Dresses

The Cam-bee Dress

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

When Sara kindly asked me to join her Dress Up Party, it gave me just the excuse I needed to make another Cambie dress.

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

The Cambie is such a sweet little sewing pattern with enough variations to make it feel like you’re customising your dress to what will really suit you. Here I chose the square front and full skirt without the waistband.

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

The outer fabric is a bee print Makower cotton – this is the white colourway but there are some gorgeous other colours – making this my Cam-bee dress heehee. I don’t sew with many quilting cottons these days, nor do I often wear white, but I couldn’t resist this print. I also lined the dress in white habotai (I love a fully lined dress).

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

As this is my second version I think I’ve worked out all my fitting issues. I staystitched the neckline before sewing as my first version stretched a little. I also recommend a muslin to make sure those sleeves don’t fall off your shoulders. I omitted the waistband because I find them a little uncomfortable on my stomach but perhaps that’s just me.

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

Another helpful thing I did on this version was to make a pair of little chains on my overlocker and attached one end to the tops of my pockets and the other ends were caught in the waist seam. This helps stop the pocket bag sagging. It would be more ideal if the pattern had the top of the pocket bag caught in the waist seam but I suppose that could get a little bulky.

One thing I’d like to mention is that Tasia’s instructions are very succinct I’m always impressed reading one of her pattern booklets at how efficiently she takes you through the work needed in a small number of steps. I have three Sewaholic patterns and I’ve not struggled making any of them.

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

I’ve said it before but I’m not sure if I’ll try the sweetheart version or the fitted skirt but I’m super keen to try a button up version after seeing Rosie Wednesday’s cute candy cane variation. Such a clever hack of the pattern! I also have some horse print chiffon lined up for another version.

These pictures were taken at the lake near my house. It’s a small lake where people walk their dogs and go fishing. There’s a flat wooden bridge that goes across the lake, with high reeds either side that almost hide it. It was so sunny when we were there I struggled not to squint in the photos.

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

Time to sign off, but here’s a bonus picture of me pretending to push over a tree.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

almond rock cambie sewaholic dress up party

(24) Comments

  1. Swirlyicing says:

    Beeeeutiful! Loving the style and fabric. X

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks mum! It’s the same as the one I wore at Christmas that you and dad liked. So different in a light colour

  2. Lovely dress – I have used that fabric for a shirt and it has become one of my most frequently worn items. Any success with that tree?

    1. almondrock says:

      I’ve seen and admired that shirt! Haha the tree lives to fight another day. Tree – 1, Amy – 0

  3. Beautiful summery number Amy! Whereabouts are you guys living now? Loving the look of that lake!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks Sarah!
      We’re out in a place called Thornbury. And this lake is in Calverley. Both are near Pudsey and all those other little villages round there.

      1. I’ve only just seen this comment, bah. That is so random – my hometown is called Thornbury 🙂 Obviously not your Thornbury. Looks gorgeous!

        1. almondrock says:

          How funny! Still connected across all the miles 🙂

  4. Hélène says:

    The perfect little summer dress. You look fresh and cool.

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! It was the perfect sunny day for photographs and I felt lovely and summery.

  5. Looks like you’ve been buzzy…. *groan. Sorry that was awful. Great dress and fab to find you on instagram this week! (loving the Gin Festival photos! Woo gin, is 07:10 too early for gin?)

    1. almondrock says:

      BOOM! I love a good pun. Great finding you on IG as well. Virtual gin cheers *clink*

      1. Cheers m’dears.

  6. how cute is that fabric, great dress!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks so much! I love the bees. They make me feel super summery and happy

  7. I can completely see why you couldn’t resist this print! The bees are fab, as the dress – as always!

    1. almondrock says:

      Aww thank you! It’s such fun to wear!

  8. Bee-autiful! I’ve been meaning to make a second cambie for nearly 2 years now. I’ve had the fabric ready and washed for ages (black eyelet with red lining) but life got in the way! By the time I make it I’m sure it’ll look really dated but who cares?! I love the spring look of yours

    1. Aww the little bee icon didn’t show up 🙁

      1. almondrock says:

        Oh lame! I’ll imagine him… bzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    2. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Your plan sounds pretty. I don’t think lined eyelet can go out of fashion so I say book a babysitter and get some sewing time for yourself!

  9. This is sooooo cute on you!

    1. almondrock says:

      Aww thank you! It makes me really happy to wear which is a great sign in my book!

  10. […] here’s my dress. I know you’ve seen Cambie dresses frome me before (here and here) but I wanted to try adding a circle skirt to the pattern to see how it […]

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