This post is part of Dress Up Party. For contest rules, full details, and schedule, please click here!
Today’s giveaway sponsor is Christine Haynes, the mastermind behind a series of vintage-inspired clothing patterns and author of The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction, How to Speak Fluent Sewing, Skirts & Dresses for First Time Sewers and Chic and Simple Sewing.
One lucky winner will receive a copy of each of her four printed patterns: Marianne Dress, Emery Dress, Derby Dress and Chelsea Dress. Each pattern includes an instructional booklet and printed tissue patterns in sizes 0-18.
The Marianne Dress is a casual knit dress that is easy enough for beginning sewists. With two sleeve and collar variations, the pattern has lots of flexibility.
If you love the classic 1960s dress, you’ll love the Emery Dress. A classic look with a fitted bodice and gathered skirt, there are two sleeve variations—short sleeve or 3/4-sleeve, pockets and and back zipper. I’ve made this dress a couple times and love the vintage styling!
Perfect for summer, the Derby Dress is a cute sundress with the option of a ruffled neckline or a Peter Pan collar. With a tie belt, there’s no zipper or buttons to bother with, making it a quick and easy project.
A fun little baby doll dress, the Chelsea Dress has the choice of either a Peter Pan or V-neck collar, and short or 3/4-length sleeves. Super casual and fun, it’s a great pattern for advanced beginners.
-Teresa of Crinkle Dreams
My fav fabric is plain ole cotton! I know, I need to branch out.
I have used cotton and snuggle flannel (for pj pants), denim (for a skirt), and a cotton knit (for a shirt). I would love to do more but cannot seem to find the time!
I sew mostly with cotton: voile is a favorite for dresses, cotton mixed with a bit of Lycra for knits, and quilter’s cotton for skirts. I’m itching to make something out of chambray next, and I’m currently knitting a light weight shawl in red and white stripes, to go with a navy Emery Dress with a crisp white collar.
Probably cotton but I do like the look of knit so I need to use it more and get better at sewing with it.
I would love to be able to just use quilter’s cotton because I have so much of it. But I do have some voile and cotton lawn that would make nice garments. Thank you, [email protected]
I love sewing with knits – quick and comfy.
Tough question! I love knits, because I can sew them up so fast on the serger, but I love a nice cotton for pretty summer dresses, too. Do I have to have a favorite? I pretty much love all fabric!
love sewing with knits, a close tie as to cotton; Love fabric!
I love the ease and quickness of knits but I love the challenge of perfecting the fit of a woven bodice!
quilting cotton. I love the prints!
I would have to say knits.
I am a fan of cotton in novelty prints. Who ever said a dress had to be boring?
I love rayon challis! So soft and drapey!
I like to use chambray, linen, rayon, and knits with spandex for summer dresses.
I am currently in love with cotton, but I love rayon too!
I love the ease of knits, but the look of eyelet!
Usually cotton, but want to try knits after seeing a new friends tank she made.
I love sewing with knits but I really wish I could find a source for some decent quality patterned knits.
Love the derby dress, but would like it better with wider straps.
My favorite is cotton lawn or voile! I love the softness, stability, and natural feeling it often has.
I’m currently crushing on double gauze!
A fan of knit for it’s ease and flexibility.
Well cotton of course, because its just too easy, but i also looove knit and linen. Oooh linen.
I love sewing garments out of voile, but I’m currently working on a linen dress and loving that too! 🙂
My favorite fabric to sew is linen. I love sewing linen but I actually sew more cotton.
I haven’t actually sewed any garments in years, but I’m thinking about getting back into it.
I have yet to get into garment sewing, so don’t have any experience (and therefore no favorite fabric). Love the Marianne dress.
I’ve challenged myself to master sewing knits. I’d love to try the Marianne pattern!
I’ve been enjoying Robert Kaufman’s chambray lines. So far I’ve used two different colors for dresses.
I love natural fibre. Any kind will do.
I seem to be obsessed with knits right now.
I like to sew garments with voile or cotton and then also some knits. I pretty much only sew garments for my adult daughter (with the perfect figure) so it is whatever she is liking at any given point in time.
I usually use cotton or a cotton blend.
This year, I have rediscovered garment sewing. I am enjoying learning to alter patterns to get a better fitting garment. I have used knit, cotton, satin, lace, and voile. I’m trying a little bit of everything!
Cotton is my favorite type of fabric to sew with. Its easy to work with and I can’t help but love all the prints! Voile and lawn are great for apparel projects like dresses.
Ooo, I’ve seen the Marianne Dress before an would love to try it!
Sewing with cotton wovens is my preference.
I love cottons, no messing about or slipperiness!
Cottons are just so readily available and easy to sew with! I love wearing knits though, so I’d like to get better at sewing with them.
I love bamboo, both 100% or blends with spandex and/or cotton.
Mostly I’ve just sewn with woven cottons for children. I don’t know if that’s my favorite, just where I have more experience. But I want to expand my skills and try so many other things. I’m hoping to fall in love with lots of other fabrics, too.
I started sewing with Tropical Breeze fabrics, which don’t usually wrinkle but are see-through (not good for modest skirts!) plus I’ve had a few that were woven so tight that it was difficult to get the needle through, but they’ve lasted through a lot. I bought some soft knit at a special fabrics shop and LOVE it; I just bought a yard and it was soo soft that I decided to not make a project and instead selfish sew me some leggings – I must get more for leggings though I’m not interested in clingy tops. I am otherwise pretty budget minded (Sara blew my mind on the budget post though! Good job keeping it low and sticking to it!!). I have been making a lot of things with quilting fabrics or scraps from old projects. I’m still not good about what may sew nicely or what it’s called (some slippery but pretty stuff for a nightgown turned into a nightmare, and I’m still fixing it! Or the loose weave tiered skirt that has holes all over from stitching :(( ) I have been to Christine Haynes’ website and can’t figure out what to buy first so I just buy more fabric to practice until I can get a CH pattern. 🙂
I would love to try the Emery dress as I’ve seen so many cute versions of it. I’d try it in a fun patterned quilting type cotton. Thanks for the chance to win!
I usually sew for my kids so I use plain old cotton because it holds up well. I made myself a voile top that I love and I’ve got more stashed for a couple more tops.
Unfair question, how can I choose? Right now I would pick challis. Until I see something else… 😉
I’m fairly new to garment sewing so I’m still experimenting…I do love a bit of cotton lawn but jersey knits although a bit of a challenge are so comfy to wear.
I’m a big fan of knits lately
Cotton voile – so lovely to sew with and wear.
Silk, surprisingly, if I underline it with a cotton batiste.
Art Gallery has enticed me to the dark side….knits! The quality is exceptional and the variety of colors and prints has meant a substantial increase in my stash!
I love sewing knits, but lately have been enjoying lightweight, breezy fabrics – cottons (voile, double gauze) and rayon.
Cotton. But I love the look of some of the season’s rayon so am looking forward to trying them.
I’ve been completely obsessed with sewing with knits lately!!!
I have yet to sew any clothes from scratch yet. I want to learn with a simple pattern! I have done a couple clothing upcycles 🙂
Lately I’ve been sewing with a lot of knits and rayons!
I love knits and quilting cottons!
I love cottons, but I prefer using knits for everyday, wearable clothes!
Cottons is my fave fabric to sew with but I’m starting to branch out into knits.
I love to use voile, cotton and knits to sew garments with.
I love knits. Kind of addicted to sewing with them.
I love most fabrics that have a good “hand”; not too flimsy or sheer, so I love wool, canvas, and beautiful, tightly woven cottons that are silky to the touch. Since I now live in a warm climate, I especially love the cottons.
I have not sewn any garments yet but I like any chambray.
I’m approaching the point of diving in on trying garment sewing, and I’ve got my eye on some colorful lawns and voiles that I’d love to try out!
Normally sew with all types of cotton fabric weights; just started sewing with various knits this past winter. But I love lawn and voile..they always have vibrant colours!
100% cotton is the easiest. Crisp and lovely to sew. I do like a bit of jersey or interlock though (more for my boys)
I love how voille feels and drapes for dresses! What darling patterns!!
So far I used only quilting cotton, because I’m still afraid of using other types of fabrics.
Oh knits and cottons! Bogey work best for me ☺️
My favorite type of fabric to sew with is definitely quilting cotton. It is simple to work with and easy to take care of after it is transformed into a garment. What’s not to like?
I’ve been sewing pajama bottoms out of cotton, but would really like to try making a blouse out of rayon challis. It seems to drape so well. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve fallen in love with knits for dresses lately – so easy to sew and wear!
I usually sew with cotton because that’s what I have on hand, and it’s easy to care for.
Linen and seersucker. The seersucker just feels fun on my fingers.
I LOVE to sew with cotton poplin or linen.
I love sewing with knits. I also like to sew with rayon challis – it has a lovely drape.
Im trying to learn knits – so different for me!
Depending on the pattern, I love to use a nice cotton lawn or voile.
My favorite fabric to use is woven cotton because I am scared of knits.
I love to use rayon challis, cutting out can be a bit of a challenge but it just feels so lovely to wear and sew! On less masochistic days I like cotton voile 😉
Knits are my favorite right now.
I’m a fan of knits or voile.
My favourite fabrics to sew garments with are linen and viscose! They aren’t always the easiest to handle (for that I love cotton), but they’re so lovely to wear that it’s always worth the effort!
I think I’ve only used quilting cottons and knit/jersey for clothing. The knits are more comfortable, but it’s harder to find cute prints in the knits.
I’ve only sewn a few clothing items so I don’t really have a favorite yet.
I love using quilting cotton for sewing. There are so many patterns and colour combinations.
I usually make my clothes with plain old cotton. I love sheer fabrics but I’m also a bit nervous about sewing it! These dresses look so simple to make but feel like a new classic, I would love to have a couple of these for the summer.
My garment seeing experience is pretty limited – so far it’s been quilting cotton and chambray. And I love chambray. But i have some lawn and voile to try and am keen to try rayon for some lovely dresses
Soft, a little forgiving and mostly natural fiber.
I love the look and feel of a quality soft chambray
I like to use lightweight cottons. 🙂
I like sewing with wovens, but I have been dabbling in knit lately and want to get better at it, since knits are such go-to garments.
I have only sewn with cotton, knits scare me.
I’ve been living cotton violes (sp?) lately!
I was just admiring the Marianne dress earlier today! Knits are so comfy!
I love sewing with chambray!
I love those striped Marianne dresses.
I love sewing with linen blends and twill. I live in Texas, so I can get by with wearing it throughout most of the year and they drape nicely. 🙂
Jersey knits for me!
Current fave is cotton, but would love to try knits
I have an undying love for cotton poplin. It presses so neatly, and always sews up in half the time of anything else. I’ve just bought a rather large quantity of merino knit, though, and I’m looking forward to playing with that this winter (Southern hemisphere here!)
Ive only used cotton but am anxious to try knits and voile. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I use lots of cotton…but that’s because I have only just started sewing again and find it easy to handle. Planning to try a knit!
I’m all about cotton, in various forms. Lawn, quilting cotton, drill, it’s all good. 🙂
I love to sew with knits and cottons!
Oh I would love to win this! I need some new dresses since having the babe!
These patterns are great! I love a great jersey knit 🙂
Hi. It would have to be cotton, but I see knit is in order for one of these patterns and I’ll be glad to give it a go.
I use a lot of cotton, but am growing interest in linens and chambrays. Thanks for the giveaway, adorable dresses!!!
I like knits. And I’m a little obsessed with rayon right now for some reason. I’ve been contemplating a couple of these patterns for a while, so it would be awesome to win!
just a simple cotton. Cause it’s easy to sew with.
xoxo
Rayon challis. So perfectly drapey.
For garments it would have to be knit.
I’m sTill learning to sew garments, but I’m most familiar with quilting cottons. I think it’s time to expand my experience with more fabrics!