Reusserland
  • Links
  • Sewing
  • Music
  • Travels
  • The River House
  • Top Secret

McCall's 6355 Dress

1/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have several beautiful poly prints in my stash that I bought from a friend when she went out of the fabric business. I have been musing about what to make with them for quite some time. Finally, I decided on McCall's 6355 for one of them. It is a simple sheath (shift?), but it has lots of dart options for shaping. I just want to get at least one thing sewn from these fabrics!

When I opened the pattern envelope, I was pleased to see I had already picked the right size, traced the pattern, and altered it with an FBA and moving the bust darts lower. I wanted to wear the dress in the winter, so I cut full sleeves and a full lining out of white tricot knit. I bought a monster bolt of this knit recently--I wonder what I was thinking? Maybe I hit an extra 0. Maybe I thought I really needed an 8 foot long bolt of white tricot knit.

I decided to add a sway back adjustment, which I had never done before. This pattern's front and back pieces are cut on the fold, so I was confused about how fabric could be darted out and the piece could still be cut on the fold, so I added a center back seam. I read right after that in the directions that you should still cut it on the fold and I guess Pati Palmer knows what she's talking about. But alas, I had done the deed so now I have that seam. I don't think it turn out badly at all though. However, when I cut the lining, I did cut on the fold. But I must not have removed the seam allowance at the neck because it was an inch or more too big and I had to dart it out when I put the lining together with the fashion fabric. I put a slightly wider neck band on because I wanted to make sure the neckline was modest. The first band I put on was too small and made the neck pucker. I had to take it off, but the second one looks very nice.

I basted the dress together and wondered if I should take out an inch or so along the side seams. In the end, I decided not to, thinking it looked good as it was and it might turn out too fitted if I went too crazy. In the end, I think I should make it smaller if I ever make it again; it could be more fitted. Family members who've seen the dress say it looks really good.

I sewed the center back with my sewing machine and pressed the seam flat. I sewed the other seams with my serger. I did not set in the sleeves as the instructions directed; good grief, that seems so silly when it is so easy to sew them in flat. I coverstitched the hem and it looked unacceptable. It twisted as I sewed, with the presser foot pushing the top layer of fabric ahead of the bottom layer. I was so angry I wanted to yell at some Janome engineers! I fiddled with tensions and stitch lengths, and it refused to behave. I reduced the weirdness somewhat by pressing, but the back was a little higher than my lining, so I had to undo it anyway.  I fiddled more with tensions and stitch lengths, sewed very slowly, lightened the presser foot to its absolute lowest setting (where the dial fell off and I had to screw it back on), and used my fingers to force the fabric to move as I wanted it to move. That all worked and the hem looks nice now.

In the end, I am happy with how this dress turned out.

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a wife and mother. I am retired: yay! 

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    September 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2017
    March 2016
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Categories

    All
    Bags
    Costumes
    Dresses
    Home Decor
    Outdoor
    Pants
    PJs
    Quilts
    Skirts
    Stuffed Animals
    Tools
    Tops
    Toys

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly