Pattern Description: McCalls 7405

Loose-fitting, sleeveless, pullover dresses have neckline gathers, back neck slit and hemline variations. C: Belt, and side slit. D: Elasticized waist.

Patterns designed for the beginner
Easy-to-follow instructions and basic sewing tips

With this pattern you can:

Make a casing with drawstring.
Sew a machine stitched hem.
Make a dress that is easy to sew, no zipper!

Pattern Sizing: XS-XXL. I sewed a XS front and a size S back.

Were the instructions easy to follow? To be honest, I did not follow the instructions at all. This is a beginner level pattern so the construction was very simple.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Likes: The pattern comes with a good number of options. The style is very loose and flowy--perfect for summer.

Dislikes: I had to trim down the seam allowance on the ties quite a bit (it has the standard 5/8" SA. i get that it's designed for beginners but a 3/8" SA would have been less wasteful and require less trimming).

Also, the armholes are very low. I had read a few reviews on this pattern that had pointed that out but I forgot when I sewed my version. If you have a larger chest or need to wear a bra, I would imagine the armhole depth would be a problem.

Fabric Used: Minerva Exclusive Pause Play EcoVero Viscose Challis Fabric. I had 1.5m and had to cut out the back pattern piece upside down from the front with very little waste. my print was non-directional so it didn't matter but if you wanted both pieces to be the same direction you would need more fabric.

This was my first time using the EcoVero Viscose and I did not see any visible differences from the regular Minerva exclusive viscose challis. It's really lightweight and easy to work with. I did use a size 70 microtex needle though, which I would highly recommend to prevent snagging.

Changes/alterations: I shortened the body length 3.25 inches. I also cut out one size larger for the back piece to cover my broad back, but in hindsight this was not really necessary.

I also sewed the entire dress on my sewing machine. I topstitched the center back seam and did french seams on the sides.

Would you sew it again? I don't really feel a need to sew another one but I really like this version.

Conclusion: I wanted a dress that would be perfect to wear on a hot summer day. This dress is very breezy and comfy. it would make a great swim cover-up as well. I like how the dress looks good both loose and cinched at the waist with a belt.

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