Not Quite OWOP

I'm not participating in Tilly's One Week, One Pattern Challenge, mostly because I'm a wimp when it comes to cold. See, all the patterns that I've made multiples of are sleeveless sundresses, and despite living in SoCal, the weather here has been cold and stormy and rainy and gray. Oh, and I went to Big Bear over the weekend, where it started snowing on Sunday. I'll admit it, I'm spoiled when it comes to weather -- oh, what, it's 60 degrees out? Too cold!! Scarves! Gloves! Big capes! Tall boots! So yeah, no OWOP for me. But to get into the spirit of things, I thought I'd at least showcase my favorite TNT patterns, the ones that I've made enough versions of that I could do a summer OWOP if I wanted to.

First up: McCall's 5845. I am so glad that M5845 is getting the love it deserves from the fabulous Neeno of Sew Me Love; that girl has made more versions than I have, I think! Anyway, with its eight bodice darts (double if you line it!), this slightly cap-sleeved pattern is my basic bodice block of choice; it fits like a glove. It is so easy to hack up to suit whatever look I'm trying to get. Here are my incarnations of it:

Seamstress' Rendering (original pattern), Nothing But Blue Skies (modified back & skirt), Superman (modified neckline, back, and skirt), Qipao (modified neckline and closure), Shepherdress (modified bodice and skirt)

Second: New Look 6723. This one holds a special place in my heart as the first "real" dress pattern I ever sewed up; two years later I'm still using it as my princess seam sloper.

My very first woven, lined, unnamed dress (original pattern), The JChan Wedding Dress (original pattern, but finished with bias tape instead of lining and with a V-neck; pre-blog), Miss Lavender Goes to Hawaii (hacked to make a strapless sweetheart bustier and a pleated skirt), Hooray for Hippos (original pattern with pintucks), Alice in Wonderland (original pattern with the original sleeves, modified neckline and tiered skirt)

Honorable mention: my super easy DIY maxi dress! I've only made three versions of it, but those three are great examples of how a versatile pattern doesn't have to be complicated, and just by changing fabric or length you can get totally different looks.

My first incarnation (turquoise jersey, worn to a dimly lit wedding, please excuse the bad picture; with the addition of a beaded pin), the second incarnation (ankle-length, covered with bamboo), and the third and grandest incarnation (chiffon explosion!)

So there you have it: my fake OWOP! I have so much respect for people who are doing real OWOPs, especially if that pattern is pants! I am trying to work up the courage to make pants. Leah and Debi deserve all the claps in the world.