Once Again, I'm Wearing a Couch - McCall's 7089

Here's a nice one.  I use the most banal of adjectives for this dress because although I really like it, I'm also a little ambivalent.  On the one hand, this dress is bangin'.  I look good in it, it's a great print, and I didn't have to do much to the pattern itself in order to get a reasonably good fit.  On the other hand, it's made out of some extremely flammable home dec fabric from Jo-Ann's with a soft, brushed surface and no give whatsoever.

Basically, it's fine once it's on but I can't actually zip it all the way without help.  Or lift my arms higher than my head.  

I still wear it, though.  Why?  Because it's a party dress that happens to flatter and I usually don't wear it for more than a few hours.  I do get lots of compliments on it, and even more after people touch it and feel how soft it is.  I have plans to make another one, because I do like this silhouette, but perhaps in a stretch sateen.

The Pattern:

I used McCall's 7089, a Designer Joi number.  The pattern is good, I think.  I did an FBA by lengthening the bodice pattern pieces an inch and a quarter, then making the mini French dart deeper at the bottom.  It worked well, but I also had to shorten the dart by about half an inch to get the bust points in the right place.  It's difficult to see with the print.  

I lowered the neckline, which gives room to breathe, and shortened the sleeves by three inches.

Believe it or not, this is the original finished skirt length.  I didn't shorten it at all.  I'm 5'7", so perhaps it's drafted for someone a couple of inches shorter, but I expected it to be just a little longer.  I usually wear it with tights, though, so it's definitely not a deal breaker!

In this photo, I'm wearing a jacket I made out of a heavily modified OOP Vogue 8799.