Like many other subscribers to Burda Style out there, my June issue was later than usual. I went online to checkout some of the patterns offered in the issue. When I saw this top I decided I would make it as soon as I received the magazine.

I found this medium weight rayon and Lycra ponte knit at Stonemountain and Daughter in Berkeley. I love that fabric store and wish they were closer to our home. Of course I found a few other knits while I was there.

The photo above bothers me because it looks like my knots are not centered on each other, and they are. Also, those are pockets and not panty lines. Ugh!

I didn’t make any modifications to the pattern. The construction was very simple and I barely glanced at the instructions. The pattern was easy to trace which is always a bonus. I love the neckline and the knotted bands in the back. Even the length of the sleeves is great.

A couple of weeks ago we visited family in the Central Valley. My sister-in-law had this sewing themed umbrella waiting for me in the guest room. I think it is so cute.

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This is my third time sewing Vogue 8379. It is my favorite wrap dress pattern. There’s not a lot I can tell you that hasn’t been said about this pattern. To-date there are 143 reviews on PatternReview.com. It was also a Best Pattern for 2007 and 2008 as well being in the Hall of Fame in 2009.

I wanted to share this version because it was made with an interesting border print. The multi-colored stripe was located at the edge of the floral print as well as the edge of the solid part of the fabric. I used the stripe/solid combination for the sleeve and the stripe by itself for the belt. I used the stripe that was along the edge with the floral for the belt. I should have taken pictures of the fabric prior to cutting it. There’s not enough left to make out the print.

This time I made the short sleeve version and omitted the collar. I made my usual changes for this pattern:

• Added 1″ to bodice length.
• Cut the center back skirt on the fold. I removed the seam allowance in order to do so.

This will not be the last time I sew this pattern. It is a joy to sew and I love the finished dress.

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I have purchased new summer patterns from the Big 4 as well as some independent pattern companies but somehow this season I’ve been sewing my old favorites more than my new ones.

I’ve been wanting to make a sleeveless Issy Knit Top ever since I made the longer sleeve version a few years ago.

This 2-way stretch knit purchased last summer was exactly what I had in mind for this pattern. The fabric has a nice drape and I knew it would do well with the side gathers. The pattern has a hi-lo hem thing going that I like.  I made my usual Style Arc size 8 without any modifications.

There’s not a lot more to say about this top. I made a new summer top and I love it. I don’t think sewing has to be any more complicated than that 😉

My previous Issy Knit Top:

Style Arc Issy

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This sewing project is my first collaboration with Minerva Crafts. Minerva reached out to me last month and asked me if I wanted to be part of their Minerva Makers Team. I had noticed them on Instagram and liked their fabrics. I was excited to give them a try. Minerva provided me with this beautiful stretch cotton sateen. The rest was up to me. I had Vogue 9184 in mind when I chose this fabric. I’ve made this pattern twice before in the shorter version. Blogged here.

For the maxi version I chose to only make one side slit (the pattern calls for two side slits). I find maxi dresses with 2 side slits awkward when sitting. It always feels like the front doesn’t know where to go. I also shortened the side slit by 9″. I have no issues walking in the dress with the altered slits. I lengthened the dress by 2″ and made a 1″ hem.

The pattern is unlined but just like in my two other versions, I chose to line the dress. For this project I lined the dress to the top of the side slit.

I love my dress. It’s a great addition to my summer wardrobe.

My two previous versions of this pattern. I omitted the vertical fish eye darts for the white/beige dress.

Vogue 9184

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I never paid attention to this pattern when I first saw it in the Burda Style magazine. It didn’t strike me as my style. Recently, while out shopping, I spotted a white cotton top with eyelet ruffled sleeves. I thought it was cute and remembered seeing something similar in a Burda Style magazine.

The top I saw had an extra eyelet ruffle as well as a plain cotton one so I added another ruffle and made the smaller armscye seam ruffle in eyelet as well. To add the eyelet ruffle to the sleeve I cut the eyelet a little wider than the seersucker ruffle and basted them together. I then treated them as one piece.

The other change I made was to create neckline facings. The pattern calls for cutting some bias strips and using the strips around the neckline. The facings worked well. I understitched them and they stay nicely in place.

I used seersucker leftover from another project. Coincidentally that project was also a mix of seersucker and eyelet. This top was an easy project. I didn’t refer to the pattern instructions. Even the pattern tracing went well. The pattern pieces were simple and few 🙂

This pattern was not part of my summer to-sew list but I always leave myself open to changes. You never know when inspiration will hit you.

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I love eyelet. It screams summer to me. I chose McCall’s 7740 for this black eyelet that I bought a few months ago in Canada. The dress is a simple style with an interesting back. As someone one said, it’s all business in the front and party in the back.

The pattern envelope doesn’t show the front of view A or B. Below is the line drawing.

After making a muslin for the top, I chose to raise the armscye by 3/8″. It doesn’t seem like a lot but it was enough for the bodice to feel more comfortable. I also lengthened the skirt by 2″. I’m 5’7″ and I found the pattern as drafted too short for me. I think my finished length is similar to the one picture on the pattern envelope for view B.

The buttons were a gift from my friend Stephen 30 years ago. He brought them back from England for me. There were 4 of them. I had them on a linen top for many years until it was no longer wearable. I saved the buttons and am glad I did because they are a nice detail on this dress.

The pattern calls for the dress to be fully lined. I used cotton voile for the lining.

This is a cute summer dress that was not complicated to make. I’m glad I took the time to make a muslin for the top. It would have been fine without my alteration but isn’t the reason for making your own clothes to get something you feel good wearing?

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I enjoy wearing maxi dresses in the summer time. I make one or two every summer. I wanted a new knit summer dress but I envisioned something in-between a maxi and a midi because a maxi was not going to be practical for the event I had in mind.

I chose Simplicity 1612 for my dress. I’ve made View A and C in the past. For this dress I went with View D/E.

I cut off about 5 inches at the hemline of View E. The finished length reminds me of skirts/dresses I wore in the early 1980’s.

I had a couple of yards of this ITY knit that I purchased last summer while on vacation in Quebec. There was not a lot of wiggle room for pattern placement so I had to let most of the pattern pieces fall where there was room. The back has a lot going on but I don’t see the back so I’m O.K. with that 😉

Now that I’ve made this dress, I can see myself making the shorter version. The pattern is well drafted and the dress fits well. This pattern is out-of-print but if you have it in your stash, I think it’s worth digging out.