Last post I mentioned that I had finished my “May Flower” dress, a theme provided way back in May by the #magamsewalong on Instagram. I had a wonderful floral 100% rayon fabric and one of my favourite patterns, McCall’s M6503. I wasn’t too pleased with the dress when finished though. I don’t know how I managed it but the whole dress seemed a bit too large and the bodice seemed to be a whole size too large! I don’t know what happened. Perhaps I traced out the wrong size bodice pieces or I cut out my fabric incorrectly?
I preferred to gather my bodice and skirt pieces, instead of using darts, but I don’t think that would have made that much difference.
Besides the sizing, I had only one other mishap while sewing together my “May Flower” dress. That old bobbin thread nest. Completely re-threading the upper and lower threads did the trick.
I love sewing the facings like this … so neat and tidy and almost invisible.
Making the waistband and sewing in the hidden side zipper was also a treat.
And … after all these fun sewing techniques, I finished the dress and did not like the fit. What did I do wrong? I don’t know. The other dress that I made with this pattern turned out great. On this one, the bodice was too big and the whole dress seemed baggie/shapeless!
Last post Sue in MN said she had had a similar problem with a rayon dress she had made, before donating it she washed and ironed it though, and it ended up fitting just fine! Well what’s to lose – as is, my “May Flower” dress was heading to a charity shop … and if I washed and ironed it and it ended up too small, it would still head to a charity shop.
I loved this fabric and pattern, so off it went, into the washing machine and the dryer!
This is how it turned out – what do you think?
Not bad, huh? I’ll even show you a goofy shot of me trying to show my “bat wing” sides seams. Before I had extra room all around my bodice top and it seemed to gather at the sides of my dress. It seems ok now!
I can see the headlines now “Dress Saved by Vigorous Washing Machine and Hot Dryer!” Heaven help me if this dress ends up in the washer/dryer once more – hand wash from now on!
(And yes, I’m not wearing footwear. It seems I have lost my sandals somewhere! I better go find them before work tomorrow!)
So thanks to Sue in MN. Seems silly, but it worked!
Do you have any “seems silly” sewing tricks to share with us?
Happy Sewing!
STASH BUSTING WITH THIS PROJECT? 1.8 metres used! Still 130.2 metres left in inventory!