Saturday, July 6, 2013

McCalls 6559 -- Black and White Maxi


Squinting into the sun
I made this dress at the very beginning of June.  I was away from home most of the month and I wanted to take this dress with me.  The pattern is McCalls 6559, and it was ranked as one of the Best Patterns of 2012 at Pattern Review.  I have to agree since this is the fourth time I've made it myself (here are versions onetwo and three), which is a little surprising since the pattern is really just one basic design.  But, with the exception of my version two, which has been relegated to a swimsuit coverup, I wear the other three all the time.  I wear the short silver one with a pink denim jacket and I wear the two maxis just as they are.

I love to wear maxi dresses.  They are so comfortable and cool, they look nice, and you don't have to worry about what your legs look like.  Long live the maxi!


This particular dress is view F the stripe version, but minus the appliqued star.  I had been wanting a dress like this since last summer but had to wait to find a suitable fabric.  On my one trip to Golden D'or I picked up some black T-shirt-like fabric and some black-and-white brushed knit fabric, both from the remnant table.  There was not enough of either one to make a whole dress, but I thought it would be fun to combine the stripe manipulation with the black and white trend.

The front is mostly striped, with one black panel.  It is very difficult to photograph stripes, especially narrow ones, so here are a couple of close-ups.




















The back is solid black.  I did have to piece the back because the fabric wasn't long enough.  And I used the regular back piece, NOT the racerback version.

Semi-technical information for fellow sewing geeks;):  I made a size 14 but added an inch to the side seams, tapering out from under the arm.  This was a little more of a pain than usual thanks to the number of front pieces.  I reinforced all the front seams with knit stay tape since I was sewing two different kinds of knits together.  I cut away the seam allowance on the neckline and sleeves because I used knit binding to finish them.

Because this was the fourth time I had made this dress, I was zipping along and feeling good until.....I put the binding on.  I made the binding by cutting two-inch wide strips across the black fabric.  I had used binding on version number two, but everything turned out too big.  I was determined not to let that happen this time, so I pinned that binding on TIGHT.  So tight that the dress, which fit beautifully before, was suddenly too small in the armholes when I tried it on:( I realized I had done TOO good of a job and had to unpick both armholes and redo them.  I did not unpick the neckline because it was working okay and unpicking stitches on knit fabric IS NOT FUN, especially when the fabric is black.

This dress is funky but is so comfortable it feels like I'm wearing pajamas.  Plus it rolls up in my suitcase easily, and then emerges from its cramped quarters looking as good as new.  That makes it a winner for me.

11 comments:

  1. I just went back and looked at the other three dresses, and I think that this one is my favorite! I love the play of the stripes together and with the solid black. (I also love your reasons for wearing maxi dresses!) ;)

    Great job, Angela!

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  2. This looks fabulous on you! I love the stripes and the black. I'm going to have to get this pattern!

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  3. It looks great! You don't need slimming, but the style looks as if it would be slimming. I really like the combination of fabrics. Sorry about the troubles with having to take it apart. Never fun.

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  4. You've done it again, Angela! It's stunning! The combination of fabrics works brilliantly - I love the plain black back setting off the geometric panels at the front. Like you, I like wearing ankle-length skirts and dresses - they are suitable for any time of day or night. Enjoy wearing this as well as versions 1,2, and 3! E x

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  5. I gotta say, that is a GREAT dress, and it looks wonderful on you. The way you pieced the front panels is SO slimming and attractive! You're really creative -- I would never have dreamed of doing that piecing effect ... plus, I could never have done all that knit sewing. It seems so challenging to me. Great job! I like the back on this one better than the racer back. This is by far my favorite dress of the 4 you've made in this pattern. And as you say ... long live the maxi! I really, really need to go buy me one :)

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  6. Love this dress, especially the way you "play" with the arrangement of the stripes, beautiful! You have a reason to wear maxi dresses funny ... do not worry about the removal, hehe. Great! I join myself to that ...

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  7. So neat! Love that look on you, and the piecing is really effective.

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  8. I'm really impressed with the design and how great it looks on you - and I'm impressed with your patience, having to rip out and re-sew. It paid off, and is certainly a success. I love my maxi skirts, especially in the summer when I want to wear sandals.

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  9. Wow, you are a wonderful seamstress! I am so impressed. The only thing I have sewn is pajama bottoms. I like this dress a lot and the dramatic colors/pattern. Very nice.

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  10. Cool dress:) Love the diagonal seams! Very eye-catching indeed :)

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  11. I love this! and I'm so glad I found your blog! I think you're way brave to make this version, with the piecing, looks beautiful.

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