McCall's 6503

(This post is later than the finished creation date but at least now I can attest to its durability!)

Of the three dress I have made thus far, Butterick 5917 and the Butterick Pattern Mashup being the other two, this dress pattern has to be my favorite!  Perhaps it was the ease of the pattern, the lack of lining to wrestle with, the great colour or the fact that this is one of the quickest turn around of fabric in my stash.  Only two months in my collection...not even enough time to collect dust!  Which ever the case, I really wish I had more money right now to go buy more jersey knit fabric and make a couple other versions of this dress.

I made dress view D with a light heather green, four-way jersey knit thereby eliminating the need for a zipper.  The buttons match the fabric better in person than has been captured by the photographs and were on clearance for 50 cents!

Up close view of fabric and buttons.

The only major hurdle in creating this dress was in attaching the collar, where the bulkiness of the fabric at the front point made for a couple of seam rips before getting a decent look.  Decent meaning: "I want to get this project finished and wear the dress, despite the unevenness of the collar front."  Collars are just something I need to work more on...

Faux front buttons with snaps behind, 
as I disliked the trial run of buttonholes I created on scrap fabric.

I also love that the weave and weight of the material is thick enough that it does not need lining or a slip to be worn underneath.  I can wear this to the office or out running errands, albeit it is a little too thick to wear at the height of summer.  The style of the pattern and hint of army green in the fabric color reminds me of the 1940s dresses, which I love!  When I am next able to get back to my sewing projects, I hope to make more 1940s inspired dresses.

The only other thing to point out is that I kept the front pleat basting stitches in place but removed the back basting stitches, as the back fabric needs to have room/movement for my supple ass.  ...Oh, and I added a tiny bit of gathering to the top of the sleeves.

Back-side view of pleats without stay stitches.

Cost of Materials:
Heather green jersey knit, 2.33 yards (2.13 m), $9.26 including tax
La Mode set of three green button, 9/16" (13 mm) diameter, on clearance for $0.50, excluding tax
Snaps, from stash, probably $0.10
Interfacing, from stash, probably $0.10
Guttermann 100 m spools of thread (2), color # 625, sale price $2.16 including tax
4 Serger grey cone threads, from stash but originally costing $4.30 with tax
McCall's pattern, from stash, originally $1.99 without tax

Total Cost = $11.49