A Simple Return With McCalls 6886

Hey everybody! It has been so long since I have posted but rather than going into a loooong rant about the winter we have had and its ill affects on my blogging....I'll just say alleluia! it's great to be back! My absence here has not meant that I haven't been sewing. I most definitely have...but my longing for spring and summer lead me to sew spring and summer goodies. And as you can see in my pictures...we still have snow around...that's Canada for ya.. and picture taking of a summer dress in a spring blizzard wasn't happening.

I thought I would return with a simple striped dress and McCalls 6886 fit the bill. I chose a 3/4 length sleeve because it is still chilly here and due to the heavy weight of this ponte, I will be less inclined to wear it in the summer anyway.

 My Review: 

Pattern: McCalls 6886

Fabric used: A black and white striped ponte. It quite a heavy one and I like that for spring and fall.

Instructions:  The instuctions couldn't have been simpler... 

Changes I made: I didn't make any changes to this dress but I will tell you that this is the second one that I made. The first pattern I chose was Newlook 6095. I made this dress in a red and white stripe here but didn't like the CB seam so I set out in search of another pattern without the CB seam.

Repeat worthy? Sure. I think though after seeing these pictures..which is always so helpful!...I will take it in a bit more.There is a bit of excess around the waist that could be taken in.

I like how versatile a striped dress can be, especially for spring and I know that I will wear this often. I can see wearing it with any of my colored cardigans, adding a belt, wearing it casual with a tied up denim shirt and a pair of sneaks, or pairing it with my Fall Fatigue jacket and boots for fall!

 Shame on me for even letting thoughts of fall cross my mind!

Dress:self made Blazer:Kenneth Cole Shoes:Franco Sarto Necklace:Suzy Shier

Pink Plaid

With all the snow that has been dumped on us and the promise of more to come, I have been really missing the breezy dresses of summer! So much so...I have been sewing up a few. When that warm weather hits...I plan to be ready!!

In the meantime and in between sewing up summer dresses, I made a muslin of Burda 6849. I have been drooling over Heather's Archers (that lady is a machine with the number of Archers and Lindens she has made!) so I thought it was time that I made a button up for myself. 

While I think the Archer is great... I thought that I may want something a bit more fitted for myself. I have a few pieces of awesome plaid in my stash and I choose the one I liked the least to test out this pattern. I don't really like to make muslins and just kept my fingers crossed that it would turn out to be something wearable and YAY! it did!

 My Review: 

Pattern: Burda 6849

Fabric used: Hmm..good question. I'm not really sure but it is a nice quality woven plaid shirting that doesn't appear to have a right or wrong side and wears like a dream. No wrinkling at all either!

Instructions:  Well...it is a Burda pattern so instructions were so so. I would have liked more direction on topstitching and have since looked into it for the next shirt. I didn't use the patterns process on the collar and stand. I used Andrea's of  Four Square Walls method instead. I find hers much easier to do. 

Changes I made: Being that this was a muslin, I didn't change anything. 

Here is a list of a few things I will consider when I make it (or another button up pattern) next time.

1. I will cut out the back yoke an button stands on the bias. I really like how that looks.

2. I will trim the seam allowances on the collar stand much closer next time! The snaps were a little tricky to install with all that bulk.

3. I think I will add the pocket flaps next time.

4. My topstitching needs some improvement...

5. I would probably give it about one inch more ease through the hips. 

 

Repeat worthy? It is repeat worthy but I just bought the Sewaholic Granville to make next and compare the two. But for the record and so I don't forget...here is what I really like about this pattern:

1. I like the length...nice and long for my torso.

2. The sleeves are slim..not too bulky.

3. Sleeves are also a perfect length.

4. I like that the front and back pieces are only darted, no plaid matching on princess seams! 

5. I love using snaps!! Change your sewing life kinda stuff those things are! A few good therapeutic whacks with the hammer and presto you have closures for your shirt and no button holes the mess with! 

It appears that the pros and cons for this pattern are even! The changes that I would make are not even that note worthy so I call this muslin, a wearable win!

Meet the newest member of the family...Skipper.

LBD...I'll Have Mine Ruffled

Nothing is more versatile and classic than a little black dress. Even though I have my fair share of them gracing my wardrobe, who couldn't use another? 

I have made this pattern in a red and white stripe and you can really see how the same pattern (Newlook 6095) in a different fabric can result in an entirely different dress... you can see the full post here. 

I bought this ruffled fabric as a remnant...There was just enough for a basic dress and I knew that a textured fabric like this one needed simple design lines. I made the lining in a ponte knit according to the pattern with bust darts and back darts but omitted the back seam.  Before sewing the lining front to the back, I used them to make the pattern pieces for the ruffled knit so that I could completely omit all darts in the ruffled texture. To my pleasant surprise, it worked! The ruffled knit has enough stretch to compensate for the lack of darts. 

One of my favorite features of this pattern is the neckline. It is the perfect mix of scoop and boat neck. The dress is a bit big on me but I like the gathered look the chiffon belt gives it.

So...how do you feel about the classic LBD? Is it a staple for you or is it too boring? What are you drawn to when you shop fabrics....basic black or bold print?