Chocolate Ice Cream Bonbons Summer Dress M 6559

This is my 3rd version of McCall's 6559 dress. This time, in shorter length.

The last maxi version I made, the neckline stretched and got lower and lower as I wore it. On this one, I raised the neckline by 1.5" and widened each shoulder by 3/8". I just wanted to feel a little more secure wearing this version as I planned to wear for work.

As always, 2" petite adjustment at the waist, added the 2" I took there to the hem.  As with the last maxi version, I cut size 8 but graded it to size 10 from the waist to hip and down. It is just a bit more comfortable from lower ab and hip area. I think this gives cleaner silhouette, too.

I wore it for work, indeed, with this vintage butter cream colored silk jacket.

I took it to Japan this sumner. 

And wore it with a short black cotton eyelet jacket. (RTW)

Made with a light weight knit from Marcy Tilton's. I got this fabric at this year's Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup. This fabric is so smooth, soft, and I love the color combination of the chocolate brown and the cream polka dots. Perhaps a little lighter than you'd want the dress to be, but in the middle of unusually hot summer, I actually appreciated the light weight dress.

I think that the 3/8" wider shoulder worked out very well for me.

McCall's 6559 Summer Dress - Maxi

I know. Everyone is wearing one of these, and I know why now. It is so comfortable. It's McCall's 6559. 

I made this with cotton/poly blend knit. It feels very nice against my skin. I stay cool in this dress during this unusually hot summer in Seattle. 

Stripes matchy-matched pretty nicely. I'm very happy with this dress. 

This is actually the version 2 that I made of this pattern. I considered the v. 1 (unblogged)  as a wearable muslin and it was a shorter length version.  For this v. 2, I graded size 8 to size 10 from the waist down. I wanted to make a loose fitting, cool summer maxi. Took my usual 2" petite adjustment for the waist height. The whole thing came together very easily and quickly.

 

Love this pattern, and I already made the v. 3.  I'd say, however, that the neckline is a bit too deep especially if your choice of fabric is a light weight jersey. It stretches and the neck line gets lower, and lower.  Something to think about.  I've made an adjustment on my v. 3 which I will blog about soon.

Cool Hot Summer Dress: Simplicity 9002

I made this dress actually last August.  That's right, August, 2014. I considered it to be a flop, so it remained unblogged. 

Beautiful high grade vintage cotton I received from someone who was giving away her late mother's sewing supplies. I absolutely loved this cotton (feels like a premium Japanese cotton) and I wanted to be sure I made something that I could enjoy for a long time with it.  I can't remember where the white fabric came from, but was in my stash, and a perfect match for the main brown fabric.

Sewed with a tiny narrow orange ribbon for the skirt portion of the dress.

The pattern I used was a vintage-ish (believe it's from the 80's or the 70's. Can't believe 80's almost qualifies as vintage. Agh!)

I really like the way these two fabrics worked out well together.

No zipper closure.  Just slip on and off. 

Nice deep pockets.  Very practical. Since I've mainly been sewing knits, I'd forgotten how nice and easy to sew with 100% cotton woven fabric. Also, it feels SOOOOOO nice against my skin. 100% natural fiber next to my skin on a hot summer day is like heaven, freedom, and simply delicious. 

I made size 10 based on the measurements on the pattern instructions, however, it was way too big and I had to adjust the bodice a bit to fit me better.  It is meant to be loose-fitting but it just felt so huge that I made a little adjustment/embellishment on the back.

A cute vintage button with a little loop, hoping that it will make the dress look a little more 'fitted'. But it didn't do much for that.  Nevertheless, it is a darling button and I love it!

Here is the close-up shot of this adorable button!

On the photos, it doesn't look so huge, but trust me. It looks ginormous on me. Especially from the back. I've gone back and forth about just cutting it and making the skirt part narrower, but since I've cut and adjusted the bodice a couple of times, it couldn't be any shorter than how it is now.  I only wore it two times last summer. It sat in my closet for a year.

Seattle has been experiencing unusually HOT summer this year. (Really. Usually, summer for us doesn't arrive until at least July 5. This year, it came in mid June!!) So, I took it out and wore it.  I decided that I really like this dress.  It is so comfortable.  The fabric feels so nice.  I will definitely make another version, and this time I will make the skirt less wide. (so it won't end up looking like a maternity dress!)

Do you have a project that you considered to be a flop, and later liking it? 

What are you all sewing this summer?