Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you are all rested and ready for the week ahead. I have taken advantage of this long holiday weekend to catch up on my never-ending list of things I would like to sew. I have made a simple knit sheath dress from some floral print scuba knit, a psychedelic Closet Case Files Sallie Jumpsuit, a Watson bra, started on the Maison Fleur Halterneck Swimsuit, and just finished this cute little dress — McCall’s 7121.
Hopefully I will get around to sharing those other things with you but if I don’t, at least you know I’m back to sewing! And now that my knit fest is over, I have plans to start on some woven items like a dress and some blouses. I will keep you posted.
Y’all know I love a good knit dress. Exhibits 1 and 2. And there are more that I haven’t even shown you but that make regular appearances in my wardrobe. So it’s not a surprise that I picked up this pattern when they went on sale for $1 at Hancock’s. But I think I love this one a little more because it has a waist seam and the skirt is a little more A-line. And since the front bodice is not cut on the fold, McCall’s added a little bit of bust shaping there in the front for you.
And the stripes make it so fun and flattering. Plus, I get to show off my stripe matching skills! What, you thought I was hiding something under the belt? BAM!
I chose my size based on the finished measurements, not the size chart, and I selected sizes that would yield zero to a little negative ease in the bust and waist. I made my standard adjustments of 1/2″ forward shoulder and 1″ swayback and I also decided to raise the neckline by 1.5″. After I stitched this up, I realized the armholes and back neckline were gaping and the waist was a little low so I pinched up the shoulder by 1.5″ and stitched a new shoulder seam, effectively fixing all three problems. I think using neck and armhole bindings would prevent the gaping but this pattern just calls for turning and stitching.
Which, of course, I didn’t do! I decided to self-line the bodice for a clean finish at the neck and armscye. I did sew some clear elastic into the neckline and after I raised the shoulder seams, it lies smoothly. Finally, I serged some clear elastic into the waist seam and hemmed with a twin needle.
Easy peasy for a great wardrobe builder. I think my next version will be hacked into a peplum top with some great black floral scuba knit that is calling to me from my fabric stash…
Susie Homemaker, MD 
Kudos to you on getting those stripes to align impeccably! You look stunning in your dress.
Thanks Heather! I love the wrap dress you just posted. I need to figure one of those out next! P. S. My mom is a math teacher too 🙂
Congratulations! You did an amazing job with these stripes – such a cute dress 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! It definitely feels like an accomplishment and I know I will enjoy wearing it.
Beautiful! Congrats on getting so many things going too! You’ll have to bring the bra and swimsuit to our next GCGSW so we can see them!
Thanks! I was thinking about our GCGSW today and hoping we would get together again soon. We could all make bras and jumpsuits! 🙂
Amazing job! So perfectly matched and fits you beautifully.
Thanks, Jae. It’s a great basic pattern. You should give it a try. Your recent dress has me prepping to make a cute floral frock next… 🙂
It looks fantastic!
Thank you!