Ahoy, maties!
I”m happy to share this seersucker dress with you! I wholeheartedly apologize for the apparent scowls in these photos. My husband was my photographer and he dislikes taking photos…. so yeah….. you know how that goes!
These photos were taken in Rye, New Hampshire, which is outside of Portsmouth. Many of my ancestors came through Portsmouth in the 1600’s from England and settled there before moving around New England. This was actually my first time to this area in the summer and I actually got to see the New Hampshire coastline when it wasn’t cold and snowy!
[source: McCall Pattern Co.]
My fabric is a pink/purple/grey seersucker purchased from Britex Fabrics several months ago. I bought three yards of this on the remnant floor. There was another seersucker in another colorway (I believe it was more pink) and a salesperson tried to get me to buy the other color as it was a super deal (20% off). I told her that I didn’t really need two similar seersucker dresses, but after sewing and wearing this fabric, I feel that I could wear a hundred more seersucker dresses in this fabric! This is the loveliest seersucker I’ve ever felt and it has such a nice sheen and is silky to the touch. I <3 it.
I managed to line up all of the checks on this dress, including the side seams on the skirt. The only place it’s off is on the bodice side seams.
In the photo on my dressform this dress had yet to be hemmed as it was hanging for a while before I did so. In the photo above you can see a ripply hem. This seersucker apparently needed stay tape or something of the like on the hem before I sewed it, so I may get the seam ripper out and rectify that situation, although it doesn’t really bother me.
This dress is unlined, has a side zipper, and the armholes are finished with bias tape. The bodice has a faux wrap and seemingly a lot of ease. I added a button/buttonhole to hold it together as everything was pretty much on display without it. I like the added detail of the button and the end result of my alteration, but I’d probably size down the bodice if I were to make this version in the future. I also did a swayback adjustment.
This dress was a breeze to make and quick to cut out and construct. If one wasn’t matching up checks, it would be even faster! It feels a little strange having a lapel on a bodice without a collar, so I guess it is kind of like a faux shirtdress…. I’m not sure I’d make another dress with this version, but I plan to make View C someday.
During my epic sewing adventure pre-vacation a la Project Runway, I also made a carry-on bag! This is the now OOP Butterick 5968 which I previously posted on Instagram. I had been looking for a bag about this size for a few weeks to no avail and finally decided to just make it. I used a purple Marc Jacobs quilted faux suede purchased from Fabric Mart last year for $2.99/yd, which was actually bought with the intention to make this exact bag. I guess I needed a little push to make this.
My bag is the medium sized bag in this pattern collection and the notions and lining all came from my stash. That’s why there is a contrast zipper (the lining is also turquoise) as I was shopping in my sewing room. I made this bag in half a day and it was easy to construct. The faux suede was the perfect choice for this bag as the pattern also has directions for quilting your fabric. Make your life easier and buy quilted fabric to begin with. 🙂
I’m not certain why this pattern is out of print as I don’t remember it being released that long ago. I suppose it didn’t sell well and they dropped it. Not sure why as it’s a great pattern to make and the perfect travel bag!
[source: Pattern Review]
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: McCall’s 6503 in purple/pink/grey seersucker, made by me
- Shoes: Birkenstock Gizeh
- Duffle bag: Butterick 5968 in Marc Jacobs quilted faux suede, made by me
I love your dress and the fabric choice!! I have this pattern and now I’m going to move it up the queue. Glad you enjoyed your visit to Portsmouth, it’s a fun city! I live in central NH, lakes and mountains. Next time you should visit up this way!
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS DRESS PATTERN MCALLS B6503 HAS ANYONE GOT IT FOR SALE SIZE 16 PLEASE
You are killing it lately with these dresses! The fabric is amazing. I know it’s fruitless but I kind of want to go to Britex just to see if there is any still there.
Yes, it’s been many sales since I first saw this at Britex. it is *possible* that there may still be some there. I sure hope there is as I want some more!! 🙂
Love the dress and LOVE the fabric. Seersucker is so great for the summer but for some reason I haven’t owned anything made out of it since I moved out of the southeast 5 years ago! Must rectify that soon!
Yes!!! You need some seersucker, too!
I have passed on this pattern repeatedly, but the line drawing of view C has me intrigued. LOVE that seersucker. This was the perfect East Coast dress!
Thanks, Alicia! I think this pattern would look fabulous on you!! Sadly, I never paid attention to it before.
I LOVE the seersucker you used to sew this dress! Seersucker is such a wonderful summer fabric, and it totally makes me think of the East Coast, ironically. 😀 Really beautiful dress.
Seersucker really makes me think of the East Coast as well! I really want some more dresses with this fabric. I really dropped the ball not buying the other colorway of this when I saw it!
That’s a really lovely frock. I see what you mean about the pattern artwork. I would have passed that by without a second glance and yet they are very nice dresses. Your seersucker looks lovely. It is a great summer fabric but you don’t see much of it in the UK. Xx
Thank you! 🙂 I often look over photos for line drawings with the new releases, but I guess I didn’t do that back when this pattern came out, or I would have bought it long ago! No seersucker over there? That’s terrible!! 🙁
Love the dress and particularly your choice of fabric. And well done for matching up those checks!!
Thank you! 🙂 It always feels like an accomplishment to match patterns up!
I love this pattern. This was actually the pattern I used for my first real FBA a couple of years ago. I made up two versions in view D, one of which I still wear occasionally. The other was the first I made and a little tight in the waist. I loved it a lot, though. 🙂
I really love that fabric and need to find seersucker everything. 🙂 The dress looks lovely on you!
Ohhh! Are your dresses on your blog? Or pre-blog? This one is a little more fitted in the waist than I’m used to, but I guess you expect that with a waistband. Seersucker is so wonderful, isn’t it? 🙂
The entries are here:
https://sewprettyinpink.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/my-first-full-bust-adjustment-august-dress-3-sort-of/
https://sewprettyinpink.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/phew-time-flies-september-dress-2/
I tend to wear things with waistbands more than not. Although, I do enjoy the comfort of no waistband. 🙂 Seersucker is the best!
Very very pretty! Another dress for the ‘wish list’ 🙂 I’ve been tempted to try a shirt dress but the chance of button gaping has put me off. This dress has the look without the worry.
Thanks, Melissa! Yes, I know what you mean by button gaping! Another shirtwaist dress that I’ve made that you don’t have to worry about button gaping is Simplicity 1459, as it’s kind of a faux button bodice.
Love this! I’ve made this pattern a couple of times – in fact the View C skirt is what I’ve paired up with my Elisalex bodice for that dress! It works well for me. My favorite version is grey polka dots and I made the lapel facing in a contrast color. You version is fantastic! Love the addition of the button. g
Thanks, G! 🙂 That’s an awesome idea to do cut contrasts. I’ll have to go search on our blog for your versions!
I’ve always liked the vintage flair of this option on the pattern, and I love that it has shirtdress style without buttons! The seersucker is just sublime of course.
Thanks, Laura! It totally has a vintage vibe going! The other makes I’ve seen on PR are just so gorgeous! The pattern photos don’t do this pattern justice.
I just had a vision of this dress made up in fabric I have had stashed for 3 years! I’m really excited about it.
Yay!!!! 🙂
I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but i love this dress, and of course, it looks great on you!
I had never noticed this pattern before, but now I’m adding it to my list. Looking over the PR reviews, it seems like a lot of people have made it up in a print, so I never really noticed the pattern details, which is probably why I overlooked it. It reminds me a little (just a little) of Colette’s earlier designs–vintage-influenced, but not costume-y.
I would really love to see this on you, Michelle! It seems like it would work well for bustier gals. It does have a 1940’s vibe going for it, especially the sleeved version. I was glad to find a previously overlooked pattern that I really like! I just wore this again yesterday and didn’t even have to iron it!
Thanks! Historically, that sort of waistline has worked really well on my figure, so I definitely agree with you there. And I actually really like several of the pattern views, which is unusual for me with Big 4 patterns, where I typically buy the pattern just for one or two views.
I love a pattern that you make multiple times and have them all look different!
Ohh! This dress is so pretty! I love it all! Thanks for giving me the heads up on this new pattern! I love the line drawing, and not the photography too! I love the seersucker! It’s such a pretty fabric!
Thanks, Kathy! It’s amazing what you can find when you study line drawings and ignore the pattern photos! I saw a lot of reviews on PR, so it looks like a much loved pattern.