Macaron-Wannabe: McCalls 6460

I have admired the Colette Macaron pattern for a while now so I was thrilled when McCalls announced M6460, I could see its potential to be turned into a Macaron-Wannabe.

The Facts:

Fabric:

1/4 yard of Coral cotton poly blend fabric for the contrast yoke

1 yard of Teal cotton viscose blend fabric (though it looks more baby blue in the picture)

1 yard of Powder Pink lining fabric

Pattern: McCalls 6460 (View C, omitted the contrast hem band) and added sleeves from Simplicity 2550

Notions: An invisible hot pink zipper

Total Cost (excluding pattern): Approximately RM24/USD8

Pattern Notes:

This pattern is labelled as 'Easy' on the envelope. I think it's a straight forward pattern, I didn't refer much to the instructions as I chose to add sleeves and fully line the dress. Pattern does not call for lining the dress. For me, perhaps the most challenging part of the dress would be to attach the contrast yoke to the dress body due to the curves and concave part of the heartshape line, the instructions didn't help much here to achieve a neat and defined point at the concave of the heart shape. I ran a basting stitch on the seam allowance of both pieces to be joined, and then snipped up to the basting line especially along the curved parts. This will assist to join both curved parts nicely together. After joining both pieces together I graded the seam allowances close to the seam.

I like to point out that this pattern offers different bust sizes and also Petite Adjustment. I cut a Size 10 and did not find the need to move up the bust darts nor take in the sides towards the armscyes as I would normally need to do to downsize to a Size 8 for the top part, thanks to being able to choose Cup A size and I folded along the 1 inch line for the Petite Adjustment on the top of the dress. Note from the picture there are two 1-inch Petite Adjustment fold lines, one on the dress top and one at the bottom. These are in addition to the normal 'Lengthen or Shorten' here line. McCalls is very thoughtful to include bust sizes and petite adjustment for petite seamstresses like me. From waist down I sewed a smaller seam, 3/8 instead of the normal 5/8 to accomodate for a more relaxed hip fit. I also added a skirt vent.

Apart from very cute sweet heart neckline, I think the pattern is very well drafted and provides a slender silhouette for the wearer. I look forward to making another!  Cheers!