How to make the Tracy Dress - McCall's 7969 Sewalong

[@liquomerlin]

I am so grateful for this tutorial. Never sewn anything like this before, I struggled understanding the instructions. But following this video made it a breeze. About to start my 4th McCall7969 today. Thank you so much for this tutorial! ❤

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thank you! We are so glad that you have found this video helpful! 4 new tops for you! We'd love to see them on minerva.com if you'd like to share them?

[@marymary5494]

Thank you. A excellent tutorial. 👌💕

[@consolw]

Just a technical point for newbies, it’s actually not necessary to overlock the bottom of the sleeve as it will be hidden inside the cuff/ band. Anywhere where the seams will not be exposed to stress , ie they are hidden in a collar band or waistband or as in this case a cuffband they don’t require finishing, which will just add unnecessary bulk to the seam. I do like the way you finished off the ends of the serging tho, very neat. And the dress is lovely!

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thanks for your feedback

[@lynnniblock8355]

Thank you for this clear easy to follow tutorial for the McCall's 7969 Tracy Dress. Please can we have more of your sewing tutorials, as like other people have commented yours is the best for explaining it how to put the garment together. ✂️🧵💕😊

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thank you so much for the lovely feedback. We have lots more sewalongs in the pipeline and Katherine will be back with more very soon

[@lisafenn4238]

Oh my goodness.. this dress is lovely. The tutorial showed each step very thoroughly... i esp love the stitch in the ditch trick using the pins. In the past I have always hand finished cuff and bias edges because they never caught on the sewing machine. In future I will do it your way. I have downloaded the pattern ready to print out and I am actually going to have a go at making the dress. Please could we have more videos like this... they are so helpful... you could name them 'Dressmaking for the terrified' Sending love from the UK xx

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thanks so much, Lisa. We have lots more videos planned, don't you worry!

[@maygonzalez989]

This is the most clear detailed how to. Thank you for this!

[@MinervaDotCom]

You're very welcome!

[@cathleenvance4441]

I LOVE Minerva. I also got the free pattern from Minerva and was so amazed and excited that it was offered like that. I purchase almost all of my fabric from Minerva as well. They just seem to have the best selection of fabrics and the best quality. Even though they are located in the UK, the shipping is fast. I also wanted to tell you that I've been watching tutorials on this dress and yours is so much more detailed and I want to thank you for that. Most of the ones I watch are confusing in that they won't even show what they are doing. Seems they are more concerned with goofing off or trying to look glamorous and I leave the video more confused than when I started. So again, than you for creating a video that is actually giving good instructions on how to construct this dress.

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thanks you so much for the lovely feedback, we really appreciate it. It's super to hear that you like the sewalong tutorial too - we want our tutorials to be super helpful and talk you through every step of the process so it's nice to hear we are succeeding :)

[@jimplant9489]

Eunice from Victoria Australia here using my friend Jim's e-device 🤪😂🙂 Katherine! Have you had public speaking training?! You are very articulate and have a good moderate talking speed with great modulation. Excellent! So easy to understand and follow along. Thank you sew very much. I see this pattern will be great for me, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

[@SheerStitchery]

Love the swoosh of the fabric - so glam!

[@karennelson4108]

Oh my gosh! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO! I almost put this pattern away after my last attempt at this pattern because I really struggled with my fabric choice so I am very glad to see that you used a viscose fabric for this video too. Some of the tips you give are pure genius. The tip of sewing a line of stitches the size of the seam allowance is sublime. I know to many it is a simple thing but for me, it is a mind blowing tip. I do follow you on Minerva, so I know how great a sewist/sewer you are and... AHEM... You managed to get some snow in... 😂 😂 😂 Thank you so very much again. I am going to cut some lovely lawn to make this dress again, which I know will be made a bit easier using the tips you gave

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thanks so much for such fantastic feedback. We hope Katherine's tips do the trick for you and make your next attempt a success

[@karennelson4108]

@@MinervaDotCom oh it did, very much so

[@lovetosew1373]

Fantastic sew-along, love the fabric!

[@stelladavies2262]

Fabulous tutorial. I’m definitely going to use your suggestion of sewing a guide line for turning up hems etc, such a great idea. I’ve literally just bought this pattern. ❤

[@MinervaDotCom]

Have fun!

[@lorik5675]

Fantastic tutorials such clear directions! Maybe Minerva could give a real quick 10 or 20 fabric suggestions for this dress. I always struggle with picking out fabrics for different patterns. The only suggestion I was thinking is maybe since it’s a tutorial it might be better to have a more plain fabric just so we could see things a little bit easier. But thank you so much such a great lesson. I can’t wait make this dress!

[@katalinmcewan]

They have beautiful viscose challis in a variety of colours, you cannot go wrong with that.

[@lovejohandmade]

I agree about using a less busy fabric for the demo. It was hard to see the details.

[@foxxybrown291]

Love it. Yes it is a cult classic and I don’t own a printed version 😭 but just got the free version from Merniva 🥳🥳🥳 xx

[@MinervaDotCom]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@pjacksreads536]

Beautiful dress

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thank you so much

[@nickibarrick9218]

Thankyou for this great video. What advice would you give for stitching the wrap part of the bodice? I got myself into a bit of a pickle with it! Thanks again

[@katalinmcewan]

I wonder the same. Whether she stitched it down all the way across the wrap to secure it. That wasn’t clear. I do like how it turned out.

[@leanneadkin9271]

this pattern has lots and lots of ease.. not even mentioned? it is in all the pattern reviews?

[@SheenaAllan-s8c]

Thank you for the video - have tried sewing this dress but having great difficulty with the front crosso ver - find its just too low - how can I fix it? Have started unpicking the dress I made and will start again from the beginning - will refer to your video - fingers crossed it will come out right as its a beautiful pattern.

[@SewinginSwitzerland]

Love this, beautiful dress 😍👍❤️

[@kellypotocki9852]

Thank you for your video. I have a couple of questions about your interfacing. What type of interfacing did you use? Did you cut your interfacing in bias too? My interfacing is stretchable in one direction , but not stretchable in the other. Which way should I lay my bias binding fabric on the interfacing? Thank you for helping!

[@tonishepherd7042]

Regarding the bust measurements is the one on the pattern referring to high bust ir full bust? I usually have to do a full bust adjustment. So want to check first.

[@lovejohandmade]

A great tutorial but I’m confused about which way to see the sleeve cuffs in. Which bit faces out?

[@DebiMiller-yk1gm]

How did you raise the plunging neckline. I made this dress and it came out very low cut. Can you please explain how you made your dress more modest. Thank you

[@LottieSue]

Sadly, I've avoided making this lovely pattern because of the plunging neckline. How were you able to make the more modest neckline?

[@katalinmcewan]

I’m also wondering if she made any fit adjustments. 🤔 I’m about to sew up this pattern. I was debating whether to adjust the neckline in pattern, but didn’t. Made some other alterations. Bit nervous…. I perhaps should have mocked it up before wasting a lot of fabric. The sleeves are gigantic, they are into my fabric like nothing else as would not fit on the width of the fabric when folded. Wish me good luck! 😳

[@locacreativa3794]

Genial !! 🤩 🤩

[@dollyramphal3363]

Thank you for the tutorial, I'm even more convinced to get the pattern,quick question, would challis or viscose be more appropriate for this dress,I would like to make the maxi version of it,regards from South Africa

[@MinervaDotCom]

Hi Dolly. you are very welcome! We would recommend either fabrics for that pattern!😊 We actually offer an exclusive range of Viscose Challis on our site if you are interested? You can find them here www.minerva.com/mp?brand=Minerva%20Exclusive&substrate=Challis Alternatively you can find fabric inspiration and further discussion for that pattern here www.minerva.com/mp/1011976/mccalls-sewing-pattern-7969 Hope this helps 😊

[@priscillaharrington9844]

Lovely

[@MinervaDotCom]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@yerenavega3936]

Buenos días, saludos desde barranquilla Colombia, me gustaría el patrón y no he podido descargarlo, soy una principiante de este mundo de la costura, gracias si me pueden ayudar con el patrón

[@MinervaDotCom]

Hi there! You can find the sewing pattern here: www.minerva.com/mp/1011976/mccalls-sewing-pattern-7969

[@wofrocks3220]

Just got the free Minerva pattern thank you! However, I am confused about the way to print out. Another video said there should be a one inch margin all the way around. is this correct? Should the printer be set to "actual size"? I would appreciate any feed back! Thanks so much!

[@MinervaDotCom]

When you print out the pattern, there is a registration mark on the top right of each page, which should measure 1 inch. If this mark is at the correct size, you're good to print the whole pattern

[@hayleyharris1647]

Can you just use a standard cotton fabric?

[@MinervaDotCom]

Absolutely, though if you want to go with the big sleeves, those do work a bit better with a more drapey fabric

[@hayleyharris1647]

@@MinervaDotCom thank you, really great tutorial

[@LottieSue]

Where do people share their makes?

[@MinervaDotCom]

You can share your makes at Minerva.com - sign up for a free account to share your makes and see what everyone else has been sewing

[@rachlatham3263]

thanks for this video. I have a note on accessibility; this video would be suitable for a more diverse audience if you used plain fabric. It's very hard to follow the video with such a busy fabric (I'm finding it very hard to follow!).

[@donnanix3739]

Set them sleeves again 😂