I finally have some finished projects!
The first is inspired by the Charlie Caftan - I knew I'd never get the pattern shipped and made up before the weather turned, so I hacked BurdaStyle 05/2010 #103 "Ruched Dress" that I already owned to look similar. The Burda pattern has a waist seam which I left, because it was easier
and I just hand appliqued the front band on. The pattern also had the bias binding (which I swapped out knit binding for) flipped to the inside, but I liked how it looked so I left it out!
The second (McCall's 7092) is at least an 85% failure of fabric choice (I used cotton interlock with no spandex, and it was way too thick for the bodice) and perhaps a little on pattern design (the underlay and upper are both doubled to not have to finish the neck edges + pleating... I was massively impressed when my little Brother 1134D, with a little help pre-trimming the seam, managed to chew through all that!). I like how it looks on the pattern envelope, but if I try it again it's going to be with thinner fabric with more recovery, and I'm going to do single layers only!!! DH and I agreed this is getting relegated to nightgown status.