Bonjour, friends!
I’m excited to share my latest favorite dress with you! This one turned out exactly as I had envisioned and I’ve already worn it twice since I made it. I shared my plans for this in a previous post. My inspiration was a Modcloth dress, that I loved when I saw it, so I picked up the Michael Miller Gay Paree fabric (from Harts Fabric in Santa Cruz) that it was made of and planned my own version of this dress.
I used the Sewaholic Cambie dress pattern, which I’ve made several times before. It’s one that I’ve already graded up and I like the way it fits me. I’ve also been looking forward to sewing this dress using some contrasting color details. This pattern is no longer available in the printed version, but if you’re interested, you can still obtain a paper copy on Craftsy (affiliate link).
Source: Sewaholic Patterns
For my version of this dress, I added navy blue cotton sateen (stash remnant) contrasts on the sleeve front, waistband, sash and hem band. It worked well to sketch out my plans and figure out the color placement. I also added red piping along the neckline, sleeves and hem band.
For some reason, I didn’t take a photo of the insides of this dress. It’s fully lined with white cotton batiste.
I made the sash the same width as the waistband so that it would appear as one, plus have the same contrast if I elected not to wear the sash. I made thread loops to keep the sash lined up with the waistband.
I graded this pattern up to about a size 22. I didn’t add length to the skirt as I usually do as I sewed on a 3″ hem band. In addition to those pattern alterations, I did a swayback adjustment and cut a fuller skirt.
The sleeves are attached to the bodice back and then pulled down the front to be attached between the dress and the lining. The Cambie bodice has some gaping if I attach the sleeves to the intended marks, so my sleeves are pulled down further to fit to my preference.
I really love this dress. It’s my favorite dress to wear at the moment and it definitely makes me want to add design elements like this to future dresses. I’m not certain if this white fabric would be one that I’d like in a full dress alone, but with the contrasting red and navy, it really steps it up. Plus, the print is just so sweet and fun. <3
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: Sewaholic Cambie in Michael Miller Gay Paree quilting cotton, made by me
- Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens
- Earrings: BaubleBar
This is just gorgeous. Thanks is for all the detailed construction info too. I love reading about your makes!
I adore this dress on you. it looks way better than the Mod Cloth inspiration dress. The Cambie is a nice pattern and you really suit that style. The fabric is very cute. Xx
Love, love, love this dress on you. When I went to the pattern site, it said this dress was for a pear shaped figure. Do you know of any patterns that would look good on an apple shaped figure?
You are a girl after my own heart! This fabric is to die for, and your contrast band and belt keep it from being too busy. Fabulous! I am mightily impressed with your pattern matching on that back zipper, mon amie.
As usual you did it again Tanya – what a stunning dress!! Beautiful fabric, emphasised by red piping and a navy blue band hem – c’est tres belle!!!
I love the red piping and the navy blue accents, as they really bring this dress together into one excellent eye-catching and lovely piece on you. You’ve given me inspiration as to what to do with some fabric in my stash which has the same basic colorway — white background, with red and navy blue sailboats printed on it. I appreciate that!
You’ve pulled another beautiful dress off again! I love the trim and the fabric is really you.
This is a great dress and you look gorgeous in it. The print is really pretty and with those shoes you’re giving off a bit of a Dolly Clackett vibe (which I think is a good thing).
I really like the contrast bits you added. I’m currently working on a dress and I think the print is a little overwhelming. After seeing this dress I think I’ll add some contrast bits to balance it out a little.
that’s a beautiful dress you’ve made here Tanya and it looks great on you plust the fabric combination you used is so perfect. I love this pattern too and i find it to be very romantic, unfortunatelly I don’t wear sleevless dresses (don’t like how my arms look) and everytime I see such a beautiful cambi feel a bit jealous:)
Fabulous 😊
adorable as always, tanya! I need to make a bridesmaids dress in a certain color range for a july wedding and this pattern has been in the back of my mind, though the though of printing, taping, grading and then having to fit it is a bit of a downer. I’m happy to do 3 of those 4 tasks, but when i have to do all 4 of them its a major deterrent! I keep hoping sewaholic with grade this one (and the minarou) up into their new size range, but maybe i should give up on that and just do it myself. I’m sure it won’t be too bad once I get started. It seems like such a lovely, classic design that I’m sure it will get lots of use and wear if I do buy the pattern. Thanks for sharing this version!
Thanks, Megan! As she stopped printing this pattern and has far different designs now, it seems like she’s stepping away from retro styles like this. I wish she would grade up the old ones, but alas, I don’t think she will. However, I do think this pattern is the perfect BM dress. There is a similar Vogue (V1497) pattern with more sizes. Maybe that will work for you? I’m thinking of picking that one up when they’re on sale at Joann’s.
Thanks for the suggestion, that is really cute! I’m never very up on my big 4 patterns, which is a shame. I’m definitely hoping to make something with a cap sleeve like that vogue pattern, though i know its going to be really hot and humid (and outside of course) so I am struggling with that. I keep thinking that surely I have something in the pattern stash that will work, but I haven’t landed on anything quite right yet. The brainstorming continues, but at some point the sewing is going to have to start!
Looks great Tanya! How do you find so much time to sew, holy cow!
Thanks, Carlee! I guess that I make a lot of time to sew. Sometimes I wish I could sew more as I have a long list of what I’d like to make. 🙂