A Cambie Skirt for Day 9

A Cambie skirt? You read that right. As a pattern tester for the Sewaholic Cambie pattern (have you ordered yours yet?) I made the full skirted version, but that A-line skirt was calling my name, and I had the perfect fabric. Yesterday, a friend of mine and I went to the Roswell Womans Club Showcase Home to oooh and aaah (and support the fundraiser), and I had her snap a picture in the showhouse of my entire me made outfit, featuring this new skirt. (Disclaimer: she had never taken a cell phone picture... I know.. so it's a really bad picture.)

Raincoat: Sewaholic Minoru Jacket
Top: McCall's 5522
Skirt: A-line Cambie skirt

A few more details about the skirt... I made the straight size 14 without any alterations, except maybe the length. The length was dictated by the border print on this Echino linen. I lined it because the linen is kind of scratchy. I put an invisible zipper in it and had it go all the way to the top of the waistband. And that's about it. It's a great a-line skirt!

This picture is a little better. The rain had stopped and the sun came out, but it was still on the cool side, upper 60s. I did some topstitching around the waistband and the pocket openings, and you can't really see it, but my thread color matches that yellow strip at the hemline.


Day 10


Might as well add today's outfit to the post. It's a rerun. Temperature in the mid-70s, sunny and gorgeous. I got to enjoy the morning at the dentist, and the afternoon napping off a headache. Yippee. Once the headache subsided, I did finish another skirt and think I'll wear it tomorrow.

Top: Vogue 8151
Jeans: Talbots
Can you see the dog?

Did You Hear the Sewaholic News?

I bet you did! But if you missed it, Tasia, of Sewaholic fame, has introduced her next pattern, the Cambie dress. I was one of her pattern testers. This was my first experience at pattern testing, and right off the bat I'd like to say how fun it was, and how professional Tasia is in all her communication with the testing group.


But back to my dress! A couple of you in the Me Made May flickr group guessed the pattern from my sneak peak yesterday (since it was my outfit for Day 4). And here ya go:

I made the full skirted version from some Amy Butler twill I had in my stash from one or two years ago. Chevrons seem to be really "in" these days, even though this isn't my favorite fabric. I'm also wearing a skinny belt, which after looking at the picture I think I could (should?) do without. There is a separate waistband (a feature I love)... it isn't just bodice attached to skirt.


More details?

Without the belt. Let's see... I made the bodice in a size 10 with some alterations, mostly addressing what I thought was a sway back, but which seems to be turning out to be more of an upper back issue. I also discovered that angling the side seam straight out from a 10 to a 14 did weird things to the bustline, and have a better fitting, if curvier, side seam that fits snug to my shape. The skirt is a straight size 14, though I may have played around with the length (as in, I can't remember if I lengthened it, or shortened it, but this is not the length of the skirt pattern piece.

 I also played around with the straps, though the front strap is pretty true to the pattern, just placed closer to the center to completely cover my bra strap.

The back cap sleeve part looked really strange on my (though I'm not sure I really made it better.


Initially, I feared that this pattern might be too youthful, but I think I'm pulling it off. I think it can be a very versatile pattern, and would even be wonderful as a bridemaid's dress for many body types. The sweetheart neckline gives it a strapless feel, but (duh) there are straps, which some girls prefer (that was an issue with my daughter's bridesmaids).


Just for fun, I made the other version, but without the bodice, so it's, well, again, duh, an a-line skirt. For which I have absolutely zero pictures. I'm planning to wear it next week though, so stay tuned for that.


A parting (candid) shot. And I love it with the flats I wore yesterday, better than the heels I had on in the brick wall pic. Oh, and one other thought... this dress is completely lined. And that made it really hot and sweaty yesterday. It was in the mid-80s and quite muggy. I'm sorry, but it's true. Cotton sundresses in Atlanta... awesome. Lined, cotton sundresses in Atlanta... not as great.