Maximum style - minimum effort

I've finally gotten on the maxi dress bandwagon. Yesterday I hammered out these two beauties and am wondering why I waited so long. Oh, I know why. I didn't think the maxi would be age appropriate for me. On the cusp of being 55, I don't want to make the mistakes I see a lot of  "old women" make--trying to wear the latest trend when it is not for them! After encouragement from a couple of friends I decided to take the plunge.

Because I have "fit phobia" I started by taking the bodice of McCalls 6083. I think larger cup sizes can always benefit from some additional shaping in the bust, I started with a size 20 bodice. I added a bust dart, used a tape measure to measure from waist to floor. I added only one additional inch -- the weight of the dress would add some additional length. I sewed bodice, then the skirt. Stretch the bodice to fit the skirt. Added a half length lining to the skirt only. Sewed a one inch seam for the lining at the waist. Turn that seam toward the bodice and stitched down on the bodice, leaving an opening for the elastic. Turn under a casing on the upper bodice and inserted elastic and voila! Both fabrics had been marinating in my stash and all the notions were within arms reach...I love having a stash!

So tell me..yea or nae on the maxi??

Busy sewing and McCalls 5525

This is my first blog entry this month! It's not that I haven't been sewing, I've just been too lazy to blog about it. So far this month I have finished a skirt, made three tops, three dresses and a coat! One of the tops did wind up being a wadder because I didn't pre-shrink the fabric and forgot and put it in the dryer--lesson learned. I did repurchase the fabric and resewed the blouse. What can I say. I really liked it.

I just finished McCalls 5525. This pattern is very popular and has been reviewed at Pattern Review 49 times. I love my version. You can read the review here.

I will be taking it to PR weekend. There's no telling what the weather will be like!