Can you believe we’re over halfway through August already? I haven’t been sewing as much as I would like recently, I think partially because those golden summer evenings have drawn me to the great outdoors and equally, I am really trying to be more intentional with my sewing, and make items I know will get plenty of wear. It’s a difficult balance because sewing is – predominantly – a form of relaxation where I can temporarily forget about my worries. I suppose, luckily, being a slow sewist means items do take me a while to make, and likewise, I have been trying to mend items and finish half-made projects.

Reflecting on the items I like to wear, or that might be beneficial to make has got me thinking about potential projects for autumn – my favourite season. I honestly cannot wait to start planning makes as I am definitely in need of some layering pieces, plus the thought of hunkering down for some cosy sewing filled evenings is just dreamy!

When it comes to personal style, my preference to sew certain garments or with certain fabrics is ever-changing; and this is certainly true for dresses. Last year I leaned heavily towards colourful, ruffled styles, whereas this year I have been enjoying softer silhouettes and more neutral prints.

There is something so satisfying about tweaking a pattern you already own to realise the garment you have in mind. Thinking of a suitable pattern for this fabric wasn’t quite a light bulb moment, however. I had mulled over possible patterns that would show off this starry print for a while before revisiting my stash for some inspiration. I remember really liking the easy-to-wear wrap style of the McCall’s 8036 and thought it would be simple enough to extend the skirt to make a midi dress version.

The fabric itself was sent as part of the Fabric Godmother Dream Wardrobe subscription – I honestly believe this subscription has saved me from many a stressful evening deciding between different fabrics and patterns (I am a Libra and very indecisive!). This viscose crepe by Fabric Godmother features a scattering of pretty star motifs on a pale background and feels lovely and soft against the skin; a really nice fabric for the warmer months.

When I first used the M8036 pattern, I opted for view A, and let me tell you, collating all the ruffled pieces took some time (see my other version of this dress here). For this garment, I based the design on the simpler view B silhouette and it really did come together quite quickly.

Having cut out the bodice and sleeve pieces I then used the full remaining length of the fabric for the skirt. I made the waist tie slightly wider than prescribed in the instructions due to the delicacy of the fabric and also used the pattern template for the shorter sleeves. In terms of sizing, I cut a size 10 for the bodice and extended this to a 12 for the skirt pieces based on my measurements.

One thing I found incredibly helpful, and something I will do for all future makes when required is applying hem tape. Honestly, I don’t know why I haven’t used this before! Despite having under-stitched the facings on both skirt and bodice sections, they were still folding out when wearing the dress, however, applying the hem tape fixed this straight away.

I would absolutely recommend this pattern, there are a variety of styles and it makes for a nice and comfortable garment.

Have you made many summery dresses this season?

Thanks as always for reading my post!

Lorna x