Hello, friends!
I hope you’re all well wherever you are around the world. It’s been cold and rainy here in drought-stricken California and that certainly is some good news! Since I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, there’s now green grass coming up in the pastures! Yay! Yes…. I did say that I took these photos a couple of weeks ago and am just now posting them on here. I am in the midst of moving into my grandparents’ house (right next store to my current house on our ranch) and hope to be in by Christmas. I’m looking forward to sharing some photos later on with our renovations and decorating. I’ve been working for months on getting rid of 50+ years of JUNK! And there’s still more….. I am so glad that I’m not a hoarder! That means that my sewing/blogging time is quite less lately as I prepare to move. As soon as the new flooring is in, we can really start moving everything over! Woohoo! 🙂
Anyway, this dress is one that I worked a while on as it has a lot of hand finishing inside. I used McCall’s 6503, which I made over the summer.
source: McCall Pattern Co.
I used an emerald green rayon twill purchased a while back from Fabric Mart. As soon as I saw the ruffled version of this dress, I imagined it in this green fabric. It’s a lightweight with a lot of drape that works well for the dress.
I left this dress unlined, and hand sewed the neckline facings, armscyes and hem. I used bias tape on the armscye and rayon seam binding on the zip as well as using it as hem tape.
On my first version, the midriff is pretty fitted and I wanted a little more wiggle room, so I went up a little bit in size around the waist as I wanted a little more ease. Admittedly, I should have used some thicker/stiffer interfacing with this lightweight fabric as there’s a little wrinkling going on because of my alteration. If I took in the midriff a little it would alleviate that, but frankly, I want some room, so I really don’t care much. But just an FYI if you make this dress in a similar way as I have.
Yep! I need to wear a full slip with this dress!
The ruffles were fiddly, but I’m happy with the end result. The McCall’s instructions don’t have a good technique for completing them — unless of course I read the instructions wrong, which I don’t think I did. The instructions say to leave the edge of the back side raw, which with my fabric,has threads showing as the ruffles move around. I finished them with a narrow hem.
I also had a bit of a problem with the neck of the collar and getting all of the facings to line up. In the end, it was easier to handsew it down, but I do think this is another case where my collar would have benefited from a thicker interfacing. I’m pretty happy with the outcome, so I’m nonplussed by any of these little things. This dress is comfortable and just how I had envisioned it. I plan to wear it with a navy blazer (upcoming make!) or a navy cardigan. Maybe a wide belt? Unsure of that! But I love how the fabric floats and the frilly bits just make me happy. 🙂
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: McCall’s 6503 in rayon twill, made by me
- Shoes: Aerosoles
- Earrings: Bauble Bar
This pattern works so well for you! The color too, just lovely. I actually mostly made up this pattern in a heavier linen-like green fabric, and it absolutely did not work, like to the point I’m not going to finish or try to save it. This is what I was going for!
Wow, that dress looks great, and you look great IN the dress. Green is definitely your color.
What a beautiful dress, Tanya! It looks fantastic on you. I love navy and green together, and I think a Navy cardigan would look awesome with this dress.
This dress looks fabulous on you! Green is definitely your colour. I’m also going to be making a blazer for the first time before the year is out. I have to get Christmas gifts out of the way first, though. 🙂
This is gorgeous…the color and style look amazing on you! And I can’t wait to see the blazer you made!
Quick question: I have this pattern, and started making it over the summer. However, I found that the bust area was WAY too big, even though I followed the pattern according to my measurements. I’m not a very experienced seamstress, so I was wondering if you know of an easy way to adjust the bodice. I think there was just too much fabric, especially when contrasted with the fitted waist. The dress is currently half-finished, and I’m scared to go back to it without a good game plan! lol. Thanks!
~Jen
Another gorgeous dress. That green is spectacular.
I have this pattern at home, but I haven’t seen any plus size sewists make it yet. I love your version! I really enjoyed reading your take on this pattern. I won’t feel so stressed when I decide to make it myself. I LOVE the green!!
Ah, the ruffle! The rayon has such a beautiful soft look to it, and I’m impressed at your ability to still be making such lovelies in the midst of the chaos of moving. I hope you get settled into your new space and that it’s a good move for you and your family!
Thanks, Elizabeth! I actually made this maybe a month ago. I’m taking the day off from moving things today. Kind of at a standstill until the flooring guy gets up here!
That green and navy would work perfectly! One of my favorite color combinations. The dress fits you well. I like the waistband and pleating/gathers below the waist. Looks so comfy.
Thanks, Robin! It is super comfy. I just love the idea of green and navy together. It’s so classic! I’d love to make a navy dress with green piping in the future.
Such a pretty dress!
Thanks, Shannon!
that color is fantastic on you. Great dress, I never noticed that pattern. very pretty and yes, perfect with navy blue.
Thanks, Beth! I really like green and navy together — a perfect combo!
I love the fit of this on you! I’m already dreaming of how cute that cascading ruffle would be with a fitted denim jacket too. The pattern seems perfect for a faux separates dress, or just pattern mixing in general.
Oh, yes, a fitted denim jacket would be awesome, too! I like the idea of dressing it up with a blazer or down with cardi or jacket. It really would work with some pattern mixing.
You look absolutely stunning in that colour and it will be perfect with navy. I really like the ruffles on your dress. It looks beautiful on and the insides are so neat and polished. Good luck with the house move. I am in the middle of one too. Moving next door must be great fun. Hope you get a great new sewing room. Xx
Thank you! I’d love to find a green/navy print fabric, too. My in-laws are also renovating and moving into my husbands’ grandpa’s place and I’m thankful that Brian and I are just moving furniture “down the sidewalk” (there’s a garage/woodshed/patio between the houses) rather than across town or to a new city. The moving part itself really isn’t much fun though, is it? But setting up and living in a new place is! We’re going from about a 600 sq ft house to a 4000 sq ft house. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all of that space!
This will look great with a navy blazer, I’m really interested to hear which pattern you use for that and read your review. I used to think “I can’t wear non-stretch dresses” but then found out I could if I sewed them, i just couldn’t buy them because I’m like 4 different sizes. I hope to do the same with blazers! i don’t know if I’ll ever truly be a blazer wearer, but it would be nice to have one when the occasion arises.
This is a really lovely dress, green is definitely your color. Hope the move is going well, I can’t imagine sorting though all that STUFF! Good luck!
My thought when I was planning out my fall sewing was that this would look great with navy. I’m going to use a vogue pattern for the navy blazer. I’m using a simplicity pattern to make a blazer out green velveteen first. Hope to have that done by Christmas. I like how blazers can worn different ways and look forward to making a few.
Yeah STUFF!! I just burned a bunch of checks from the 60’s the other day!! Junk!