25 May Naughty Girl, Happy Girl
It pays to be naughty sometimes.
Especially this time.
Here is McCall’s 6700.
For Moderate Stretch Knits Only
I had sewn the pattern before and didn’t see anything stretchy about it…… and I had to have this Thakoon Blue Tie-Dye Silk Crepe de Chine Border Print from Mood Fabrics…… and I had to make this maxi dress in this silk. At 5’2” I rarely wear border fabrics and I knew this was my chance.
It’s been a long time since I broke the rules, but I think it was worth it 😉
Indeed – a perfect dress for Memorial Day or Fourth of July.
I think it would look great with a big bowl of cherries, an armful of sunflowers, or even better walking along the beach – my hope is to wear this dress all summer long!
This is quite the easy pattern with four pattern pieces (five if you include the back ties). The neck and armholes are finished with a narrow hem rather than a facing or lining. Having made the dress once before (blogged here) I knew what issues I would face with the upper bodice popping open, and overlapped the upper front and back bodice an extra inch and a half to solve the problem.
After sewing the dress in this luscious crepe de chine, I’m still not sure why the pattern was designed for moderate knits only!
I guess one could say I got away with it, but maybe I should have had my wrists slapped for taking a chance with this beautiful silk. It would be perfect for just about anything with its lovely drape and soft hand!
After I sent this post to Mood Fabrics, the store added a link to Thakoon’s website showing how he used the fabric. I enjoyed browsing this page after I had sewn my vision of the fabric, but do wonder how it would have influenced my decision had I seen these photos before hand.
Regardless of my decision, the page was a great reminder of how thankful I am to be sewing again.
Best wishes for a safe, meaningful and fun-filled Memorial Day weekend!
Deborah
Posted at 10:20h, 25 Mayfor showing this. I ordered this pattern after your first post. I wondered if it might work for a light, drapey woven. You have proved that it works!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:28h, 26 MayThanks, Deborah. I did not see any difference in using the silk although the silk is a littel slippery 🙂
Mrs K
Posted at 10:34h, 25 MayBeautiful fabric and great for summer! You wear it well.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:28h, 26 MayThank you, Mrs. K !!
Maggie
Posted at 10:34h, 25 MayThis is fabulous! It makes me think you need to wear it somewhere really cool, like a party on a yacht or something.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:29h, 26 MayThanks, Maggie! I’m all about going to a party on a yacht, if invited that is 🙂
Libby Paul
Posted at 10:51h, 25 MayI’ve not seen maxis in the shops as smart as your creations. Very flattering!
Libby
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:30h, 26 MayThanks, Libby! I’ve not been in a shop in a while – must go check out what’s there 🙂
lisa g
Posted at 10:54h, 25 Maygorgeous dress! sometimes we just have to use our intuition when picking fabrics, and yours was a perfect choice!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:31h, 26 MayMany thanks, Lisa! Your’e right about that that and I’m relieved my intuition led me to a good place 🙂
quilty girl
Posted at 11:04h, 25 MayI think this version is very pretty indeed. The addition of some extra fabric at the top allowing for a more secure top is a great idea. It has a bit of the hippy boho look I think – very cute for summer wear.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:32h, 26 MayThank you, Quilty Girl! I agree and love the hippy boho in a high-end silk 🙂
Linda B.
Posted at 11:04h, 25 MayThis is gorgeous on you! What a great fabric choice! I am 5’2″ also and thought maxi’s were not for me. You are making me rethink that idea!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:33h, 26 MayThank you, Linda! After making the first maxi, I quickly discovered maxis actually make us short girls look taller!! 🙂
Angela
Posted at 11:19h, 25 MayLovely dress! Thanks for the tip about overlapping the back further. Taking risks is one of the privileges of sewing;)
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:34h, 26 MayMany thanks, Angela! I may be quoting you on this one – good point!
Allyn
Posted at 11:27h, 25 MayI pulled out this pattern the other day . . . after seeing your latest version, I’m heading to my fabric stash and will make this up very soon! What a great dress . . . looks terrific on you!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:34h, 26 MayThat’s great Allyn – good luck with your dress!
Art Attack
Posted at 11:51h, 25 MayBad is good and now you have your summer breeze dress…beautiful! 😀
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:35h, 26 MayMany thanks, Dorcas! I need to quit thinking bad is good or I might really get into trouble 😉
Sam
Posted at 11:52h, 25 MayWhat a gorgeous dress! It looks fabulous on you.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:35h, 26 MayThank you, Sam!
Martha Schildknecht
Posted at 11:56h, 25 MayDo you dry clean your silks? Love your blog! I’m a new reader and have gone back to the beginning to read all your posts–what fun that was!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:36h, 26 MayWow, Martha! Thanks for reading from the very beginning! Sometimes I wash silks but this one is going to the dry cleaners.
Reecie Wilkes
Posted at 12:00h, 25 MayPretty
Sent from my iPhone
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:36h, 26 MayMany thanks, Reecie!
Ann-Britt Uhrbom
Posted at 12:05h, 25 MayHello naughty girl!
Sure you have to be naughty when the result is so good. The dress is wonderful and it suits you so well.
Happy Memorial Day! We, of course, don´t celebrate that day in Sweden. This Sunday will be Mothers Day here, so I think we are a little after you.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:38h, 26 MayThank you, Ann-Britt! I had no idea Mother’s Day was on a different date in Sweden. For some reason I thought it was a universal holiday. Thanks for enlightening me 🙂
Beth (SunnyGal Studio)
Posted at 13:46h, 25 Maysuper pretty, love the fabric choice. perfect for summer
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:38h, 26 MayMany thanks, Beth 🙂
Haylee
Posted at 13:47h, 25 MaySarah this is gorgeous! It looks beautiful on you and I love that fun fabric- fun and eye-catching but not too in your face either. Love it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:39h, 26 MayThank you so much, Haylee! The fabric surpassed my expectations!
carolinascallin
Posted at 16:06h, 25 MayLove it! I saw this fabric on the Mood site the other day and thought it was fabulous! It would make a terrific DVF style wrap dress, too! Must order 🙂 This dress was a great choice – love it on you 🙂
carolinascallin
Posted at 16:09h, 25 MayPS…Although I love what Thakoon did with the top, I think he might have done better to consult with you on the dresses and that pant…! 😉
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:04h, 26 MayHi Cheryl! A wrap dress would be fab – hope you will make one:)
Michelle
Posted at 16:07h, 25 MaySwoon! I liked the first version but I love the second. The fabric is fabulous. I love wearing dresses, especially a maxi dress! I might need to add this pattern to my collection.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:06h, 26 MayThank you, Michelle! Hope you will give it a try 🙂 !
katy
Posted at 17:39h, 25 MayWell done as usual. Love that color.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:10h, 26 MayThank you, Katy!
Alethia
Posted at 18:27h, 25 MayNow I know I’m gonna make this dress! I’ve had this dress in que, but I keep pushing it back. As a matter of fact, I’m a bit upset with myself because the fabric I was gonna use for this maxi dress, I just used it to make M6752. I’m not sure how I feel about the dress, so I haven’t posted yet. But, I will be trying this one!!
It’s beautiful and, as always, looks super great on you, just as the Edisto dress did!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:13h, 26 MayThank you Alethia! I hope you’ll make this dress soon AND blog about it!
Sharon
Posted at 18:42h, 25 MayBeautiful summer dress!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:13h, 26 MayThank you, Sharon!
Margo
Posted at 18:44h, 25 MayBeautiful dress! This pattern is now on my wish list. Thanks!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:15h, 26 MayThanks for the nice comment, Margo!
Shams
Posted at 19:32h, 25 MayA great use of a beautiful border print. And I bet it feels great on!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:16h, 26 MayThank you, Shams – I’m loving this dress 🙂
Cindy
Posted at 19:45h, 25 MayStunning, just stunning. What a smart move to use a simple pattern and let this gorgeous fabric speak for itself. You’ve created another perfect dress versatile enough to go from lunch at a cafe to a fancy occasion, dressing it up or down with jewelry. What an incredible gift you have for visualizing the perfect marriage of fabric and pattern!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:20h, 26 MayWhat a nice comment, Cindy! Some projects are easier to visualize than others but I’m very pleased with this one. Many thanks for writing :)!,
Joyce Love
Posted at 23:02h, 25 MayYou are an artist, Sarah!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:20h, 26 MayAh…… Thank you, Joyce!
Irene
Posted at 23:23h, 25 MayAbsolutely the perfect dress for summer living!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:21h, 26 MayThanks, Irene! I think I’m going to love it!
Pauline Droy
Posted at 04:11h, 26 MayI have yet to make a maxi dress for summer but I have a wonderful honeymoon waiting for me in the Maldives in November so I have a complete wardrobe in mind to sew and this pattern could be one of them. Lovely.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:02h, 27 MayThank you, Pauline! You would look terrific in this dress and look forward to seeing your trousseau 🙂
Sandra
Posted at 04:29h, 26 MayWhat an amazing sewist decision resulting with a fabulous dress. I can only imagine how great if feels to wear. Congrats 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:04h, 27 MayMany thanks, Sandra! It does feel great to wear and I really don’t have anything like it at all 🙂
Vivian
Posted at 06:33h, 26 MayIt is good to think outside the box! Well done.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:04h, 27 MayThat’s a nice way to put it! Many thanks for writing, Vivian 🙂
coco
Posted at 07:42h, 26 MaySo cute! I’m enjoying your venture into casual garments. This is a great pattern, have it in my stash just waiting for some attention! Your dress makes me want to take it out right now.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:05h, 27 MayThank you, Coco! This pattern has your name written all over it 🙂 Hope you will make it soon!
oonaballoona
Posted at 14:25h, 26 Mayah, sunny lady, you look like a dip in a silky ocean!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:06h, 27 May🙂 🙂 ….. Many thanks, Oonaballoona!
gingermakes
Posted at 15:50h, 26 MayThis is so pretty! I like the way you used the fabric so much more than Thakoon’s pieces!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:08h, 27 MayThank you, Ginger! Thakoon made some pretty awesome garments out of this fabric, but this style suits me better 🙂 🙂
jillybe
Posted at 20:38h, 26 MayThat looks SO yummy! And having just discovered the joys of a maxi dress, it’s nice to know that this one works so well in the right woven (and what’s ‘righter’ than silk?) ;-D
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:09h, 27 MayThanks, Jilly……… um……I agree that nothing is righter than silk! What a fabric 🙂
Myra
Posted at 21:37h, 26 MayThis is one beautiful dress! I just love it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 08:10h, 27 MayMany thanks, Myra!
Almeda
Posted at 08:12h, 27 May🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
What a happy dress! It will bring lots of smiles. Love it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:10h, 27 MayThank you, Almeda! This is such a sweet thing to say 🙂
Karen
Posted at 10:55h, 27 MaySuch a perfect Summer dress. It seems to me you relied on your educated intuition about the fabric – that it WOULD work for this pattern.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:10h, 27 MayThanks, Karen – educated intuition is a good way to look at it for sure 🙂
Mary Carmen Sánchez Carrera
Posted at 11:07h, 27 Maybeautiful dress, congratulations, you do wonderful dresses, greeting from Mexico.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:11h, 27 MayGracias, Mary Carmen! 🙂
Thimble & Cork
Posted at 11:42h, 27 MayYou look stunning in your new maxi dress! That fabric is PERFECT for that pattern – it’s the ideal summer dress.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:12h, 27 MayMany thanks – I believe I’m going to enjoy it immensely !
Effy
Posted at 07:14h, 28 MayWhat a lovely dress!! Well done! Im 5’2 so know exactly where you’re coming from! Happy Sewing 🙂 Effy x
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 19:39h, 28 MayThanks Effy! We short girls have to take advantage of each and every opportunity to look taller, huh? 🙂
AllisonC
Posted at 06:32h, 29 MayYou were pretty brave diving into the designer woven fabric, but the gamble paid off, gorgeous print and dress. Isn’t it annoying that the pattern is marked up as being for knits only though when clearly it’s not necessary.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:44h, 29 MayThank you, Allison! I still can’t figure this one out but am certainly glad I took the risk 🙂
ZoSews
Posted at 08:14h, 29 MayCongratulations on a beautiful dress!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:45h, 29 MayThank you, Zoe!
Britchick
Posted at 13:08h, 30 MayJust love your blog and feeling inspired by the lovely things you are making. I have pulled out my sewing machine again – after a long period of neglect. This dress really cheers me up. Makes me think of high summer and takes my mind off the clouds and rain on this chilly UK summer day.
Winifred
Posted at 06:05h, 02 JuneJust beautiful. I am biased as blue is my favourite colour.
Erik
Posted at 12:25h, 03 JulyUseful information. Fortunate me I discovered your website accidentally, and I
am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Natalie
Posted at 22:24h, 01 AugustHi, this is a gorgeous dress and fabric. Did you have to line it?
Stepping Into Summer with McCalls 6700 | My Blythe Life
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