Caroline in LA sends in her interpretation of McCalls 5137, taking the picture outside in her back yard, in accordance with tradition. Doesn't it look fab? She's unsure how much she'll wear it, since her silk turned out to be polyester (I hate it when that happens, but occasionally a store clerk will get huffy about me trying to set their fabric on fire — strictly to test fabric content, I assure you — so I've been taken in by the poly masquerading as silk before). I love the necklace, too — I think it's the perfect length for this neckline. I made one just that length, only in orange (I know, the orange thing is getting out of hand) to wear with mine.
I know a lot of you have asked to see this on a Real Life Person (and Caroline certainly is, or else AI has advanced TREMENDOUSLY in recent months) and so I hope this helps. I'll still try to get someone to take a picture of me on one of the days that I'll be wearing my versions this week … like today. So if you see someone in this dress, wandering around Midtown today, that's probably me, or someone who committed an act of violence to obtain said dress. Either way, stop that person and say "hi," okay?
A Dress A Day 
That’s really cute, and she looks fab wearing it. Well done!
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I am loving this dress pattern. As long as she wears the dress when the temperature is 72 degrees, she will be fine.
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Very pretty.
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Her smile says it all! The dress is lovely and lovely on Caroline. The necklace and bracelet combo is perfect.
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Very well done, indeed! Did she use a border pattern for the trim?
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thanks for the nice comments about the dress! The trims are from the border (most saris have a border area about 2 or 3 feet deep at one end of the length of fabric). Sadly the dress is not only super hot, but I’m guessing is also super flammable. I’ll be remaking this one though – it’s such an easy pattern, especially if you take Erin’s tip and sew on the borders before sewing up the sleeve seam, and the side seam of the skirt.
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Wow, Caroline, you and your dress look amazing!!! :-DOn an angrier note: it’s such a disgrace that you don’t get proper information about fabric in shops! Dammit, we are entitled to know for sure what our purchase is, how to wash it, how much it’ll shrink and so on. It’s a bloody nuisance! *foams at the mouth*
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I echo bani’s angrier note. Fabricland, the Canadian corporate chain that’s now the only fabric store available in many areas, has recently started labelling more and more of their merchandise “Of unknown fibres.” It’s completely inappropriate.
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(%*()*&**^%!!Enough about the Duro already. It’s been made (and again and again and againand…) Move on already.
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She looks SO good!
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so cute!
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Love the dress, and really love those bracelets! Really lovely outfit!
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Re, “Enough about the Duro already. It’s been made (and again and again and againand…) Move on already.”Anonymous 1, if you want to control things, go start your own blog and do it your way.
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a) what previous commenter just saidb) “of unknown fibres”? Hello??!!! It’s like a mediaeval market stall all of a sudden.
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Wow,what an absolutley fantastic site!!!I have spent many happy hours here tonight,when I should have been getting my own blog underway.Im in a frock frenzy.Get in touch Erin cause Ive got a pattern for you.Thanks and cheers, Sue.
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erinDid you find the orange espadrilles? I got a Newport News catalog yesterday that offered some.
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Carol,I found some orange shoes, and will have an espadrille report soon. Keep checking …
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I am sorry that I didn’t post here yesterday. I’ve been thinking about how wonderfully this translated to “silk” and the beautiful Indian feel this has. Then, I think about the polyester ick- effect and it makes me so sad! I’d love to see you make this again, Caroline. And, in a luscious silk, too. It really does seem to have a nice drape in lightest weight fabric. You look truly lovely in it.Holly
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Love this dress and it suits you so well! Check this ebay # Item number: 6285354269 for another version of this style of dress from Vogue in the 70s…more low cut and a fitted sleeve. It has a zip it the back, but I have made it sans zip, as a pullover. I think this blog is fabulous for the encouragement of style and sewing!!
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I like this one! And you’re right, she looks fab. The style suits her long straight hair as well. It looks delightfully neo-bohemian.Fab. 😀
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I’m interested in making this dress, but I’m a novice sewer. Does it require complicated modifications for fit, or is the pattern fairly well drafted? Is it pretty easy to make?
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Savvy, it’s hard to answer your question without knowing your fit problems. If your measurements are close to a standard size, this is a very forgiving dress and easy to make. If you have a very large bust, though, I think it would be difficult. The pattern is fine but some of the instructions are odd — it wants you to sew on the sleeve bands as a tube, instead of flat, etc.If you go slowly and carefully I think you could do it!
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