A 'Simple Knit Dress'??? But actually it opens up a whole new world in my wardrobe!!!

[@SewMyTime]

Fabulous pattern. I love it. It works beautifully in the black merino. 😊 Lynne

[@sewmuchsewing]

Thanks so much! The designer has encouraged me to try the front shaping as she is convinced it will work even for my shape 😬 I've said I'll give it a go... but nervous!!!!

[@SewMyTime]

Nothing to lose- all to gain I’d say!

[@robynlaszlo6128]

I like it alot very flattering and versatile its a keeper😊😊😊

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hey thanks so much! I'm so glad you think so ☺️

[@irenegilchrist1512]

Terrific dress Catherine. It was so hot today in Melbourne, I'm actually looking forward to Autumn.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Thank you. I LOVE winter and am not very sad about it's arrival 😁. I even had to wear a cardy to work this morning!

[@sarahvanhoof9992]

What a great dress - I love it. Another one to add to my list of must makes. A really handy piece to have in the wardrobe. I haven’t worked with merino yet so am thinking a nice soft comfy knit. Thanks for the intro to this fab dress!

[@sewmuchsewing]

A merino dress will be a doddle for you... you are a dab hand at knits by now! 😁. Yep I def. think you would get some good wear out of a dress like this... I know you like nice long cardies so a dress like this under the PE Reconnect cardy would be so nice on you!

[@sarahvanhoof9992]

@@sewmuchsewingoooooo yes that would be lovely!

[@dbdesignsandsewingaustrali5668]

Hi Catherine your knit dress is lovely, great job with the cover stitch, the merino is great fabric. Deb 🪡🧵💕

[@sewmuchsewing]

Thanks Deb! I do love me some merino in the winter time 😁. I love my cover stitch machine, how did I ever manage with out it I wonder?

[@bawtosu5269]

Your knit dress is beautiful on you, and your sewing is outstanding. Now, would you consider using that excellent sparkly fabric from a couple of videos ago as an overlay for it? I fell in love with that fabric, and I think it might do nicely over your new dress. Great video.

[@sewmuchsewing]

aawww you are very kind, thank you so much!😊. ooohhh now that is a fabulous idea! I will need to think on that... but I absolutely do love that idea! hhhmmm thinking cap on... 😁

[@charlottemccaig578]

The dress is fantastic and it looks lovely on you! The fabric has a great deal to do with it. That merino just falls so well, doesn't cling, yet gives just enough structure. I'd make another one in another color - maybe a deep peacock blue. Hope you and your family are doing well.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Oh yes! Peacock blue that would be lovely, I do love that colour. I have been thinking I would make a viscose jersey version as I have several colours sitting waiting for the right project. I also have some other merinos so I may well make another merino version too. It's just so amazing when you find a pattern that you love, makes it all worth while... THIS is why we sew 😁.

[@aileenyoung6999]

Great dress it fits in so well with the rest of your wardrobe definitely becoming a “capsule “ wardrobe. Looking forward to the cooler weather here in Brisbane so over this heat.

[@dianapower-qo8gy]

Hi there, love your Merino dress so good to be able to layer clothes, I quite often Shop my wardrobe by adding layers and getting different looks. Dry eye, silly name I've only had it in recent months told it's a form of hayfever and the pollen is bad this year, mine was bad yesterday and have noticed when it's windy it plays up, terrible for eye makeup 😢 I've been using Poly-Tears does ease it and well under $10. Please don't bring winter on I feel summer really hasn't arrived yet 😮 take care regards Diana 🎉

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hi Diana, nice to see you! I hope everything is going well in your world 🌻. I've caught a little flack for mentioning winter that's for sure 🤣🤣🤣 but I like to think ahead. And actually as I was swanning around in my merino dress yesterday I wasn't even hot at all, so that tells me something 😨. And this morning on my way to work it was definitely 'chilly', I had to wear a cardy! I take fish oil for my dry eye and it is quite effective, though not perfect. See you again soon!

[@dianapower-qo8gy]

Yes you are right the last couple of days have been cooler but I live in hope. Fish oil been taking it for yrs but alas not working for my eyes 😢 hopefully it is doing other things 😂, looking forward to your next vlog 🎉

[@fionajohnson5842]

I love how you love your new dress and had such fun looking at styling options. Definitely a great addition to your 'capsule' wardrobe. I just can't do dresses or skirts in winter - I feel the cold more and more (aging, I guess) and it's pants and sweaters/jumpers/whatever-you-want-to-call-them all the way. I like making jackets and coats and see a couple of them in my near sewing future, which will be fun.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hi there! At the moment I live in a very temperate climate, Auckland doesn't get what I would call properly cold so dresses and tights do the job for me in winter time. Actually I discovered fleece lined tights last winter and love them! Though I'm not sure how much warmer they are than standard tights? I think just knowing about the 'fleece' makes me fee warmer 🤣. I think I'm going to give a more involved jacket-type-thing a go this season too. I feel the urge to do some 'slow sewing' and feel like I'm missing jackets/coats in my wardrobe. What jacket and coat patterns have you used in the past that you love and would recommend?

[@fionajohnson5842]

The ones I grab all the time are not necessarily the most exciting but they're so versatile to wear, and they are Simplicity 8218 View C and Tessuti 's Brooklyn Coat, both unlined and in boiled wool. The Itch to Stitch Atenas jacket and Maison Fauve Pilar are my favourite denim jackets. I made a couple of other short boxy jackets before realising I don't like short boxy styles on me. I also made a couple of 'proper' lined coats/jackets (Butterick B6729 and B6793) that I love, but my size changed and sadly they are just too big for me now. For this year I am planning making the Waffle Patterns Bamboo Coat in a gorgeous checked wool/alpaca blend from The Fabric Store, the Itch to Stitch Andes jacket in soft shell, StyleArc's Parker Coat in a double sided wool and another Atenas in corduroy. Is that enough to be going on with!! Bonkers really, but it'll be fun.

[@fionajohnson5842]

Another reason for making jackets is because I too am focusing on more slow sewing. My wardrobe doesn't really lack anything (except pants maybe) so more involved projects satisfy my need to create and sew without adding too much to my wardrobe. I have just made the lovely flopsy wopsy Papercut Juno Jacket for my sister and am part way through making her an Atenas jacket out of second hand jeans denim. It's enjoyable but terrifying at the same time - it's an involved make and my sister is quite a different size and shape to me, and lives too far away for any fitting sessions so I live in dread that it won't fit! These are the first things I've made for her so I've got no experience of what her standard alterations might be. Fingers crossed!

[@sewmuchsewing]

@@fionajohnson5842 "enjoyable but terrifying at the same time" that cracked me up! 🤣. I totally understand you. Wow it sounds like you are a real coat expert! You certainly have made more than your fair share. The fabric store had an amazing purple check Alpaca mix coating... did you by any chance buy that? I was drooling over that for the longest time!

[@fionajohnson5842]

I'm no expert - I just like having a go, with mixed results. It wasn't so much a purple check, but softer mauves, blues, greens and pink. Quite like a bed blanket!

[@faithmathingsdal79]

What a fab basic! I just love how you've styled it both on its own and with layers. Very chic and comfortable looking. Your tweaks to the pattern really do make such a huge difference. Good job. Also, I think I've said similarly in previous comments, but I'm loving your hair...it's edgy but still feminine, and that feminine mixed with your wardrobe aesthetic is just perfect. :)

[@sewmuchsewing]

Thank you so much! For some reason that pattern just 'got me' and I needed to make it perfect for me! 😁. You have no idea how nice it is for me to hear your lovely comment about my hair. I have struggled all my life with my hair. It is baby fine and thin. There have been many days I've been in tears in the morning getting ready to go out to face the world. The last few years I've been taking collagen or keratin supplements and at the moment I have an amazing hair stylist so I feel my hair has never looked so good! To receive such a nice comment about it means so much to me ❤. Thank you.

[@faithmathingsdal79]

@@sewmuchsewing My pleasure! That style is perfect for finer hair. I would never have known you've struggled so much. Your hairdresser is a legend. Enjoy looking fab! x

[@kimkennedy7272]

Great dress for a base layer. Sad to be thinking of winter sewing already, but with the weather down here in Dunedin lately that’s where my mind is going.😮

[@sewmuchsewing]

aawww I know! I had to wear a cardy on my way to work this morning 😱😭. I know winter is still a way off... but I just like to get organised so I've got things to wear no matter when it hits us! Hope you have an amazing week!

[@lynnewambeek2284]

Oh yeah that dress is definitely a winner Catherine, love the alterations you have made to it also....have yet to sew anything in Merino, in fact haven't done any knit sewing in a very long time 🙂 Funny thinking about cooler weather when our summer here is yet to stay for anymore than a day or two.....damn weather! Just as an aside, have you ever tried rubbing Castor Oil on your eyelids to alleviate the 'dry eye'?

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hi Lynne nice to see you. Yes 'summer' has been a bit of a joke all round, hasn't it? I guess I shouldn't hurry winter along but it is my favorite time of year. No, I haven't heard of using castor oil for dry eye, do you have experience with that? I take fish oil every day for it and it really helps... but doesn't eliminate it unfortunately.

[@lynnewambeek2284]

@@sewmuchsewing my eye issue is different, I have high pressure caused by narrow drainage channel (all behind the eye) which can cause cataracts and glaucoma. Hubby has dry eyes 😳 so we both use the Castor oil on the lids.....will know if it helps when I see my specialist next.....willing to try anything ayveredic/natural, it does have to be organic, cold pressed and hexane free also in a glass bottle....

[@sewmuchsewing]

@@lynnewambeek2284 I'm sorry to hear that, sounds like you are looking at all your options to help the situation. I hope you have some good news about the castor oil 🌻

[@lynnewambeek2284]

@@sewmuchsewing thank you Catherine, it is what it is when all said and done, I will always try ayveredic/natural healing before medical intervention, TMI I am sure but has always worked for me in the past 😉

[@sewmuchsewing]

@@lynnewambeek2284 Not TIMI at all 😀. I don't think I've known anyone personally who uses ayveredic healing and don't know anything about it. Natural healing methods are an awesome option and I totally support their use (not that you need my support in that!).

[@janep2776]

Ok you’re in trouble, talking about winter already 😢 Your dress looks fantastic. I need this, I think I’d need similar pattern alterations.

[@sewmuchsewing]

🤣🤣🤣 oups!! I know, we've hardly had a summer ⛱. I'll be snuggly in my merino dress though 😁😇.

[@SlapHappyRetirement]

Hi Catherine! So nice to see you pop up in my feed :) Dont say winter - I feel like I havent had a summer with the move to the SI (almost complete now) . I love your Merino dress, so cosy and versatile. Its so easy to get seduced by fancy patterns but those versatile garments that make everything else work are gold! We must catch up soon :)

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hello you! Funny, I was just thinking about you on my drive to work today and wondering how you were getting on with your move. Exciting times! Best of luck for the last push... it can often be the most difficult to manage after all the hard work doing all the big stuff then you juuusssst have these laaaassst few things to do 😲😩. I LOVE winter so am not really sad about it's imminent arrival... but I have caught some gentle flack for mentioning it for sure 🤣🤣. Would be so great to catch up. We are going to Dunedin for my nieces wedding soon but of course we will be flying so not able to stop in to see you this time round but soon I hope!

[@create_something_pretty]

Hi Catherine. Lovely to see you again. I'm so glad this has worked for you. I have the same tummy issue after having kids in my late 30s. I do not recommend doing so. Does nothing for ones figure 😂. Cool packaging. Can't believe we are already thinking about the cooler weather. We've barely had summer here in Melbourne. Hope you have a lovely week and lots of successful sewing.❤❤

[@sewmuchsewing]

hahaha sorry to mention the upcoming wintery months! I know winter is a way off yet... but I want to get ready for it 😀. Actually winter is my favourite time of the year. lol yes kids... tummies... aarrggh but that is real life isn't it? Luckily you tend to get a bit more accepting of these things as you age. See you again soon...

[@vegemitegirl1971]

I can see your Lola dress with black leggings and a black long sleeve top underneath and on top with either a crop knit jumper or a denim jacket.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Yes! That sounds like a great outfit 😍. I do have a lighter coloured distressed look denim jacket. I think I'd wear that outfit with my tan lace up, above ankle boots. Nice!