An incredibly productive sewing weekend and question for the crowd.

Last weekend was a sewing bonanaza due to an uncharacteristic amount of free time. I finished three dresses (completely – even hems!) and have pictures of two here

The first is an oldy-but-goody pattern much favored by myself and other bloggers: Vogue 8280, now out of print. I’ve made this a few times before. It’s a great dress, easy to layer with cardigans although a bit much for office wear without one.

Excuse the wrinkling – I wore the dress all day before taking photos.

The fabric is this supersoft wool I got for about $3.00 a yard on sale at Gaffney’s in Philadelphia last Spring. I think my mom might have more of the same – they were havinga great sale, but you had to buy the whole bolt (usually only 2-6 yards, they were all end bolts) so my mom split some pieces.

The second one is a new Vogue pattern, V1206 by Kay Unger. Based on the envelope I passed this one right by. I love leopard spots, but I find the fabric atrocious. Taste aside, the busy print obscures the design details. And I didn’t like the ruffles.

When I looked at the line drawing however, I realized the dress had some details from a BURDA pattern (wrap top into princess seams, midriff band) I’d be meaning to trace and grade down for about 9 months now. I am short of time and hate to trace, so I happily bought the pattern (on sale of course). The 4.99 is well worth not spending hours tracing!

The fabric is silk wool twill from the Vera collection at fabric.com last year.

I left off the ruffles, but other than that I made no modifications. I sewed a straight 6, which is what I usually do. The fabric I used was heavier than what the pattern I called for, but the only reason I could see for a lighter fabric was the ruffles, which I omitted anyway. I interlined the bottom and midriff band with quilting cotton to give it a little more body and weight. The dress if fully lined in Bemberg rayon, with the exception of the wrap front, which I lined with the fashion fabric. I also will definitely need to use a safety pin to keep the boobs in check (and you KNOW its low cut if my boobs are escaping. There's not really enough there to spill out!)

In other news, I took advantage of the fabricmart 20% off sale to buy some of the wool furs I’ve had my eye on for a while, with an eye to making a really great winter coat. Because even with the discount it was really expensive (easily winning my “most ever spent on fabric” prize), I bought 2.5 yards. Unfortunately, I forgot two important things:
1) I’ve actually been struggling to find a pattern that would make a “really fantastic winter coat”
2) 2.5 is on the scant end for a coat.

My back up plan is to possibly make this McCall 5764 cape (the version on the model), which would definitely fit in my allotted fabric. That said, I would love to make an actual coat, which I’d get more use out of. So I’m opening the floor for suggestions! Anyone know of a really good coat pattern I can make in 2.5 yards (60” wide, with nap, size 6 pattern) or less? I’m open to either a classic coat (knee length) or a hip-length coat to wear with jeans, both of which are gaps in my wardrobe. I can also cheat a little on facings if need be!