Reversible Wrap Dress - McCalls 7745
I entered this dress in Pattern Review's Reversible Contest. So if you like this make and are a member over at Pattern Review please vote for me! Click here. Voting ends 4/24/18
As soon as I saw this double sided cotton fabric I knew I had to have it! I love denim and stripes so it was a no-brainer. I also immediately knew it needed to become something reversible. Somehow I managed to convince myself to walk away from this fabric until I could decide what to make, so that I could buy the exact yardage.
It only took me a couple of days to decide on the newly released McCalls 7745. Sure I'd have to omit the flounce to make it reversible, but that was fine because I already have other fabric picked out for that view. Thankfully I went back to the store, because when I returned I grabbed the last three yards!!! Sorry! The owner did say she may get more, check here.
My original plan was to self line the bodice (using the other side of the fabric), omit the back skirt seam by cutting that piece on the fold and using flat fell seams at the side seams. I still feel that would have worked fine, but when I cut the bodice pieces I realized I could separate the two layers of the fabric using my seam ripper.
So I decided to do just that and use one side as the lining per the instructions. Though this was tedious it was worth it as it reduced the bulk. I think the bodice is a tad large or I allowed for too much ease. I'm 40" bust and 34" waist so I cut a size 18A/Bcup because it had a 42" finished bust and 34-1/2" finished waist. I should have cut the 16A/Bcup (or even a 14 Ccup) and graded to an 18 waist.
I debated whether to sew the skirt in layers like the bodice or as one fabric. Ultimately I decided that using the same approach I used for the bodice would produce a cleaner finished garment, so I grabbed my seam ripper again and ripped away. Once I separated the skirt pieces I proceeded to sew the solid and striped skirts together before attaching them along the skirt hem.
Then I basically treated it bagged lining, turning the whole skirt inside out and slipping the bodice inside right side out (so right sides were facing) and sewing around the all but 3" of the waist seam. I left the hole so that I could pull the entire dress right side out. After slip stitching the hole shut, VIOLA I had a totally reversible-no visible seams wrap dress!
I just love it and I hope you do too! I'm ready for spring, whenever it decides to show up!