10.29.2020

McCall's 7745...ish.

McCall's 7745...ish.

I might be smiling here, but don't let it fool you, THIS DRESS TRIED TO KILL ME.

This is McCalls 7745, which I've made before in leopard rayon jersey. Funny that when I made it in a fabric it wasn't meant for, it turned out great--I just sized down 2 sizes to account for the negative ease you need in stretch knits, and BOOM. DRESS.

This version, not so much. I used the proper size for wovens, and the neck came up as wide as the political divide in this here country. Gaped all over creation like I was aiming to be crowned Queen of the Tata Parade.

McCall's 7745...ish.

(I don't know which party would hold a Tata Parade, but it ain't the look I was going for.)

McCall's 7745...ish.

After skimming that July 2018 leopard print post, I realize I actually ALREADY SEWED THIS in a woven with the same tata trials. That tribulation was abandoned completely. Nice that I left myself a trail of breadcrumbs! Buuuuuut that only works if you REMEMBER THE CRUMBS.


With only the pros of that story in mind, I sewed this bodice up again, in the correct size for wovens. And I mean SEWED. IT. UP. Fully lined in fashion fabric, seams graded and understitched, cut sleeve treatment added, ready to rock!

Exhibitionist style. 


I was FUMING when I tried it on. With only 2.5 yards of this fabric, I couldn't afford to lose an inch of it, so I shoved it in a bag to wait for inspiration. Then Brittany popped up in my feed with an off-the-shoulder beauty, in the sunshine, and it was June in NY, and we were stuck behind bars, and I decided I WAS FINISHING IT OR IT WAS FINISHING ME


Smackdown: Sewist came by way of center back-- I took a whopping 3-inch dart out of center back, tapering from a giant chunk at the neck to nothing at the waist. Not easy, or pretty, to do once the bodice is fully lined, but luckily, my penchant for busy prints saved me. Pro tip: A busy print can hide all manner of wonkiness, y'all.


Once I took that ginormous chunk out, the open sleeve treatment needed some help. Gone were the fluttery, romantic wings I'd given myself. So I made a coupla spaghetti straps and tied them closed. With a bow. To save the romance. Though I was feeling VERY LITTLE LOVE at that point.


Having zero desire to use the rest of the pattern, I draped the skirt with what I had left! This is a border print, and I just needed to adjust my brain to let the floral border lie vertically to get the most out of what I had left.


Although it is a wrap dress, it isn't a true wrap style-- I added a few small pieces of twill tape for interior ties, and then attached the main tie belt down at the "wrap" edge of the outer bodice, at center front. I just tie it shut on the interior, and wrap the belt around myself on the exterior. Way better than buttonholes in rayon, especially when you're ready for a garment to be done-zo.

(I'd show you the interior tie situation, but without a dressform, I'm not sure how to do it without throwing my biddies back in the Tata Parade.)


She's swishy enough, and I'm glad she's DONE! But I might start writing my breadcrumbs right on the pattern envelope from now on...

30 comments:

  1. It's really lovely in the end after all those trials. I love it. And writing notes directly on the pattern is something one learns when they make a second failure as written because they have blocked the first epic fail from their memory. Ask me how I know. You're looking beautiful as always!

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    1. HAHAH! I once read some advice from Kenneth King--something like, "take notes as if you expect to fall ill with amnesia at any moment."

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  2. It's really lovely in the end after all those trials. I love it. And writing notes directly on the pattern is something one learns when they make a second failure as written because they have blocked the first epic fail from their memory. Ask me how I know. You're looking beautiful as always!

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  3. Great save! I don’t do to many garments anymore but have learned that a very busy fabric for a quilt back makes me happy! Otherwise that matchup gene has me try to make it look seamless.

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    1. oh, I love it when linings and backs are just as glorious as the onstage side 😍

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  4. Thank you for being the fearless seamstress and letting that border print go vertical. It will be an inspiration for border prints in my future; hopefully, a planned design element. I don't think I have your perseverance in me to "make it work" despite all obstacles.

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    1. a hefty dose of stubborn helps in perserverance 😂

      Do you follow Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)? She's amazing at using border prints in all directions.

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  5. Really great!!!!! You did a beautiful job and your prose always makes me smile. Have a great day today!

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  6. Where did you do your photo shoot? It reminds me of a place I lived as a kid. Beautiful dress, regardless of the crumbs.

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    1. This is in the historic Mt Nord district of Fayetteville, AR. We love driving through there!

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    2. O.M.G!!!!! I have been *thoroughly* enjoying every bit of your YouTube channel & this blog since I discovered your 3D mask video about a week & a half ago and then I see this comment, that you took this photo in my town?!?!?!? I just screamed to my poor husband "SHE WAS IN MY TOWN!!!" (as if he doesn't live here too lol and as if he even knew who tf I was talking about hahaha)

      I love the "10 degrees of separation"-type stuff that I see/experience, it brings home just how small our big world is! :) I'm so jazzed y'all love the beauty of Fayetteville!

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  7. the sign of a true sewist; determination and creativity for the ultimate save; well done.

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  8. The fabric is really pretty, I love those king of prints with dark backgrounds and brights on top. Good save too. You made it work.

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    1. Thanks Connie! Yeah, I've recently come to the "epiphany" that a dark background will make technicolor POP.

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  9. That dress is lovely + hair goals!

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  10. Very nice! And perfect colors for fall. The sleeve detail with spaghetti straps is very flattering.

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    1. Thanks Su-z! I was determined not to lose those sleeves 😅

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  11. That's kind of a European level of neckline now... I think I have a Burda magazine pattern that resembles it. Not with such pretty sleeves, though! You're definitely the queen of making it work; I could never tell this was a disaster and not a design.
    I also used to have a RTW garment with a similar wrapping / tying situation, so even without a picture I know what you mean! And yeah, that's a good thing to keep in mind for future wrapping endeavours... it really is a neater setup than holes (and might actually provide even more size flexibility, too, since you're not aiming to anchor your tie in a single hole... that's some historical costuming wisdom for you :D ).

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    1. Yes, there’s so much more flexibility this way! A quick trip to anywhere private, loosen the inside tie, and suddenly there’s more room for food. Ask me how I know.
      Also—disaster not design. I might need that on a tshirt.

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  12. Everything about this post was charming, and the final dress looks lovely. It's inspiring to read about how to fix a fitting disappointment!

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  13. Lovely rescue! Incorporating that border on the sides seams strokenif genius!

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  14. You are an inspiration to me! I love you in that dress.

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  15. Good for you...just going for what ya need! You appear to be so happy and full of sunshine while creating!

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!