I have to be very careful with cutouts in clothing. I’m short in the torso and a little boxy in the midsection. I’ve never really had a defined waist so I have to create it and avoid making myself looking square-ish in the waist. That’s why I love sewing. I can make any and everything that fits my body and customize it to my shape. Granted, it’s hard to sometimes fit myself but that’s another issue.

Making this dress was pretty straightforward. I’m having to add a bit to all my old patterns because I jumped to the next set of sizes but have a lot of patterns JUST too small. Like I JUST missed making the cut. I needed a 16 but had this up to a 14 so I added a bit to the side seams to make up.

The pattern is McCall’s 8175 in view B. And the fabric is from Joann Fabric from last year maybe. I picked it up because I loved it with no real plans for it. It did give me a run for my money honey!!! It kept catching in the bobbin chamber and wasn’t easy to back-stitch in the beginning and end and the nature of the pleats added some stretch to the garment so I probably didn’t need to add as much ease as I did. There was a lot going on so I didn’t want to hack it too much. I only tacked the midriff section together to close up the looseness at the waist and blouse the top a bit. It also showed more waist, which looks better on my waistline.

What’s kind of funny but not was that I made this to go to a polo match today and the clouds in the real sky rained it out!! But I’m still feeling good!!!