I have a bit of an addiction with collecting patterns - mostly original vintage patterns. I have lost count of how many I own - I have so many that I have crates full of them stored at my husbands work!! Although every now and then I purchase new commercial patterns if they are a style that I think will be popular or one that will save me having to create a bespoke pattern.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I got an email tonight advertising the new McCalls collection - I just love when the commercial pattern makers actually come out with something cool. Here are a couple of styles that I just love and I know will be popular with my brides because I've done countless styles similar to them.
This one I literally just finished a bespoke gown of which was almost exactly the same - it was a strapless gown with the 3D roses all over the top of the bodice but the skirt was a full circle skirt instead of a gathered skirt and it had the scattered 3D roses all over it (just much further apart than the bodice section):
This style is really popular at the moment - the sheer overlay with the higher boat neck and a solid strapless bodice underneath with a tea length skirt. It is also really popular with cap sleeves which are super easy to add to this dress.
This style is also a great one - the sheer upper bodice which extends from a solid bodice. The straight skirt really isn't my style though - I'd add either a circle skirt or a gathered / pleated skirt to the bottom of it. This style looks great with a really really sheer fabric on the top and a solid binding edge on the neck and arm holes to give a great contrast in textures.
While on the topic of commercial sewing patterns it was just a matter of time before one of the big companies released patterns of the royal wedding gowns:
In my opinion of you loved Princess Kate's dress then I think you can't go past the original inspiration - Grace Kelly's wedding dress. Vogue has a pattern which is almost identical to her gown which is just gorgeous (and has a short sleeve version that is also to die for!)
