Dresses are my favourite item of clothing if you hadn't already noticed! but I do like to make other items too.
Here I have made a grey pleated skirt and a grey printed ruffle top.
I used McCall's 6706 option D for the skirt. The other options are two striped skirts, a two tone skirt and a skirt with a short front and longer back.
The pattern was very easy to put together and the instructions were easy to follow. I even added in a pocket to the opposite side to the zipper (gotta love a pocket!).
I used a grey cotton poplin, after I had cut my material I realised that the skirt style was quite high waisted, I didn't want it to be so high waisted. To overcome this I used very small seam allowances so it would sit closer to my hips. The other amendment I made was to double the height of the waistband as I prefer a wider waistband.
I used Simplicity 2599 option D for the top. I was drawn to this pattern as I love ruffles and this has quite a few options of different types of ruffles all in one.
This pattern went together very quickly and was easy to follow. Aside from the ruffles what I also like about this pattern is the addition of the side darts which makes for a nicer fit.
When I brought this pattern I accidentally brought the larger sizing 12-20 instead of 4-12, I am usually an 8-10 on top. To overcome this I found a great method on the Burda website which can be found here to reduce the size 12 to a 10 and I also used larger seam allowances as the 10 was still a little big.
The fabric used was a silky satin I purchased at Spotlight in the sale section for a bargain price of $4m. When cutting the pattern pieces out I cut 4 ruffles instead of the 3 in the pattern. As I was attaching them I decided after adding just 2 ruffles that was enough - sometimes you can have too much of a good thing!
I am really pleased with how this skirt and top turned out, each time I make something I am learning more and more and each item is slightly better made than the last. Let me know what you think.
I saw the fabric I used for both of these dresses a while ago in Spotlight its called Ottoman Suiting its a green floral paint splash print, and I knew I wanted to use it to make New Look 6000.
I brought 2m and as I was laying my pieces out I had about 1/2m left over, before I even started cutting out the pieces for my New Look 6000 pattern, I got out my other patterns to see what I could make with the left over fabric. I decided on Simplicity Lisette 1419, I only had just enough for the skirt and collar so I used a contrasting white for the bodice.
New Look 6000
I have seen many other versions of New Look 6000 on other sewing blogs and wanted to give it a try, it's a bit different from my usual style of fitted bodice and A line skirt. I made view D without the the collar.
The biggest mistake I made with this pattern is that instead of making a muslin first to check for fit and sizing I went straight ahead and cut my lovely suiting fabric. I cut out a straight 10, usually I am an 8 on top and 10 from the hips. as this was a fitted dress I should have cut out an 8 on top and graded to a 12 at the hips. Instead I ended up having to take it in at the bust and waist and use a 1/4" seam allowance around the hips. Overall lots of messing around and trying on after each amendment to check the fit.
Putting my mistake aside, this pattern was pretty simple to put together. I liked that the top and bottom was all one piece, I thought that the darts might be tricky but I had no problems with them. As usual when I put sleeves in they were a bit big and I ended up putting a few pleats in, I prefer pleated sleeves rather than flat ones anyway.
Before I make this again I will definitely make a muslin first to check for sizing and before cutting my pretty fabric. I'm looking forward to making the version with the side darts, watch this space for my next New Look 6000.
Simplicity Lisette 1419
This is the second time I have made this dress, my previous version was in an animal print and can be found here.
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I used white top poplin for the bodice to prevent it from being too see-through I lined it instead of using facings. For this pattern I prefer lining over facings for the bodice as it makes the seam stronger for where you have to slash the front to create the keyhole front. The other amendment I made was to omit the button from the collar as I didn't think it was necessary.
Overall I am really pleased with how this version turned out and I'm looking forward to my making my next one.
