MAXImum effect

I'm still cleaning. The only room left is my bedroom and that will be an all summer project. I'm getting rid of clothes that I no longer wear, fit, or just don't like. After that I'll be removing the carpeting and shopping for a new bedroom suite. I'm in no particular hurry.

The sewing room has been organized and "decluttered." I even managed to "eek" out two "new" maxi dresses.

So what's new about these maxis? Both fabrics are from my New York trip to PR weekend one year ago. Believe it or not, it's the same pattern (McCalls's 6559) that all of my maxis have been made from. I got the idea to use the collar from Vogue 1179 and voile'. The Vogue collar required absolutely no alterations. It fit as though it were drafted that way. Lucky me.

I have absolutely perfected the McCalls pattern for the perfect fit. Just a quick review...I added a bust dart, raised the neckline 1", raised the armhole 3/4" and added 2" additional length. I noticed on the maxis I made last year, the waist wasn't exactly hitting at my smallest part (caused by the weight of the fabrics pulling the dress down). So I raised the waistline 2", while adding 2" additional inches to the length at the hemline.

While it may look like it, I didn't use my coverstitch to hem or to stitch the armholes. I instead stitched both with a double needle on my regular machine.

Unfortunately while trimming threads and tidying up the inside construction, I accidently cut a small hole near the underarm. I decided not to try to repair it as I thought any fiddling with the whole might make it look worst. When it comes to sew I am usually quite fearless. My one fear is cutting a hole in my garment while trimming seams with either scissor or my serger. Oh well...life goes on. I really want to make a few more maxis for the summer. In a way I'm worried that people might think it's the only thing I own. Decisions, decisions...