Merchant and Mills • The Camber Set Pattern Review
We've just completed our latest sewing project, the top from The Camber Set by Merchant & Mills and we're thrilled with the results.
The Camber Set includes a simple dress and top, both with a tapered a-line silhouette and short fitted sleeves, they're both easy to make and easy to wear! This pattern can be easily customised by using a contrasting fabric for the neckline bias, this is a lovely detail which is visible on the outside, or you could use a different fabric for the back yoke, either as the lining or again so that it's visible on the outside.
For our first venture making this style we're teamed two of our favourites, Merchant & Mills with the beautiful japanese designer fabric Pierre Pocho by Nani Iro for Kokka.
This pattern is suitable for beginners, however the instructions do assume that you have a certain amount of sewing knowledge; so to help you along with your make we've included a few tips as follows: firstly we'd recommend tracing off your pattern, this enables you to re-use your pattern for more than one size and, if you make a mistake cutting out, all is not lost!!
When sewing the darts (Point 1), start from the outer edge of the front piece and stitch towards the point, as shown in the photo below:
Before you attach the bias strip to the neckline (Point 4), mark off the half way point on both pieces to ensure the neckline bias is attached evenly.
As we've mentioned, the bias is visible on the outside (Point 6), so do take the time when you bring the bias to the outside to ensure that the width of the binding is the same right round the front neckline, we had to tweak ours a little, but definitely worth taking the time to perfect this.
When you sandwich the shoulder seam of the front between the yoke lining (Point 7) and the main yoke, the yoke lining needs to be right side up. This is shown in the illustration, but it's not that visible because it's at the back.
From here on in it should be plain sailing however if you do need a hand drop us a line, and of course we'd love to see you makes too!
