Merchant & Mills Camber Set

We made up the Camber set in the top version and it was sewn in a linen cotton blend, it's a great tee-shirt when you're looking for something casual to throw on, but still wanting to look put together.  It's perfect for Sunday brunch or casual Fridays at the office!

To read more visit our blog.

This is a great pattern for beginner sewists - it was one of the first dressmaking patterns I attempted and I still wear my first version all the time! I have made the top version too and this is my second Camber dress.

I have used some very special fabric for this garment - it is very lightweight block printed cotton, which I bought in Jaipur when we visited India a couple of years ago. I used some fabric paint to add the little gold flowers to the design with a wooden stamp, which was also a souvenir from our trip.

The pattern instructions aren't particularly detailed, but they are clear enough when read alongside the useful accompanying diagrams. I really like the way the neckline is bound and then attached to the back yoke - it's a very clever and tidy finish.

I have found the ease in Merchant and Mills sizing to be quite generous in other patterns, but the Camber is a nice fit in my usual size. I made a size 10 and reduced the length of the dress by 2.5" - I am 33"/27"/38" and 5'4" for reference.

I'm so pleased with how this dress turned out! I wanted something quite plain to let the fabric do the talking and make sure it was an 'every day' garment, rather than something fancy that would get less wear. I think it's worked perfectly and I've already worn it a number of times - it's a great outfit for hot days! This is a really useful pattern to have in your stash and I'm sure it's one I will continue to revisit.

I was given this pattern as a Christmas gift and chose to make it from the Seasalt Sunflower chambray. I have not had much success with Merchant and Mills patterns fitting me out of the packet so chose to make some toiles first. Although my measurements place me as exactly a 14 according to the packet the resulting toile was very big and sacklike and the dart were too high. Lowering the darts and using the pattern for a 12 worked much better for me. The yoke/neckline construction requires concentration but the instructions are clear and the pattern pieces fit together perfectly.

A perfect wardrobe basic the Camber Set Top has deep French darts and a back yoke which elevates a simple top into something a little more special.
I used a metre of black rayon from Sew Over It and the drape is lovely. A quick make for an experienced sewist or a perfect beginners pattern.
Read more here: https://carolinejoynson.blogspot.com/2018/06/back-to-basics-camber-set-top.html?showComment=1529219763197#c3100611201802169017

The Camberset is a lovely simple well drafted pattern. The only fiddley bit is the sewing the back neckline/yolk, but tak your time, read the instructions properly and it’ll give a nice finish. This make is for a friend, I sewed her one of these about two years ago in an indigo blue linen, she has loved it and worn it every week all year round. She’s an art teacher and styles it up with boots and necklaces and wears a long sleeve T under in it winter, she even gets comments from the kids on it, but when one 6yo girl told her she wears that dress “everyday”, she thought she ought get a new one. This one’s in a bark cloth print, it’s perfect for her, funky and stylish. I sewed the size 18, and shortened by about 5 inches to show off her great legs. I’ve made this pattern a few times, it’s a very easy dress to wear, looks great with a long cardi and boots for winter too.