This is my progress so far on Mccalls 5805. The bodice has a normal zipper since I ran out of invisible zippers (and the Hello Kitty machine was in the shop). I still have to finish the bodice and the sleeve binding, but it’s almost done.
Category Archives: mccalls
Sewing Meetups + Actual Sewing
Esteemed Sewing Assistant, looking totally bewildered and sitting on some fabric.
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Alright. After an unexpected hiatus of almost of almost two months, I definitely think I’m back.
Over the weekend, I had a chance to meet Lauren, Oona, Cindy (Cindy, where is your blog?) and many more inspiring ladies who sew. We hit up the usual — Mood, Pacific Trimmings, Chic Fabrics — and a bar afterwards, but sadly I have no photographs to show for this.
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I worked on more of McCalls 5805, but with no additional photographs to show for it, since it looks the same on the dress form. I cleaned up and serged the side seams, bottom seam, and the shoulder seam. I also cut, underlined, and serged the gathered skirt together, but haven’t assembled anything yet.
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This is what the bottom skirt part will look like. There’s a huge border print of even larger roses. The cotton voile looked a little see-through so I had to underline it with black cotton broadcloth just to be safe.
More sewing to come, definitely soon.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 5805, Bodice
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I can only sew once a week these days, so I’ve been working on this slowly but surely. I lined the bodice with cotton broadcloth. I still need to serge the edges and cut the skirt.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 5805
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I was looking through my stash and I found this interesting dress pattern. I plan to make View A, with the pouffy skirt, and to add pockets.
The Live Through This Dress
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Fabric: black wool, $7/yd, approx 2 yd. white lace, approx $5/yd, 1 yd
Pattern: McCalls 7707
Year: 1960
Notions: black invisible zipper, $1
Time to complete: a couple of evenings
First worn: Haven’t been worn yet!
Wear again? Yes
Total cost: $20
Everyone needs an austere black dress with a white lace collar. I’ve been listening to a lot of Hole circa 1994 (especially Live Through This) when I made this dress, and it was inspired by a similar dress that Courtney Love wears.
I think the black wool I used was too stiff for this pattern. I used the scalloped collar and didn’t interface the collars out of laziness, and I think the collar turned out too wobbly.
I plan to make this again with modifications, using a wool with more drape and more simple collar.
It was incredibly cold the morning when I took these photos, so I’ll have to figure out what works for the rest of the winter.
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Pattern used:
McCalls 7707.
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Pattern Review
Pattern Description:
Lightly fitted and flared dress, with high waistline in front, may be sleeveless or have long set-in sleeves. Long sleeves are scalloped at wrists and closed with zippers. Two-piece contrasting collar on sleeveless dress, or matching scalloped dress on collar with sleeves. Collars are interfaced. Buttons are used as decorative trim on upper front. Either version has center back zipper, may be lined.
Pattern Sizing:
Size 12, 32 bust. I had to size it up but I think I made a math error since I had to remove about two inches from the back side seam.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
There weren’t a lot of pieces to this pattern, and I liked how you can customize the collar.
Fabric Used:
Black wool, white lace.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I shortened the skirt and the sleeves.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes and yes.
Conclusion:
I really like it! Very comfortable to wear, and finally a dress with sleeves.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 7707
Here’s what my muslins look like so far for McCalls 7707. There’s two wrinkles by the middle bodice but I think that’s due to user error. I’m doing the version with the scalloped collar.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 7707
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Over the weekend I had a chance to trace and adjust McCalls 7707. I didn’t get very far since most of the weekends was filled with recovery errands, but hopefully I can get to work on it for a bit this week.
Pattern Acquisition: McCalls 7707
This is a departure from my usual style, but I really liked this simple dress from the 60s. The high waistline is an interesting detail and I especially like the scalloped collar. I hope to make it up in plain black with a contrasting white collar.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 3730
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I’ve wanted a suspender skirt for a long time, and I’ve finally gotten around to it. Now I want to start another one in black.
McCall’s 7262: 1940s Playsuit
I just bought this pattern now on a whim. As much as I like sewing and wearing knit dresses, I do miss the slow process of fitting and muslins. Although I wear my finished knits quite often, it doesn’t feel as rewarding to finish knits as it does to finish my older vintage projects. I’ll definitely have to tweak the styling so it looks more modern and edgy, but this might just be my cue to go back to a modern and less costume-y way of sewing and wearing vintage patterns.
As for McCall’s 7262, I’ll have to alter this so it’s somewhat wearable, but I picture it mixed with sheer chiffon dressses and lace skirts, and transitioning into the Fall with tights, layers, tall boots and sweaters.