Hello, friends!
I’m back with another dress made for our trip last month to New England. My husband did take some photos in Massachusetts of this dress, but I didn’t care for them much, so I retook some photos at home.
[source: McCall Pattern Co.]
I used the now OOP McCall’s 6890 and altered it a bit. My dress is the bodice of view D with the skirt of view B/C and self-drafted cap sleeves. This is a pattern I overlooked due to the photography and artwork on the envelope.
ModCloth dress
My intention was to use this ModCloth dress as my inspiration. A dress that is reminiscent of this dress.
My fabric is pink silk cotton with scattered yellow polka dots. I picked it up last year at The Fabric Store in Los Angeles. It’s such a beautiful fabric that I had to have it when I saw it on the bolt. I thought for a while about which pattern to use for this fabric and didn’t come up with one until I decided to use the blue ModCloth dress as my inspiration.
My dress is lined with pink cotton batiste and has an invisible zip on the bodice back. I’ve had other pullover woven dresses that weren’t easy to get into due to the lack of closures. However, I didn’t need this one as I can easily slip this dress on and off with no problems.
Megan suggested using sleeves similar to the ones from the Made by Rae Washi dress and shared a photo of the sleeve pattern with me. I drafted my own and cut the fabric on the fold similar to the Washi dress. This technique is ingenious as it leaves a clean finish with it’s own built-in facing. I plan to incorporate these sleeves on another dress in the future.
I didn’t follow the directions when I made this dress. The pattern does have an elastic waist, but I’m not sure if the route I took was the one the pattern suggested. I cut my elastic to a few inches smaller than my waist and made an elastic casing with the seam allowance on the waist and then threaded the elastic through before sewing the ends together. I then pinned the elastic down and top stitched the casing down on the outside of the dress.
In addition to sewing this dress, I also made another Muse Jenna cardi. The fabric is green merino wool jersey that Sophie-Lee sent me last year from New Zealand. This merino wool also came from The Fabric Store, albeit one on a different continent. When I was at TFS in LA, I was looking for this exact color of wool jersey which they didn’t have. I’m super happy that Sophie-Lee was able to get some for me! She also sent me some pink wool jersey that I haven’t sewn up yet.
Ever since I saw these two fabrics folded up next to each other in my sewing room, I envisioned wearing them together. I’m super pleased that I finally got around to making something with them! Paired with my cardi are these green heart buttons. I love adding little details like these to an otherwise simple garment.
I’ll leave you with one photo taken in Salem, MA. I don’t recall which historical home this is, but this is the beautiful back garden on the grounds and one lovely arbor that I’d love to have in my own garden. One interesting fact is that I am descended from a Salem “witch.” I found out that tidbit whilst doing some genealogical research a couple of months ago. My ancestor actually lived in North Andover and not Salem, but the Salem Witch Trials also took place in towns surrounding Salem. My ancestor was a tried and convicted “witch” (along with many of her family members), but her execution was delayed as she was pregnant (that son is the line I am descended from). She was later pardoned by the governor and released.
I honestly found these family facts more interesting than tracing royal lines….
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: McCall’s 6890 in pink/yellow polka dot silk cotton, made by me
- Cardigan: Muse Jenna cardi in green merino wool jersey, made by me
- Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
I love that dress on you. It is truly pretty.
You look stunning in that dress. The colour is amazing and the fabric is nice. I like that the polka dots are plane yellow rather than white. Your cardi is also fabulous. What a lovely combo. P.S. You have such interesting ancestors. Xx
Every time you make this cardigan, I think that I need to make myself one, but never do! This dress is so pretty, and the colors are great on you. I would think learning about the witch in your family would be more interesting than any royal lines. The outlaws are always more intriguing!
You just glow in this pink! Beautiful color on you, and the green combo is so so happy.
I think your dress is the bomb! Your fit is perfect, and love your sleeves too. Perfect length as well…a very good make.
Adore you version so much more….and your Jenna cardi pairs up perfect! Love the buttons.
I love the dress and combo. I have a similar dress I made years ago from a Burda magazine, but I may try this one after seeing yours. I’ve been eyeing that cardigan and will definitely check it out after seeing this. Great color combos as well!
I also love your genealogy story. 🙂 I’m big into genealogy and have even been tracing my boyfriend’s lines, which are actually way more interesting than mine. He also has a witch ancestor (Mehitable Brabrooke) who was pardoned. So much fun!
Adorable dress. I loved that sleeve design when I have used it in the past, but I love it even more now that i see how good it looks with a lining! I’m thinking of throwing it in some sleeveless dress patterns I have but I’ve been hesitating since I’m not sure if I should also change the shape of the arm hole. Well, I’m sure I should, i guess I’m just wondering if I can get away without doing it. A cap sleeve makes dresses infinitely more wearable for me in the summer. I don’t love wearing sleeveless things in general, though I will do it when its really hot, but I absolutely don’t think its appropriate for office wear (blame my southern heritage!) and sometimes its too hot for a cardigan! I need more things with cap sleeves ASAP. I love hearing all of your fun family facts, its so interesting that you have been able to find all of this information!
Thank you again for sharing the washi sleeve with me! Probably make a muslin or two of the sleeve to see how it fits in other dresses. I made two of my sleeve before I got it where I wanted it.
I’m so intrigued by your family history. Thank goodness that she was pardoned and he lived. I’m so glad you’re here! I’d love to know more about her life. Wow. to have survived. Amazing. Great dress as always Tanya. Hope you had a great 4th!
Thanks, Gwen! My Independence Day was super nice, I hope yours was, too! Here’s a wiki page about my ancestor. I’m hoping to read more research about her. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Faulkner,_Sr._(Salem_witch_trials)
Cute! Your outfit definitely did your fabrics justice.
Thanks, Michelle!
First of all, this is TOTALLY the perfect pink. I adore it with the green cardigan, but tbh I love this dress on you so much it could be in a lesser fabric and I would still love it. Easy to wear, lovely fit, this is maybe the perfect summer day dress, isn’t it? It’s very close to April Rhode’s Staple Dress’s silhouette,so if I can’t find this OOP, I will pursue that I think. But I love the idea of View C with print blocking.
Thanks, Laura! It is a very comfy and airy summer dress. The only thing I’d do different if I made this pattern in the future is to probably make the sleeves a little larger. It is similar to the Staple Dress, although I think that dress is cut in two pieces with shirring at the waist and I think that one might have kimono sleeves. I’d also like to make this dress with some gathers at the neckline. I think that’d be super cute.
Love your dress, and you look amazing in bright pink!
Thank you, Ginny! 🙂
Tanya, This is beautiful.. And you look so pretty.. Love all the vacation photos. thank you for sharing the history.. I enjoyed reading about it.
I love the green cardi with this dress too..
What a lovely pattern, Shame it is oop. I am look on Etsy and Ebay for it.ha
Have a blessed day.. Judy
Thank you, Judy! 🙂 I only picked this pattern up about a month ago at Joann’s and just saw that it in now OOP on the McCall’s site, so it may still be in the stores.
Thank you Tanya.. I will check the stores..