McCall's: 4444 (Laura Ashley Sundress)  - Type:Dresses  | | Viewed 1935 times
| 9 more reviews | Review rated Helpful by 2 people Very Helpful by 21 people | | Reviewed by: | Karen6790 | 
 | About Karen6790 | | PA USA | | Member since: 3/2/06 | | Reviews written: 156 | | Sewing skills:Advanced | | Favored by: 63 people | | patterns reviewed: 155 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 8/20/07 11:36 PM | | Last Updated: | 6/11/09 8:09 PM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | 
McCall's Pattern InfoMore Info provided by Karen6790 | | Pattern Rating: | Highly Recommend | | See other patterns in this category: Dresses | Available for sale on PR: $16.5 (See envelope)  | | | | Fabric: | Cotton Blend [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description: Pattern Description: Dress has fitted bodice with halter bands, button closure and back straps, very loose fitting skirt with back zipper, length is below mid-knee or above ankle; view B has contrasting bands, straps and binding; view C has purchased optional trim.
6/1/09: One last edit to add pictures of the dress on me. My roommate gave up a shrug from Old Navy in the perfect shade of aqua, so the dress is (mostly) decent to wear to the office. I don't always get to post photos of my clothes on me, so I wanted to add these while I remembered.
5/23/09 I made another version of this dress, hoping to wear it to a friend's wedding this past weekend. No such luck - it was barely 60 outside, and the house was about the same temperature. Backless dresses just look silly with goosebumps.
I'm adding to this review because I love the new version of this dress, and it's one of those patterns that really looks completely different depending on fabric. DBF didn't recognize it at all (I know men are oblivious, and he generally falls into that category, but I made a formal version of this dress, reviewed here, for another wedding we attended and he has a picture of me in it on his desk).
I thought of this version last summer, but it took until now to get it made because I wanted to get some fabric to contrast with the chocolate-brown and aqua tropical floral (cotton stretch from Metro Textiles, approximately 2007). Black or gold would have been too easy; I wanted the exact right aqua. This is actually an oxford shirting, which I found at the end of last summer. It's the perfect shade and worked really well for the contrast. In addition to the top band and loop, I also added a band of aqua around the hem. To me it makes the dress look much more finished - and also a bit vintage, which is never a bad thing. The dress is a halter style that is supposed to button at the back of the neck, but in 3 versions, I have never used buttons, I generally just sew the straps together. I did the same thing this time, but I also made an extra tie (about 18" long) and knotted it over the joining seam of the back neck so that I have a faux-tied halter. I like it.
More pictures on my blog.
Original review:
EDITED TO ADD PHOTOS: me in the dress
and dress on form
and closeup of bodice
Pattern Sizing: I cut this out in a 14 for some reason, but ended up taking it in to a 12, which is my normal size in McCall patterns.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except for the obvious leg-length discrepancy between the pattern envelope girls and the rest of us. Best thing - this is actually a dress that doesn't require long, giraffe-like legs. It looks good on a real body! Yay!
How this pattern became a UFO: Fear, more or less. I bought the fabulous Paris print cotton from EOS, but I didn't realize how sheer it was. Then I bought some lightweight white cotton voile to underline it, and cut out all the pieces. Then I thought about how much fun it wasn't going to be to baste all those pieces together so that I could start basting the dress together, and I just put it down. (Hiding my face in shame). What's funny is that I just finished Vogue 2960, which I made from brown eyelet and underlined in pale blue, and it didn't strike me until I was finished that I had just gone and done what I was avoiding like the plague with this dress. So I had to pull it out and - big surprise - it went together like a dream.
Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were pretty clear. According to my pattern catalog, I bought this pattern in June 2006, but it feels like I've had it hanging around for a lot longer than that. I vaguely remember having some issues with the instructions when I cut it out but I no longer remember what they were. What a difference a year (and lots of BWOF patterns) makes in your comprehension level!
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the Marilyn Monroe-ishness of this dress. I think it could use a slightly fuller skirt to get the full Marilyn vibe going, but the bodice is absolutely beautiful as drafted. Something I consider a major plus is that the bodice is drafted very supportively - I was digging around looking for a good halter back bra and then I tried it on without and I don't seem to need one. Admittedly the girls aren't as high as they would be in a bra, but they're also not going to go any further than the bodice lets them, and I think I can live with that.
What I also really like about this dress is that it emphasizes things that aren't really there, like it makes me look like I have more waist than I do right now because it sort of skims downward from the bodice to where it drapes on your hips. It gives the illusion of both less and more. If I can get someone to take a picture of me in it, you'll see what I mean. Here's a side view - it doesn't look anywhere near that unfitted on.
Brilliant DBF moment: I was working on the dress and had just pinned in the zipper and gotten myself very carefully into the dress. I had a regular bra on and didn't see any reason to take it off, since it kept everything at a good level. I walked out to the living room to ask DBF to take a look at the dress and tell me if the zipper was running straight down my center back or if there was anything else visibly wrong. He tells me the zipper is fine, everything else looks straight and then he stops, looking puzzled. I ask what's wrong, thinking I've pulled some complete sewing boner, and he says, "Are your bra straps going to show like that when you're finished?" Why, why, why would he even think I'm making a halter dress if I was going to have straps on my shoulders?
Fabric Used: Cotton voile from Emmaonesock. This was actually my first fabric purchase from EOS - I couldn't resist the silly Paris print, and I still love it. Amazingly enough, though this fabric has almost every color of the rainbow in it, I don't have a solid that matches for a little jacket so I can wear this dress to work! And I'm supposed to be on a fabric diet! (I may have to make an exception - exceptions are allowed when I need fabric for a lining or to finish something, but I think I can justify a yard or two to make a jacket so that I can actually wear my dress. It's already a year overdue.)
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Nothing substantial. I didn't use the small vertical back straps - thought they looked a little weird when I pinned them and they didn't add anything to the support of the dress, so I left them off. I also sewed the halter straps together at the back of the neck instead of doing snaps or a button - I had visions of the buttonhole stretching and the top falling off. This feels much more secure and I can easily get the halter strap over my head before I zip the dress.
I also hand-gathered the front because I just couldn't get the machine basting stitch to pull up evenly. Some things still just have to be done with a needle and thread to get the effect you want, I guess.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I'm definitely sewing this again - I hadn't thought of it before, but with dressy fabric and a slightly longer, fuller skirt, this would be the perfect pattern for the dress I need to make for my friend's November wedding. I have about 4 yards of cocoa taffeta and a yard of matching taffeta with floral embroidery, and I can just see this done up in that. I might make the halter straps a little narrower for a formal, or maybe make two narrow straps, instead of one wide one. I would definitely recommend this dress - it's flattering right out of the envelope, and all the seams (princess front, side, side back and center back) give you lots of ways to adjust the fit.
Conclusion A very flattering, versatile, comfortable dress. There's something about the way this dress is designed that makes you seem curvier than usual - but curvy in a good way. Highly recommended.
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Pattern with more than 5 reviews!
<< Previous Review Next Review >> | Reader Comments | | Sew4Fun | 8/21/07 | Pretty dress. I can just see it in the taffeta. Go for it! | | * * * | | zora | 8/21/07 | Lovely fabric and a real pretty dress! | | * * * | | Linda L | 8/21/07 | Another great garment! What a cute dress. | | * * * | | Cidell | 8/21/07 | You're making some cute, fun, flirty dresses. This one is no exception. | | * * * | | Huldra | 8/21/07 | Very pretty! I like the fabric! | | * * * | | Hilary | 8/21/07 | Very nice! I love that fabric too :P I think it'll look gorgeous in the taffeta as well. I have this pattern but I haven't gotten the nerve to make it yet, lol. (love the BF story, btw-LOL!) | | * * * | | ButtonFaith | 8/21/07 | I've been looking at this pattern and it was so nice to see how it made up! Thanks! I also think it would be EXQUISITE in the brown taffeta! I'm not sure the straps would have to be narrowed for that, I think they would do ok as they are. My humble opinion. I hope you do make it as I would like to see a picture of that as well! :-) | | * * * | | Costume & Retro Kellie | 8/21/07 | I love that dress! It has such a flattering design and it's good to know that it works well on a real person! Great review. | | * * * | | Celeste | 8/21/07 | Beautiful. Great sense of style and color. Looks like what you'd see in the window at an expensive botique! | | * * * | | clin | 8/21/07 | Pretty dress and fabric! Congrats on finishing an UFO - am trying to do the same but sometimes it's just too much - sigh - and a real good excuse comes up like "how about starting that blouse" | | * * * | | busy91 | 8/21/07 | That is pretty. I love the fabric. | | * * * | | fuzzygalore | 8/21/07 | Oy veh! Underlining a summer dress... Sometimes patternreview mass reactions leads to things that would best be left undone :-). Too much can just be too much. Don't get me wrong, this is a lovely dress and I wish I had that pattern myself. But next time, just make a big shirt out of a voile, that's what it's for, and make the dress in something that it calls for, like a nice uncomplicated cotton! The taffeta for instance will be great. And yes, if you have a 40s body, it'll absolutely look better in 40s fashions... | | * * * | | GwenC | 8/21/07 | What a beautiful dress! I may have to put this pattern on my wishlist - thanks for the review! :) | | * * * | | jmscript | 8/21/07 | Great dress - I love all the colors in the print. I vote for the brown taffeta also! It would be perfect to wear to a wedding. | | * * * | | michellep74 | 8/21/07 | I love how your dress turned out! It's so pretty! | | * * * | | Ronda65 | 8/21/07 | another really cute dress! | | * * * | | DorothyK | 8/21/07 | I absolutely love this dress. The fabric is gorgeous. I must buy this pattern. It's so versitile - anything from a little sun dress to formalwear. Thanks for a great review. I'm sure I will refer to it when I make the dress. | | * * * | | Levone | 8/21/07 | Pretty dress! | | * * * | | ryan's mom | 8/21/07 | Gosh, this is so lovely! What a great summer style. | | * * * | | EveS | 8/26/07 | What an incredibly fun dress, Karen! I love that bodice!! | | * * * | | AngieC | 8/26/07 | Beautiful! Yes you need a jacket to wear it to work so off you go...enjoy your dress. | | * * * | | IsabelleB | 8/27/07 | That's a fabulous dress!! So feminine. It looks like a $$$ dress. | | * * * | | Markie | 8/27/07 | I love this dress! You always make such beautiful and interesting clothes, and this is no exception. The fabric is brilliant. | | * * * | | nicegirl512 | 8/29/07 | This is a great pattern! I made it several years ago (before joining PR so I never reviewed it) and always get compliments when I wear it. | | * * * | | Terri Smith | 5/23/09 | What a great summer dress! I really like the trim, I have the same fabric from the same place :) and know what you mean by needing the exact color for contrast. Great use of a large print too. | | * * * | | Lori V | 5/23/09 | Your new dress is beautiful, the colors are just gorgeous. | | * * * | | Peggy | 5/24/09 | You've created a beautiful dress. | | * * * | | CypGrl | 5/24/09 | Love your sundress! Thanks for the complete review here and on your blog. | | * * * | | eugenia123 | 5/24/09 | I just LOVE your latest version of this dress. The colors you have put together are just gorgeous. I love its vintage vibe (I was around when Laura Ashley first hit the fashion scene!!!!) but you have made it look bang up-to-date as well. | | * * * | | cindyann | 5/24/09 | Great version of this pattern. I love the fabric you chose. I've made this one too but failed to prshrink the fabric sufficiently and was only able to wear it once. {sigh} | | * * * | | DorothyK | 5/24/09 | I love this version of the dress. Very charming. | | * * * | | marec | 5/24/09 | Perfect! Fabric, color choice, hem band...everything. | | * * * | | Jolet | 5/24/09 | Lovely fabric, and the contrast color you used. Fabulous, what a result! | | * * * | | Kayseri | 5/24/09 | The aqua contrast makes this dress something special. Lovely effort. | | * * * | | Barbara V | 5/25/09 | Pretty dress and lovely fabric combination. | | * * * | | Mahogany Stylist | 5/26/09 | This pattern is definitely a winner. Both versions are perfect summer dresses. | | * * * | | ConnieBJ | 6/11/09 | Go-go-gorgoeus! And I get to see the garden in the summer to boot! | | * * * | | jnamcd | 6/11/09 | I've made up that pattern --years ago -and it is still one of my favorite summer dresses!! Yours looks great!! | | * * * | | CMDarling | 11/5/09 | Hey I just wanted to say thanks for you indepth reviews. they are fantastic and the photos really help. I also love how you did a second one for turning it into a formal dress. I'm now convienced that I have to have this pattern for my new summer dersses | | * * * |
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