Pacific Grove V Neck Dress M6658

This dress is all about the fabric! I fell in love with this Pacific Grove landscape print, a gorgeous knit from Marcy Tilton , and bought up a few panels.  After I got this in the early spring I couldn’t make up my mind on what to use it for.  I finally decided I needed a really simple silhouette to really show it off.

For my silhouette I went with a simple tee shirt dress.  I pulled McCalls M6658  out from my stash and got to work.  I wanted a nice V Neck and used View B as my base.  This was a breeze to alter.  I placed my pattern under tracing paper and straightened the side seam from underarm to hip.  Next I marked the waistline on the front and back and went down 22″ for the dress length I prefer.

What took more time was deciding on the placement.  The dress pattern was a bit longer than the panel (long horizontal print) so some of the upper panel print would come through.  I kept the landscape on the lower section of the dress to keep the top front nice and light.  I got an almost yoke like effect on the back from the horizontal lines at the neck that I really like. I cut from the bottom up so my hem matches and the side seams are almost continuous.  To add a bit of color to the neckline I cut that pattern piece from the yellow accent in the panel’s sunny sky.

Construction wise this was sewn up on my serger with my coverstitch machine used for the hem, neckline and sleeves.    I added clear elastic to the sleeve and shoulder to give some added stability.  My fav part of this pattern is how the V is sewn in.  Really simple but beautiful finish.  The pattern piece is sewn together at the center front neck in a clipped V, folded in half wrong sides together and then attached.  I’ve done other methods and this was the easiest yet.

I wear this dress ALL THE TIME!  It is a fabulous swim coverup, great for running errands around town and with leggings great for playing with the kids. Probably the most comfortable and worn item in my closet right now. And how fabulous is this print!

An added bonus- because the print is on the bottom it’s nice and opaque and doesn’t require a slip.  I need more simple comfy clothes like this!

I did make another dress with this fabric but no time for pictures today.  I just got these pics taken before it started pouring. We’ll be having a rainy week here as the storm passes us by.  Next Week fingers crossed!

Happy Sewing!