Butterick 6814 Made With Minerva

This is a springtime pattern (I think) that is a very easy top to make and wear. As you may know, I’m a Minerva Maker, so for this project in May, I chose to get a cotton shirting from them. Here is a link to a previous post using Minerva fabric. This Butterick 6814 made with Minerva fabric was the perfect choice for me. And the results turned out great!

I’m always concerned when I get a pattern that has a V-neck. The V’s tend to be too low for my taste and comfort level. That means more work because the neckline will need to be raised. BUT, that was not the case with this pattern.

This pattern has the perfect V-neck without alterations!

While the above statement may not be a big deal to some of you, for me it’s huge! 😂 I love the look of V-neck tops, but they sometimes involve more work than I’m wanting to do.

The blouse I made was an unintended change to the pattern. I didn’t realize when I cut out the top that the sleeves weren’t folded up to show the shorter version. Therefore, I made a long sleeve version of View A. There are plans to make this the correct sleeve length out of a cotton eyelet fabric I have. I can’t wait to get that one done!

For now, this one will do. This is the type of top that makes an outfit look more put together instantly. Isn’t it great to have those types of things in the closet? And now as things start to open back up, I might actually have some place to go (eventually).

I have a blog post the really covers the fabric (it’s lightweight, washes and dries great, and sews up beautifully). You can get to that post here.

I hope I’ve given you another idea of something to add to your wardrobe. In the meantime, my plan to keep sewing and improving my skills!

End of Summer Yellow Dress

Sewing Vogue 8985

There are times when I buy fabric with a plan in mind.. This rayon challis in yellow and white polka dot was one of those. It just SCREAMS summer. This pattern (V8985) is one I’ve had for a few years. I knew that I wanted a simple style that wouldn’t take away from the fun of the fabric. As a result, this is the perfect combination for an end of summer yellow dress!

Yellow and white polka dot rayon challis
V8985

*For more information on sewing with rayon challis, you can check out this post here.

Changes I made to the pattern

I made changes to the pattern to get a look I love. Summers here are hot and humid, staying cool is imperative. It can be too hot to wear a tank top underneath another top or dress. That’s why I added a panel made from white rib knit. The direction of greatest stretch goes across the body. I had to make sure I could pull it over my head since I didn’t add buttons. I did something similar here in this dress.

Vogue 8985 Front view with modesty panel, end of summer yellow dress

You can often add a “modesty” panel to the front of a dress or top.

The skirt lining is sewn together as one with the fashion fabric. I put these with WRONG sides together. This result is the right side of the lining is next to the body which allows for a nicer look. Consequently, this made assembling the in-seam pockets a breeze!

Vogue 8985 Back view with skirt lining, end of summer yellow dress

Those are all the changes for this dress. The changes were easy to make and didn’t change the look or style of the dress. For Fall weather, this pattern can be made from a heavier fabric (something like a poly/wool blend) and can be worn with a long sleeve t-shirt underneath.

Fall plans

Speaking of cooler weather, I am in the process of deciding what I’m making for Fall. That decision is generally based on what I want and could really use.

Vogue 8985 front view with modesty panel and skirt lining, end of summer yellow dress

Until next time… I’ll just keep sewing!

Terrific Summer Dress Patterns To Sew

I’ve been wanting to write a post like this for a while. I just wanted to feature some of my favorite summer dresses that I’ve made previously and give you some pattern information or information about the process of making these. These are some terrific summer dress patterns to sew.

Vogue 8997

I made this dress a few years ago and I still have it and love it. I’ve seen some other bloggers and sewists use this pattern lately although I don’t know if it’s still available. You can read the original post here.

I did find that when making this dress, I had to reconfigure the layout in order to have room for the pattern pieces to fit.

BurdaStyle 05/2019 #107

Another favorite. pattern of mine is this BurdaStyle Magazine dress from 05/2019 #107.

BurdaStyle magazine pattern 05/2019 #107 in lemon and navy blue — **BS 05/2019 #107**

I made modifications to the pattern with this dress (short-sleeves and added pockets). That original post is here. I truly love this dress! It’s a fairly basic shirtdress style, but I think my love of this comes from the lovely lemon fabric. It’s a stretch cotton (it’s almost sold out, but here’s the link from fabric.com). The fabric has a good weight for a dress like this and washes really well.

BS 05/2019 #107 in navy and lemom print back view

Simplicity 8384

My last one for this post is one that I’ve made twice. It’s Simplicity 8384.

As you can see, the pattern had another number when I first bought it, then they changed the number when it was issued later.

S8384 front view in green and white — **S8384**

This one is made in a green polka dot stretch cotton.

S8384 front view in ankara fabic — **S8384**

The last one I made was in this African wax print. Both of these are cool and comfortable to wear in the summer. The last post I wrote about this pattern/dress is here.

The one thing about all of these patterns is that the styles are all classic and uncomplicated. That’s why they can be made from a classic print, a more vibrant print, or just about any solid fabric you could choose. That’s another reason they are favorites for me. I really like versatile patterns and these all fit that category for me.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas for some things you might want to make for yourselves. Any of these patterns (or something similar) are great options!

*This post contains affiliate links.