2", instead of having a v-back like my inspo dress. I made bias cut straps for the dress as well.

To create the bow detail, I left the seam on one side open at the upper thigh. I spread open the seam so that it would hang apart and sewn in an inset or gusset... whichever you want to call it.

Here is the inside. Now, I haven't seen the inspo dress in person. This is just how I feel things should go. And as you can see from the results, it works.

I sewed the bows the same you would sew a fabric belt and hand stitched them on.

I installed an invisible zipper.

The dress is fully-lined and I used a nude lining. My lining fabric is Donna Karan Warm Beige Italian Stretch Silk Georgette. My sewing tip: Never skip the understitching. It keeps your lining from rolling forward. I've been noticing lately that a lot of people skip that step and *think* that they can just press and go... nope. There's my way -- there's your way -- and there's the RIGHT WAY.

I finished it off with a 2" deep machine-sewn blind hem. So, that's it. I hope I didn't leave off any details. I hope you all find posts like these inspiring to know that you never have to sew a pattern straight from the envelope -- unless you want to. You can take pieces, add new parts and adjust anyway that you like!

If you've been watching and paying attention, you know that I'm a fan -- a BIG fan of the 1970s style. So, when I saw the Fiona Sundress from Closet Case Patterns, I knew I needed this. I seldom buy indie patterns, so on the occasions that I do, you know I love a pattern.

This is such a classic style dress. I knew my version would look great in white denim that I already had in my collection. I'd planned for this piece of fabric to go to a similar style 70s inspired dress. But the back of this one was game-changing.

Based on the Closet Case sizing, I started with a size 12 at the top, grading to the 16 for the hips. Even though this dress is meant to be worn bra-less, I still needed a FBA. 

Also, I had to lengthen the bodice pieces by one inch. I cut the skirt in the below the knee length.

I like this dress a lot and I want to make one in a blue denim with the classic back that will transition into fall.