Sew: The Dinner Party Dress - Simplicity 2580 with Vogue 8379 sleeves

Nothing says "wear me to a nice dinner party at Kendall's Brasserie and Bar in Downtown Los Angeles" quite  like Simplicity 2580 with sleeves.

"What what?" You might find yourself asking. "Simplicity 2580 doesn't have sleeves! It comes with those kind of kiddy playtime flutter sleeve caps! Those aren't sleeves - those are arm cap sunburn protectors!"

But, Vogue 8379 has sleeves. Perfect 3/4th sleeves. Connect the dots. Knit to knit. Can it work?

Well, in my best Kool-Aid man voice, "Ohhhh yeah..."

Sew: Simplicity 2580, View C, Midnight Goddess

I needed this dress like a woman walking away from a one night stand who needs satisfaction after being underwhelmed.

This dress, for me, is like a deep red merlot from Hunt Cellars in Paso Robles. It's like a cooking and techniques class at Williams-Sonoma, where the presenter is friendly and gives you extra portions to taste. It's like a smile and conversation with a nice guy that has a friendly large dog and no wedding ring.

Yes, it's just that good.

After the horrible bastard child fail of Sew: Mashup Fail= Simplicity 3503 halter bodice with Simplicity 2580 waist and skirt combo, I needed something to reaffirm my ability to sit in front of a sewing machine and construct a wearable piece of work.

Sew: Mashup Fail= Simplicity 3503 halter bodice with Simplicity 2580 waist and skirt combo.

One look at Simplicity 3503's halter style and I was in sewing love. Reminding me of my favorite American Apparel Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Dress, I love how halters create a fantastic bust line with a good shaping bra and waist line drape.

However, what I didn't like about 3503 was the gathers at the midriff front. Nor, did I like the midriff design. But, I did like Simplicity 2580. And they are such similar patterns...

So, what's a good sewer to do? Why, a mashup, of course!

........Until you realize that you are utterly sick of the color red, the halter hits too high, the center seam is ugly and you want to throw it in all into the fireplace and burn it while drinking a glass of wine.

Sew: The Hotness - Simplicity 2580

After my successful sewing of the Vogue 8184 Diane Von Furstenberg style wrap dress with a beautiful black Sew Classics Ponte Roma knit, I immediately thought about doing it again. So, I went to Joann's with the image of making a red wrap.

Clearly, I forgot about my tendency to become uninterested in patterns if I make one right after the other.

So, I set the red knit away for a bit and pondered my choices while flipping through my pattern book. McCalls 240, look F?  Well... maybe. But then, my eyes settled on Simplicity 2580.

The result? The Hotness.