Minerva Craft Blogger Network: Mccalls 6027

I've been admiring ikat print dresses for some time now so when I saw the ikat style stretch cotton on the Minerva crafts website, I just knew I had to have it. I was not really sure of the dress I would make, and so I kept. going round and round, until finally I decided on Mccalls 6027. It is a fun looking dress, and I wanted something flirty....it is summer afterall, so I decided to use it for my first project with the Minerva Craft Blogger Network.

The pattern runs big I think. I made the size 14 for my muslin, and I did feel it was bit big for me. It is also one of the patterns that makes allowances for petite people. So I made the petite version, but even that still felt like the torso was too long for me. I took more length out of the bodice, and made it up in a 12, grading out to 14 at the hips.

I used horse hair braid at the hem, using this tutorial . I had never used horse hair braid before, and I was really surprised by the result. It makes the hem really structured and still. I like the effect it gives, and I plan on using more often.

 The pattern calls for a partial lining, but I decided to line the dress fully. The fabric does not really require a lining, but we are coming up to colder months, and I intend to wear this dress in the dead of winter, if only to brighten my winter induced dark moods.

 I quite love this fabric, and if you have been reading my blog, you would know this fabric (as bright as it is) is so ME. Though it is a woven fabric, it has some stretch to it, which makes it ideal to sew with in my opinion. If you are interested in using this fabric for future projects, you can get the kit here. It is made of  2 metres of this fabric, and a matching concealed zip.