It’s official. This is my new summer uniform!
Guys, I’ve been looking forward to the release of this pattern since I heard rumors that it was coming (in fact, I crushed hardcore on the original version of this dress in Jen’s rtw line, Hound). It’s the Alder Shirtdress from Grainline Studio, and it’s just the perfect summer dress! There’s even a lovely print version for the PDF-averse! When I heard the launch date was in July, I picked out fabric for my July Mood Sewing Network project, then waited semi-patiently for the pattern to be released! I’m not even kidding when I say that knowing this pattern would be waiting for me on my return helped me to avoid post-vacation depression (that and seeing the pugs again, of course).
I’ve really been going crazy with prints lately, so I decided on a nice navy instead for my first go at the pattern. Navy is my go-to neutral color- it’s not as harsh on my pale skin as black, but it’s still pretty chic, in my opinion- and when I found this shade in a crisp cotton pique, I was over the moon! (This Japanese cotton pique looks exactly like the one that I used, although I picked mine up in-store at Mood Fabrics NYC).
Look at that great texture! It reads a little sporty in person, in a courtside-seats-at-a-tennis-match kind of way. The fabric has lots of body and not much drape, so it really gives you a crisp a-line shape in this dress. It’s really, really breathable, a must for a summer dress! It’s a medium weight and it’s nice and opaque, so it doesn’t need a lining- perfect!
OK, back to the pattern. This is view A, and it’s a really fun sew! It’s like making a buttondown shirt, but without having to set in sleeves or worse, sew the sleeve plackets! It’s a simple silhouette, but it’s got nice lines, and the drafting is great. Not to geek out too much, but the armscyes are just the perfect depth! Not too low, not too high- just right!
I sewed a straight size 4 without any alterations (my bust is a 4 and my hips are a 0, so there’s a bit more ease there than there would be if I graded between sizes, but I decided just to sew it up and see how I felt about it). I don’t mind the additional fulness at all. You get a nice clean finish if you follow the pattern instructions. There’s an inner yoke to clean finish that seam and the armholes are finished with bias binding. The side seams are the only exposed seams, so I serged them, but I would use French seams on thinner fabric for a completely immaculate finish.
There’s a subtle difference between the right side and the wrong side of this fabric, so I was careful to mark all the wrong sides with chalk. Isn’t it annoying when you forget to do that and you end up with one part of your garment that’s just a little different than the rest? Ugh! Other than that, I didn’t use any special techniques! This was a really straightforward project. 🙂
Overall, I’m really happy with my new dress! Quite a few of my other dresses are just a little too flashy for wearing around the neighborhood or even to work (ummmmmmmmm PIRANHAS, I’m looking at you!), but this is just right. It’s nice to have a basic dress in my closet.
But don’t worry- I haven’t completely reformed! In fact, I’ve already cut out a second Alder in a gaudy large-scale print. Mwahahahahahaha!
This was the exact moment when an SUV full of beach-going ladies pulled up next to me and one of them shouted, “Work it, girl!” A second later they turned up their dance music and Man Friend laughed so hard he almost fell over.
What’s on your sewing table right now???
Ginger Makes... 
So cute! Perfect for summer too. Right now, I was going to make Simplicity 2246 in chambray.
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Oh, that sounds really cute! There are so many nice versions of that pattern online!
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love it, it totally suits you, you look breezy and elegant and summery.
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Thanks, Puu! I could totally see you in a version of this, maybe with some Chanin embellishment?
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i’m liking the sound of that….
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Great looking dress on you and the color is perfect. You will get so much wear out of this.
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Thanks, Lori! I really can see this on you (maybe in red?)!
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You are adorable adorableness! And the dress too! I have a couple of summer uniform dresses too, and they’re similar in that they’re not crazy prints and fit loosely. A definite must have!
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Thanks Laura Jane! What style are your dresses?
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Well, that’s a toughie! Lots of different styles. I do wear a lot of the fit and flare gathered or pleated skirts in fun prints a la our beloved Dolly Clackett, but also A-line or princess style flowey things. I actually haven’t blogged about the two dresses that have turned into my goto summer uniform but they’re on my dress rail page: the Bonjour Dress and the Favorite Color Dress. Come to think of it I’ve also been wearing the Cinco de Mayo Dress to death. 🙂 http://adressofmyown.com/what-to-wear/
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Holy cow!!! You have the best closet ever!!! That Flame Dress!!!!!!!!!!
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Oh you’re a sweetie! I do love a dress…
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so so cute! and i love your shoes! it’s really hard for me to make something solid color but i’m always so glad when I do because then I can wear it all the time.
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Thanks Devon! I’m always drawn to prints or to weird bright colors, but they’re harder to match (and way more memorable so everyone will notice if you wear the same thing multiple times in a week)!
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This is really nice on so! Looks effortless, and like it allows a nice breeze up the hem on a hot day! I’ve been wondering why this pattern hasn’t been taking the world by storm – everyone seemed so excited about it on IG! Glad you made one (two!) and you are loving it!
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Thanks, G! I love a good wide hem for summer heat! I’m surprised there aren’t more popping up yet- it’s a fairly quick sew!
What’s next on your sewing list?
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YAY for a cool, easy top wear dress. I hear your pain of sewing sleeve plackets. Did you sew it on your new super fast sewing machine?
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I did, all but the buttonholes! It was actually really fun to do all the topstitching!
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Very, very cute! Love the navy pique. This pattern is on my to-sew list, but I’m not sure I’ll be getting to it before the weather gets cooler. Speaking of, is this the coolest summer to date in NYC, or am I just imagining it? Not that I’m complaining or anything!
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It has been, hasn’t it? It’s strange- I keep forgetting to check the weather and then I’m not appropriately dressed!
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How did you ever live without this dress? It just looks like you – fun and comfy and stylish!
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HAHAHA, my feelings exactly! It’s just what I want to wear, but I didn’t know it until I saw the pattern. 🙂
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So based on your experience, do you think this would work well with a quilting cotton? I have 3 yards of an obnoxiously colored geometric quilting cotton and I have no idea what to do with it!
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I’ve never really sewn with quilting cotton (oddly enough, it’s hard to find here) but it seems like it would work! You don’t need it to be very drapey, so it would probably be just fine!
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The Alder works great with quilting cotton! I used it to make my muslin and I’ve worn it multiple times already.
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This is just so wonderful – totally perfect summer staple. It’s so stylish on you!
I’m just cutting out some hudson pants – I absolutely can’t wait to be wearing them!
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Yay Hudson pants! They’re so comfy and cute!
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this dress looks so awesome! ahh i’m chomping at the bit to make this. have the pattern, need the right fabric! can’t wait to see version 2, but i totally agree that having a few classic dresses are a good thing! and bwahahaha to your photo-taking anecdote… work it!
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OK, I was hoping you would make this- it’s so you!
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Again, I love this dress, and fabric! I think I just need to get myself this fabric, and make myself a similar dress! I completely understand you! I love this pattern, but I don’t think it looks good on me. I love Clare’s version of the McCall’s pattern. I do love a fitted bodice and a full skirt, too.
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Oh yes, that was so cute on Clare and I bet it would look adorable on you, too! It’s a really nice shape. 🙂
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Oh I love this dress Sonja, it’s casual but chic and you look wonderful in it! Navy is a go-to neutral colour for me too! Love the last photo! x
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Thanks, Jane! I can definitely see you in this dress… honestly, this exact dress! Or maybe a red version. 🙂
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casual yet classy all at the same time. Nice job there Sonja – it really suits you x
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Thanks, Caroline! It’s a winner of a pattern!
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Fabulous! I have been waiting for your post on this and you didn’t disappoint. I just bought my pattern and have a bright version in my mind. Coming soon!
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Yay, can’t wait to see yours!!!!!
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LOVE. THIS. I’m so happy to see Alders start to pop up! Can’t wait to get started on mine. Love the color on you. Navy wins all the monies!
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Girl, this pattern has your name all over it! Can’t wait to see yours!
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I’ve spotted my first Alder! Super cute and just your style! I’m excited to get home to FINALLY start on a chambray Hawthorne!!
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Ahhhh, that will be so cute on you!!!!!
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I love this dress! I wouldn’t have thought to use pique, but hello, it looks great and it must be nice and breezy for summer. I am waiting with bated breath for the printed version!
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Pique wasn’t on my mind, either, but when I saw it I loved it! 🙂
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This is gorgeous. I’m absolutely biting the bullet & buying the pattern now.
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Do it!!! It will look so fab on you!
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Love it on you in navy – you should enter it in the Stitch 56 Alder competition! I’m in the midst of a button down shirt too, by Sewloft. Sadly I was sick when I traced it off and misjudged my size – too small! So now I’m being creative with the placket and hoping it all doesn’t go to hell…..
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Oh, no, that sounds rough! I hope you’re able to salvage it. 😦
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Love this on you! And funnily enough I nearly ordered this fabric from Mood, it looks lovely!
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Hahaha, great minds think alike!
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I LOVE your plain jane navy version. I am super tempted to go a solid here too, I think all the details are enough that it doesn’t look boring in a solid. Navy is my neutral too! Black makes me look ill. Also, sooo funny about the car full of ladies..
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Do it! A solid would be really nice, since the pocket details and the curved hem keep it from being too boring. But a print would be great, too!
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Welcome home! 🙂 This is fab, it looks both chic and comfortable – talk about a win! I’m a big fan of navy for classic clothing too and am more than a little jealous of your gorgeous fabric for this. I keep promising I won’t buy any more patterns, but I’m being seriously tempted by this one!!
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Thank you! Navy really is nice, and not quite as formal as black.
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This is a great little summer dress. The fabric is gorgeous and I hope to get some before the summer is over.
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I bet you will love the fabric!!!
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Omigosh I love it so much!! It looks totally cute on you and I think the fit is perfect! I am freaking out wanting to make like 10 of these but I am stuck sewing TWO Elsa dresses…it’s a small slice of sewing hell, haha. But they are a birthday present for my littlest who is turning 4, so that she and her sister can dress up like Elsa every day 🙂 It will be worth it when I see how happy it makes them and as soon as I am done the Alder is next.
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TWO ELSA DRESSES?! That sounds like torture! But I bet your girls will love ’em… hope they sew up fast so you can move on to more exciting projects!
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Oh I love it, looks gorgeous 🙂
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Thanks, Bec! 🙂
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Cute! It suits you so well! I too am a lover of navy. Looks like the fabric choice you’ve gotis just perfect! 🙂
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Thanks, Jo! It’s such a great color!
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This looks darling on you! I’m currently sewing up both views of the Alder and they are coming together like a dream (I also added pockets). I’m finally back to selfish sewing after finishing up a wedding dress for a friend!
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Yikes, a wedding dress?!?! That’s a big project! Glad to hear you’re able to do some fun sewing after that!
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Ooh, now you made me want to make another sleeveless shirt dress! Since I re-fashioned one of my old shirt dresses I too have been living in it all summer 🙂 I’m currently between projects…wait whaaat – that never happens! It’s been less than 24 hours since I finished my jeans shorts though, but I really need to get my sewing on again asap! 😀
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Heeheehee.. you’re a sewing addict! It’s a common affliction, it seems. 🙂
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Totally fab!!! Love it int the navy and the finish looks immaculate. Look forward to the gaudy version next!!
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Heeheehee, gaudy coming right up!
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Just bought this pattern too! Love your navy one, so chic! I’m still mulling fabric options over for mine but I can’t wait to see yours in a print.
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It’s nice that this pattern really works with lots of kinds of fabric. I have a few large-scale prints that would get broken up too much by something with a waist seam, so it’s nice to finally have a way to use them!
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As soon as I saw the pattern I thought of you, and that you’d look great in it – and I was right!
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Oh man, thank you! Sometimes I feel like Jen is my personal designer- every pattern she releases I want to sew right away!
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Lovely! Basics are the best coz you get to appreciate them more often 😉 I’m a little addicted to french seams right now too 🙂
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French seams are the best! I feel like some sort of a whiz kid when I make them, even though they’re not very difficult. 🙂
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Ooh, love it. Very simple and I bet you will wear it nearly every day! I really want to make a light chambray for everyday easy wear….bit scared of button holes though…am quite new to all this sewing malarkey! And I totes think you should rock the piranhas to work!
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Chambray would be perfect! Don’t fear the buttonhole! I used to, a lot, before I realized that even if your buttonholes are super ugly, you won’t really see them because the buttons hide them!
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Oh yes, that is genius! I will give it a go!
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Super cute!
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Thanks, Janice!
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Welp. As if I needed more convincing to buy this pattern- there it goes into my cart and checked-out! You did fantastic! Great fabric choice. I don’t know if stockings and boots work with cooler NY weather, but it could definitely be done with this dress as well! I looooove transitional pieces!!
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I think that would totally work! It would be easy to throw a blazer or a sweater over this and wear it into fall. Hope you enjoy sewing it!
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This is a spectacular version of the Alder! That fabric was screaming to be a shirt dress! Also, welcome back !
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Thanks, Michelle! Are you planning to try this one?
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LOVE it!! Alder is one of the next on my list. I’m going to make version B in a striped chambray but I need to do a wee FBA first.
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Ooh stripes! That will be so cute!!!!!
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Wooo Hooo! I knew you’d look smashing in this pattern but was itching to actually see it. Very nice, causal but still put together. Work it Girl!
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Thanks, duder! 😉
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This pattern – OMG! It really is amazing 🙂 And I was dying reading about your awesome experience – that’s a risk to all of us who dare to photograph in public 😉
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You gotta try it, girl!!!!!! Man, it’s always a little nerve-wracking photographing garments outside! There’s always somebody ogling!
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I finished my Alder shirtdress on Friday – isn’t it awesome? I made view A out of quilting cotton as as a wearable muslin and it worked out really well. I have a Robert Kaufman dotted chambray for a view B. Are you planning on making a gathered skirt version? I think you could rock it.
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I think I might try view B, although I tend to fear gathered skirts! 🙂
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I absolutely love this pattern, and I love what you did with it! It’s definitely chic in the navy, very classic. I’d love to see it in a print, too!
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This is too cute. Looks simple and perfect for summer.
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LOVE this! Looks cool and comfy and also wayyy more professional than jammies!
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Loving this Alder! Can’t wait to see your next one!
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Oh this is just perfect for you! You look so happy and comfortable in this style, like the pattern was designed especially for you. Can’t wait to see your gaudy print one too 🙂
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Thanks, lady! I feel like it was designed for me, too! Somehow the Grainline patterns are always just what I want to wear!
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I love it in the plainish navy fabric – so claasic! (Even though I love big prints and brights, I definitely appreciate something you can re-wear every week!) I’m still on the fence on this pattern, but I think I could pull it off with a self-belt for a little waist definition maybe… it certainly looks breezy and perfect for the weather! I’m not surprised you got an impromptu dance number, bc you’re rocking it!
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Hahaha, the first thing Man Friend said about this one is that it needs a belt! You could totally rock this with a belt!
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Dude, you are looking FIERCE! This is so summer fabulous- and the caption to the last picture is awesome!
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Thank you, my friend! You’re the queen ‘o’ fierce, so I’m treasuring your words! 🙂
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This looks so good, like something Winona Ryder would wear and totally rock the heck out of it! Love navy as a neutral, so good for those of us sporting pale skin.
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Ahh yes, the pale hordes, navy is our friend! Actually, navy seems to look good on just about everyone! It’s a friendly color!
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