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Pattern: McCalls M6329 (Jacket) and Butterick B6850 (previously McCalls M7352) (Dress)
Fabric: Navy blue cotton twill, gift from a friend. Organic cotton print from Quilts N Things Fiber Arts in La Crescenta, CA (available on Etsy). Teal green 100% linen from Joanns.

Do you find that, sometimes, things just have to age? I find that both the fabrics and patterns in my stash sometimes need time before the right combination comes to fruition. Read More

Pattern: Butterick B6840, The Palmer/Pletsch Jean
Fabric: Lightweight stretch woven denim, bought at the estate sale of a custom dressmaker.

I completed this pair of jeans in Helen Bartley’s Palmer/Pletsch Jeans Fit & Sew at Sew-op Makers’ Space in Vancouver, WA this past week. I gave Helen a challenge: Help me make jeans that fit my 50+ body. Read More

Pattern: Vogue Patterns V9355, with alterations using McCalls M7279.
Fabric: Dress: silk dupioni; underlining is silk organza; lining is Bemberg rayon.

I bought this fabric in Sacramento about 20 years ago. It’s been aging in my stash, waiting for the right project.
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Pattern: McCalls M7352
Fabric: 100% Linen from Joann’s

I wanted an unlined dress for summer — something I could throw on in August to stay cool when I’m at farmer’s market or the grocery store.

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Pattern: Butterick B6760
Fabric: Dress - Italian stretch cotton sateen; lining - cotton/poly batiste. Both fabrics from Fabric.com

I fell in love with this vaguely floral, vaguely geometric, irregular pattern the moment I saw it. 

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Patterns: Bodice - M7279 (now B6849) with the armscyes cut back to encompass the back shoulder darts; Skirt - Madeleine Vionett’s circle skirt, circa 1937 from Betty Kirke’s book Madeleine Vionnet (1998).

Fabric: Vintage polyester challis from an estate sale. Cotton batiste for underlining and lining from Fabric .com This vintage-vibe sundress was inspired by Emily Magli and by Susan Khalje, whose Facebook group did a sew-along for her circle skirt sundress pattern last summer.
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Patterns: Tom and Linda Platt for Vogue Patterns, V1620 (Top and Jacket); Palmer/Pletsch one-seam pants, McCalls M6571 Fabrics: Pants and Jacket - Telio “Downtown” Rayon/nylon/spandex suiting from (now defunct) Fabric Depot in Portland, OR Top and jacket binding/pocket lining - Polyester mix challis from our ASGLA Couture Group’s stash exchange. 
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Pattern: Chalk & Notch “Marcel” Dress
Fabric: Williams Sonoma Tablecloths, circa 2000
I first saw the Marcel dress on Instagram. At the same time I saw the Marcel dress, a number of Instagram sewists were posting upcycled makes to an upcycle challenge. Marcel’s tiers of ruffles immediately made me think of border prints, which reminded me of the two old Williams-Sonoma tablecloths collecting dust at the top of my linen closet. I dreamed about upcycling and bought the pattern.
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