• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Call Ajaire

Call Ajaire

You can always Call Ajaire.

  • Blog
  • MashUp
    • Monthly MashUp
  • Designs by Call Ajaire
    • FREE PATTERNS
    • GIRLS
    • SWIM
    • OUTERWEAR
    • UNISEX
    • BUNDLES
    • DOLLS
    • FOR THE HOME
    • ADD-ON
    • SKILLS
      • Neckbands
      • Sewing Knits
      • Topstitching
      • Bagging a Lining
      • Bias Binding
      • Bound Buttonholes
      • Color Blocking
      • Exposed Zipper
      • Gathering Knits
      • Inseam Pockets
      • Handkerchief Hemline
      • Lined Bodice
      • Keyhole Neckline
      • Princess Seams
      • Narrow Hem
      • Neckbands
      • Sewing Outerwear
      • Sewing Swimwear
      • Sewing Knits
      • Tailored Coat
      • Tube Turning
      • Sports Waistband
      • Topstitching
      • v-neck Binding
      • v-neck Hood
      • Sewing with Faux Fur
      • Vented Hem
      • Working with Elastic
      • drawstring casing
    • Checkout
    • Designs by Call Ajaire on Etsy
    • Designs by Call Ajaire Facebook Group
  • About
  • My Account
  • Cart
  • Archive
  • Call Ajaire Facebook Page
  • Call Ajaire’s YouTube Channel
  • @callajaire on Instagram
  • Ajaire’s Pinterest
  • Call Ajaire on Twitter

Remix the Stitch – the Capitol Hill Dress

Straight Stitch Designs is a year old which is a call for a big celebration!  Kimberly launched her first pattern last September and has been on a major roll since.  She’s put together a fantastic anniversary tour where bloggers were asked to add a twist to one of her already amazing patterns.  I’m an affiliate of Straight Stitch Designs which means if you click over from the links on this page and then purchase, Call Ajaire will earn a percentage at no cost to you.  All opinions are mine.

I chose to use the Capitol Hill dress since it’s one I had in my stash and was planning for fall anyway.  I took this opportunity to muslin the bodice since I knew I’d have to make a few adjustments for my measurements.  One of the great things about Straight Stitch Designs is that the patterns have size chart measurements as well as finished measurements so you know exactly what sizes things should turn out.  That makes altering the pattern pieces super easy.

via Instagram: first muslin

My measurements put me at a 10 on top, 16 at the chest, and 16 at the hip.  Instead of doing a full bust adjustment (FBA)  to get from the size 10 to 16 I decided to do the cheater FBA since that works well for me in knits.  The cheater way is basically to trace the 10 along the neckline, shoulder, and top of the armscye, but extend the armscy to the 16 mark at the underarm/side seam.  I do this with the front and back bodice and to the sleeve as well.  Sometimes the back piece isn’t necessary to change, but to keep things even I usually do.  

via iPhone: second muslin

So that gives me the width I need at the bust, but I also have a large bust depth which is a completely different issue and is addressed in a different way.  This only needs to be used on dresses or tops which have an empire or another type of underbust horizontal seam.  I needed to add 2 inches to the depth of the bodice so I did a 2″ deep bust adjustment (DBA) at the center front out to the second pleat, tapering to the original size 16 side seam.  The DBA increases the amount of fabric in the right places for the bust, but allows for the same side seam depth so the back bodice doesn’t need to be changed at all.

I decided that to “remix” this great pattern, I’d make it a cropped sweater to wear with a high waisted skirt or over a simple dress.  I love that vintage look so I’ve had my eye on a couple of other cropped sweaters lately and thought the Capitol Hill upper bodice would work perfectly.

I am super happy with how it turned out.  For the final version I used this lovely quilted jersey from Imagine Gnats (*affiliate link).  The black isn’t in stock right now, but there’s a pretty pink and a taupe available!  The quilted jersey is soft and even though it’s a bit thick it doesn’t feel bulky.  It’s like a sweatshirt weight I’d say.  

This cropped Capitol Hill is exactly what I was picturing.  I didn’t have to make any major changes to the pattern either.  I used the bodice top and sleeve pieces as is (except for my muslin alterations) and then added depth to the waistband so it would be a bit longer than the original.  I sewed the waistband pieces together at the sides, folded them in half so that the fold would be the bottom edge of the sweater, and then stitched the raw waistband edge onto the finished bodice.  Super easy and it adds an extra view to the pattern.  If the pleats above look bizarre, keep in mind it was almost 100 degrees when I was taking these pictures so this perfect-for-autumn sweater was literally soaked and started to sag haha.

The top pairs perfectly with this Hollyburn skirt I made a couple of weeks ago.  The green fabric bodcie I used for muslining is going to become a full capitol hill once I remove the muslin waistband and add a skirt.  I just need to decide which fabric to use for the skirt portion and it’ll be an easy finish.  It’s nice to have this one project produce two great pieces for my autumn wardrobe.

300x300
Straight Stitch Designs is having a 50% off sale on all her patterns through the tour, which is an amazing deal.  Check out the rest of the tour dates and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below!

Tuesday, September 8th: Meg Cookin’ and Craftin’ | Jennifer Ginger Peach Studio
Wednesday, September 9th: Ajaire Call Ajaire | Heidi Handmade Frenzy | Stacey Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts
Thursday, September 10th: Melissa Rebel & Malice | Annika Nรคh-Connection | Abby Sew Much Ado
Friday, September 11th: Katie It’s Hard to Hear Up Here | Jane Buzzmills | Lisa Mabey She Made It
Saturday, September 12th: Elena Randomly Happy | Allie Indiesew | Jess If Only They Would Nap
Monday, September 14th: Jaime Made By Jaime | Lauren BASTE + GATHER | Sara Made by Sara
Tuesday, September 15th: Audrey Skirt Fixationy | Teri Fa Sew La | Hayley Welcome to the Mouse House
Wednesday, September 16th: Emi Just Add Fabric | Rachael Imagine Gnats | Teresa Dandelion Drift
Thursday, September 17th: Kaysie | KZJO’STUDIO Rita Conversas de Hermanas | Stephanie Swoodson Says
Friday, September 18th: Andreia In a Manner of Sewing | Nienke Pienkel | Abbey Sew Charleston

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Looking for something?

join us on instagram

callajaire

Spent the weekend living that lake life with old f Spent the weekend living that lake life with old friends and it was the perfect intro to summer. ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜
#parellosgotomichigan #lakelife
The Diamondback Cami and Crop is the perfect littl The Diamondback Cami and Crop is the perfect little swim top and I love that it doesnโ€™t need any mods to make it swim ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜
This one is paired with my FREE Classic Maillot Swimskirt pattern ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜

#designsbycallajaire #dbcadiamondback #dbcaclassicmaillot #classicmaillotswimskirt
The Rimini Romper is on sale this week for its rel The Rimini Romper is on sale this week for its release back home in my shop!  This girl needs one of the dress views, but for now weโ€™re loving the jumpsuits ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜
#dbcarimini #designsbycallajaire #wolfandrabbitfabric
And here are the first day/last day of preschool 2 And here are the first day/last day of preschool 2s pics! ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•
It was a busy last week of school, so Iโ€™m late w It was a busy last week of school, so Iโ€™m late with the posting, but here are the first day/last day of 5th grade pics! On to Middle School!! ๐ŸŽ“๐ŸŽ“๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•
Weโ€™re back in Sardinia โœˆ๏ธโœˆ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น again today, with these stunning fabrics from @littlecocalico 

Check out all the details on this Rimini Romper and the Passport to Paradise backpack I made in coordinating prints over on the blog today. ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒธ

#dbcarimini #littlecocalico #projectjetset #projectrunandplay #designsbycallajaire
And theyโ€™re offโ€ฆ. โœˆ๏ธโœˆ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น And theyโ€™re offโ€ฆ. โœˆ๏ธโœˆ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

These girls are exploring the island of Sardinia (from the comfort of our own backyard ๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†) over on the blog today with the Project Jet Set patterns and @knitfabricdotcom ๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ˜˜

#projectjetset #prpdesignercapsule #projectrunandplay #knitfabricdotcom #designsbycallajaire #dbcarimini
Itโ€™s the final sneak for my Project Jet Set look Itโ€™s the final sneak for my Project Jet Set looks!! 

I have two blog posts to showcase all the looks and the first one went live this morning if you want to hop over to check it outโ€ฆ
#projectjetset #prpdesignercapsule #projectrunandplay #sneakpeek
Only two sneaks left!  But that pocket ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

#dbcarimini #projectjetset #projectrunandplay #prpdesignercapsule #designsbycallajaire #sneakpeek
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Affiliates:

Seven Sisters Scones


Jennuine-Design-Banner

Designs by Call Ajaire

Designs by Call Ajaire shop logo

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Project Jet Set – Sardinia With the Rimini Romper
  • Project Jet Set – Travel Pattern Capsule – Sardinia
  • Very Peri Pantone Party
  • Project Happy Holidays – the Galentine’s Shoot
  • Project Happy Holidays – a Collaboration

Subscribe to Call Ajaire via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Call Ajaire and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Designs by Call Ajaire

Designs by Call Ajaire shop logo

I've always loved making. At an early age I started cross stitching and sewing and I taught myself to knit and crochet during college. When our seven year old daughter Bean was born I was filled with all sorts of inspiration, so now I find ways to manage my crafty time and treasure those moments. Though sewing is what I'm most passionate about these days, there's something about the portability of yarn crafts and embroidery that keeps drawing me back in. Read Moreโ€ฆ

Join our newsletter!

Stay up to date with exclusive offers and coupon codes in your inbox!

Quick Links

  • About Call Ajaire
  • My Account
  • Blog
  • Contact Page

Shop

  • Designs by Call Ajaire
  • FREE PATTERNS
  • Cart
Call Ajaire

Copyright © 2022 · Call Ajaire · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme