Tuesday, May 29, 2012

McCall's 6559 - Striped maxi dress w/ star detail

I have finally jumped on the maxi dress trend, 2+ years after it began. They looked like they'd be hot, especially here in Texas. Also I like my legs and maxi dresses completely hide them. But this pattern was so incredibly adorable that I just had to try it.


While picking up this pattern and a few others, I happened upon the perfect striped knit to make the star version. After I got it home and washed however, I noticed that is was a very grabby fabric and clung to itself horribly. That worried me quite a bit, but luckily it doesn't cling to itself while it's on me.

I wore this yesterday for the Memorial Day holiday since it's a little patriotic. I made a straight size 10 and only had to modify the neckline, which was raised 1.5". I like the fitted bust and hip area and how the fabric skims over the midsection. I'm not sure how flattering it is around the top since I'm so small busted and prefer some sort of design element up there but oh well. This will get worn to the lake and beach and around the house. It is definitely comfortable.

 I hemmed it up 1.5 inches since it was a little long on me and really prefer a deeper hem anyway. The star was attached after sewing up the right side of the dress and before sewing up the left side - much easier then how the instruction suggested.

 The racerback cut is a fun detail. I love how the star wraps around to the back and I positioned it so that the stripes were not parallel with any of the pieces it was sewn to.

I finished all the seams with my overlocking foot, then topstitched them down. None of those seams are flipping up on the inside. Also, I had to secure all of the star's tips with a few hand stitches to keep the points pointy.

Here at the inside you can see where I made my own fabric facings. The instructions have you taking a double folded hem in these areas but that NEVER works for me. Why do they even include that finish at a curved opening? I've always used bias tape in the past but think I have finally gotten the hang of skinny fabric facings. These don't need to be bias as the fabric is very stretchy.

All in all it's a  great little dress that is super easy to whip up. I plan to make the colorblocked version at some point, too.

43 comments:

  1. Thank you sooo much for this! I have this pattern and am chomping at the bit to try it. I was annoyed at the prospect of messy looking neck and arm holes when I saw the directions, but your solution is PERFECT. yay!

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  2. This is fabulous!!I gotta find a stripe fabric for this!!! THANKS!!

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  3. Congratulations - you've made the first maxi dress that I actually like! I find that most of them look like nightgowns, but this one looks like a real dress & it's flattering on you. I may not be a convert, but I'm grudgingly admitting to liking yours :-)

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  4. Very pretty!! I've been waiting for someone to do the star version!

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  5. Your seaming is perfect, it really shows off the witty star on the side. I agree, maxi-dresses are surprisingly comfortable in the heat.

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  6. This is lovely, and lovely on you!

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  7. Super cute and perfect for the Lone Star state.

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  8. Super cute! My Mom made a bunch of dresses from that pattern, too, and they all came out adorable.
    I haven't seen a version of the start one... I really like it!

    I didn't realize it was razor back. I like that.

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  9. Super cute dress Amanda!!! I love your version! This is next in my queue and I can't wait to make/wear it:)

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  10. It's so cute on you, but then you NEVER fail to amaze me with your fabulous skillz girl! I love the star - so cute in a kind of girly chic sort of way. Fabulous dress. Makes me want one of my own.
    xoxo, Sunni

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  11. The star looks great! I wasn't sure at first about the skinny stripe, but it's growing on me. Re the twice-turned hem, have you seen this?
    http://off-the-cuff-style.blogspot.com/2010/07/tutorial-perfect-turn-and-stitch-edges.html

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  12. Oh that is so cute! I love it with the stripes. Fantastic dress! I kind of want to make it for the 4th now.

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  13. Sweet, sweet dress. I was drawn to that star dress, too, but quickly realized that: I don't like maxi dresses on me, that I will never again willingly appear in public in a sleeveless anything, and that I do not any longer have the patience necessary to piece together a complicated pattern. Your version is lovely. I think you'll be surprised at how often you pull this out of your closet to throw on -- you DO have good legs, but the constant shaving of summertime can irritate your skin, and you need sun protection, too.

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  14. Super cute maxi dress, it looks great on you.

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  15. That is AWESOME!!! I looked over that pattern and now you have made me want it. I really love the stripes and the star shape on the side.

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  16. Looks awesome! I bet it will get a lot of use this summer!

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  17. What a great version of this dress. I have made the other version three times now. The neckline really does need to be raised on this one. I'll have to try the finishing you did for my next one.

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  18. Great maxi dress. A little different from the many I have seen, and a fun way to use a striped fabric. Love the way the star wraps around the body.

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  19. Awesome Amanda!! It super cute on you, you really pull it off. I just finished up my first version of this dress too (but not the star view, the other, plain view). Thanks for posing about it!

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  20. This dress looks great on you. I have made View D three times now so I am definitely a fan of this pattern. Your fabric choice definitely makes what could be a cheesy detail look very classy.

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  21. Cute! I like the star and the racerback. What type of knit did you use? Definitely looks cool for our 100+ degrees Texas summers.

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  22. I love the way you played with the directions of the stripes! Lovely dress, really inspiring

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  23. Very fun! I didn't even notice this view of the dress. It looks great in a stripe.

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  24. Fabulous! I've added this pattern to my collection but haven't found the perfect fabric yet.

    Christiana
    sewamusing.blogspot.com

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  25. what a great dress! i love all the seams--reminds me of an anthropologie dress that's out right now.

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  26. I love it - the stripes are so fun, and it's perfect for memorial day!

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  27. I hadn't even noticed the version with the star detail, what a cool design and perfect for your memorial day.

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  28. I always love your 'inside' pics of knit fabric garments, since they are so neat. Really inspirational when sewing knits without a serger!

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  29. That star is so cool! Wow, totally love. What a great use of stripes.

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  30. I love this dress! An excellent pattern to use with striped material. Enjoy wearing this.

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  31. Your dress is beautiful, and thanks for the heads up on the fabric facings. View D was up next in my queue for my daughter and I.
    Do you have a tutorial to explain the fabric facings, I would like to try that instead of the double folded hem.

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  32. I'm wearing that dress right now! Well, mine is the plain version, but I'm totally making that star one. I love this dress. It's so comfortable, I wish I could wear it every day.

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  33. Hey Amanda,
    First, Love your blog. I made this same dress in the shorter version for a HOT Memorial Day picnic. I finished it with your bias tape edge technique. You have a really good technical precision for sewing. Do you mind giving a tutorial in how you do the narrow edging in self fabric? I never know how much fabric to cut and stretch to fit.
    Thanks, Sarah

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  34. Love the dress, a must to be added to my list! I will be in your area in July any hotels you can recommend for a shoestring budget? Thanks!

    Rosalia

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  35. Stripes are my favourite and your maxi dress version is wonderful.

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  36. The details on this dress are amazing.
    I couldn't help pointing out that you must have missed the memo for red toenails to go with your lipstick and earrings. Love the back view. That racer back really makes the star pop.

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  37. Oh, wow. That is pretty much a technical marvel! It's super cute, too!

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  38. Ow wow this is lovely! The seam detailing and racer back really make it stand out, love it! x

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  39. Amanda, this is a lovely dress, and fits you beautifully. I love the binding detail - the 'skinny fabric facing', and I would second the request for a tutorial, it makes the dress look so professional!

    Lovely!

    Jessie

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  40. I would also like a tutorial or a link to your source. It looks fabulous.

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  41. How cool! Your version is the best!!

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