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Super Online Sewing Match Round 5 Project: Cambie Dress

Here it is, at long last! My final project for  Sew Mama Sew‘s Super Online Sewing Match– the Cambie dress!

I can’t tell you how happy I am to post this project! Once again, I procrastinated just a tad and ended up doing the bulk of the sewing this past weekend. I was unlucky enough to come down with a nasty head cold on Saturday, but of course contests don’t wait for colds, so I sent Phillip out for tissues and a big pack of Dayquil and did as much sewing as I could in my sniffly, groggy state! Thank heavens it was a three-day weekend and I managed to finish it up yesterday evening and even get in a few pictures before the sun went down. I’m still not 100% better but hopefully I don’t look too bad in the photos!

When I learned that  we would be making this dress, I was really excited. I had actually purchased the pattern a few months ago and this gorgeous Liberty of London cotton fabric to make it with from Sewbox UK (one of my awesome prizes from the Laurel contest!). It’s really a beautiful pattern and I as I browsed pictures online I noticed that every single person who has made it so far looks great in it! I tried to think of something I could do to make my version a little unique and reflect my personal style, but the pattern is already so pretty and universally flattering, I didn’t want to mess with it too much.
After much deliberation, I decided to make the following changes:
 • Add coral red piping
• Add buttons to the front
• Change the pocket shape
• Add 3 inches to the length
• Add more fullness to the skirt
If you’ve seen my last two Sewing Match projects, you might think that I’m somewhat obsessed with piping. You may be right! It’s one of my favorite trims to add. I thought a lot about which color to use, and I finally decided that the bright red color would really pop. I ended up making my own once again because I couldn’t find that perfect shade of coral-y red in ready-made piping.
I searched my button stash for buttons that matched the colors in the floral fabric- these were all possibilities:

In the end, I chose these three bright red buttons that match the piping. The other colors didn’t really stand out against the fabric enough.  They have a cool effect of being lighter in the middle and darker around the edges.

I was inspired to make the rounded, piped pockets by this image I found while browsing Pinterest.  I think it works well with the pattern! I think it gives the dress a sort of 1940s-ish look.

I made a pretty small 1/2 inch hem:

Here are a couple of back views:

Here’s a closeup of the sleeve/strap (I wish my skin didn’t look so freaky and red!):

Now for the insides:

Here you can see the lining. I like the way that she has the lining waistband made from the main fabric, though I was a little bit confused by this at first and had double-check online that I cut the right piece!

Here’s the back view with the zipper. I like the way the lining is sewn to the zipper- it really gives it a clean look. I’m thinking this lining technique can only be done when the straps are not yet attached to the body, am I right?

I did french seams for the two side seams…

But I serged the center back seam.

 I really liked this pattern and I’m sure this won’t be the last Cambie I make. Our warm end-of-summer weather is starting to hit over here on the central California coast, so I’m sure I’ll still have plenty of opportunities to wear it this year!

Thanks for checking out my post! I’ll find out on Friday if I won the grand prize of a Janome Horizon MC8900. It would be cool to win, but I have to say I’m just happy that I made it this far!