missceliespants

You know, it’s a knit dress

I love an easy project. There’s something to be said about the simplicity of an easy, uncomplicated dress.

Over Christmas I picked up McCalls 5468 from Joann. Armed with my measurements, I did a flat pattern measure on View D and saw that I could cut a size 10 rather than the size 14 that the Big 4 pattern companies tell me I should be in. I actually didn’t even use the directions on the dress.

I adore the sleeves! I omitted the inside waistband facing and used fold over elastic (FOE) on the neckline using a three-step zig zag. Please don’t think I am brilliant, the girls over at PatternReview told me how to do it. The best thing I can say, is that my neckline didn’t stretch out! Oh happy day!


There are only two bad things I have to say about this pattern. First, I think the neck is w i d e. Because I didn’t remove the seam allowance for the FOE, it’s *ok*, but I’d be happier if it were a bit narrower. Also, the unaltered length was horrible. It hit me mid calf. I cut nine inches off the length to get it hovering around my knees. Hmmm, methinks I cut it too short. But, better here than there.


The fabric is a poly knit from Metro Textiles, NY PR Wknd 2007. Cute as I think this is, I actually think it would be better in another fabric. A solid or color blocked would serve it well. This one is on the thin side, which is why I went with a summer dress style for it. You know, it’s a $20 dress and it hardly takes anything to make it. Plus, I got to try out a new technique. Life is good.


And since I’m currently in the ‘I have nothing to wear’ and ‘I hate my clothes’ phase, this dress makes me happy. This phase also has me just cranking out some easy projects. So next, two knit tops I think. I like not changing my needle 🙂