I have to be honest with you guys about something….I made this dress two years ago! And, filmed it last year. I don’t know why I’ve been holding out on sharing it with you because it’s seriously one of my favorite makes. But, I guess nows the time so let’s get into it.
The pattern I used is mccalls 7391. But, as you can see, I did a little hack by adding an elastic casing. More on that in a little bit. The pattern is a Loose-fitting pullover tops or dress with front band, French darts, shaped hemline, and narrow hem. It comes with a ton of options like sleeveless, short sleeves with sleeve bands or long two piece sleeves with button cuff and tabs; a collar, mock neck, or neck band; chest pockets and this cute laceup detail.
So, I made the dress length with the laceup neckline, collarless, and sleeves that I keep rolled up all the time. But I don’t love shift dress silhouettes on myself, so I decided to add some elastic to the waist to cinch that in. And, then I style it with this little belt i got on amazon years before it was cool to shop for clothing and accessories on amazon. haha.
the only problem with the design hack is that when you pull in a garment at the waist, it will pull up the hem line. It has to. There’s no way around that. I didn’t know that at the time and didn’t compensate for that by adding extra length to the skirt. So, this dress is a little short for my liking. It’s not wardrobe malfunction. short, but I can’t really bend over or sit with my legs uncrossed.
That said, I still wear it all the time!
Ok. And, I know you’re wondering about this fabric. I got it so long ago I barely remember where I got it from. But I know I got it online…not at Joann or Hobby Lobby. I don’t think. Ok. Maybe I don’t remember where I got it at all. lol. It doesn’t really matter though because there’s no way it’s still available.
It is a cotton shirting, though, and I found a bunch of other options that are available right now. Who says plaid has to only be for flannel or winter? By using fun, springy and bright colors, you can wear plaid year round. If you like any of these plaids, be sure to check the description box. I’ll have them all linked there.
the other stand out detail about this dress is the neckline. To create the laceup detail, I used gold grommets and a piece of suede cording I found in the jewelry section of the craft store. I’ve linked some in the description box for you. Creating this detail is deceptively simple. It’s honestly easier than buttons to me. If you’ve never tried grommets before, don’t be afraid of them. A couple taps of a hammer and you’re good to go.
So there you have it. My long-loved, long overdue spring plaid dress! let me know what you think of it in the comments!
If you want to see this dress in action, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/nTJQjk8r-60