Category Archives: Dresses

Easy pattern rating? Kiss my behind Butterick B5353

  By Deby Coles | May 12, 2013 - 6:00 am | , , ,
27 Comments

I had desired this dress from afar for a long long time – the Butterick B5353.  The model looks so cool, sophisticated…and the dress so slimming and flattering.  I felt as my sewing skills had come on some way in these last few months that it was time to tackle this pattern that had been sitting in my stash. The pattern rating is easy – yay – should have this done in no time.  I also threw a little caution to the wind. EVERY SINGLE pattern I have made up to date I have made according to the pattern envelope … Continue reading →

What the hell is THIS ? (Burda 113 06/2012)

  By Deby Coles | April 30, 2013 - 7:00 am | , , ,
31 Comments

I was naughty and it was therefore my own fault that I got caught.  There is no one else to blame but me and karma came my way and kicked me in the ass.  I stole.  Plain and simple.  And I won’t do it again – promise. It’s just that I wanted to sew a nice dress, and I didn’t have the right pattern.  Burda magazine isn’t available here (although I have now signed up for an international subscription), and my fabric shop doesn’t sell patterns apart from a few things for kids.  And I had this fabric just calling out to … Continue reading →

Can I ask your fitting advice?

  By Deby Coles | April 11, 2013 - 10:09 am | ,
4 Comments

I’m making a dress.  Its from a commercial pattern, and its for an upcoming wedding I’ll be going to next month.  Knowing how pattern sizing is always off, I’ve made a test from some dollar fabric to see how it fits.  According to the pattern envelope, I should be between a 14 and 16 – so I cut a size 10 and guess what, it’s still a bit too big. But sizing aside, what do you think?  I know there are a lot of very experienced sewers out there who have given advice before – can I ask for your fitting advice … Continue reading →

The Dress that REALLY got me noticed (another free pattern)

  By Deby Coles | April 2, 2013 - 5:00 am | , , ,
55 Comments

This is the dress that started it all. The dress that really got me noticed as a sewer, or is it sewist?  Let me introduce you to the Danielle dress. Danielle is yet another FREE PATTERN – this time from Burda.  I think my dress looks nothing like the one featured on their site.  Isn’t it amazing how different something can look in a different fabric and without those silly puffy sleeves.  While I think theirs looks a little frumpy, mine makes me feel tall, smart and a little fancy!   Once again my reluctant photographer tries to do his … Continue reading →

McCall’s M6074 – the One to Four hours dress

  By Deby Coles | March 23, 2013 - 3:52 pm | , , ,
32 Comments

I’d been itching to try this pattern for a while and eventually got round to it.  It’s a very simple pattern with just 4 pattern pieces, well 2 really if you consider that each one is a mirror image of the other.  Two for the front, left and right side and the same for the back. And a small piece as a casing for the elastic which creates the gather under the bust. According to the measurements on the pattern envelope, I was a size 14.  Dresses normally come out too large, but I’d rather take in than find I’ve cut too … Continue reading →

Eva Knit Dress – Free pattern

  By Deby Coles | March 3, 2013 - 1:45 am | , , ,
41 Comments

I found this great site for free patterns – Your Style Rocks.  There are only a few patterns but they are awesome!  I was immediately drawn to the Eva dress.  Their photo on the dress form looks so slimming and sophisticated that I had to make it.  Except mine didn’t come out quite like that. It is described as a classy and elegant dress with a beautiful cowl neck.  I chose to make it in a plain black, although with the design across the front being in different pieces, I think this would look great as a color blocked dress. I used … Continue reading →