I (finally) made McCall's M7969 - some thoughts

Some thoughts on making M7969
I’m wearing:
Badiane Top (free pattern): christellecoud...
I mention:
McCalls M7969: www.minerva.co...
Leon’s Fabrics: leonsfabrics.c...
Find me here:
Instagram: / marie.made.this

[@gailh3048]

That was a really useful review, thank you Marie

[@MarieMadeThis]

Glad it was helpful Gail! x

[@suemcevoy5510]

I have this pattern and have been obsessively making M7969 this spring and summer; I've made 8-10 versions of this dress out of cotton sheets, rayon challis and cotton lawn. I also have made this dress for three of my sisters that are about the same size as I am-US size 14 (5'2")...and what I found that help with the construction was to only interface half of the binding (neck/bodice & sleeves). I used a thin strip of interfacing along the bodice fronts and back neck to keep the shape instead of stay stiching those areas. I shortened the bodice so its more of an empire waistline. I made two garments into tops. Gaping-I wear a C cup so, yes, there is a bit of gaping with the two bodice pieces-I slashed the bodice from the top of the shoulder towards the under bust area with an allowance of two inches, then gathered those inches at the base of the bodice for cup allowance. The shoulder section I gathered very tightly which helped with the gaping and keeping the garment from shifting on my body. I hope this wasn't too long and it helps in some way. PS-check your pattern pieces to see if they are the correct size for your body. GL!

[@MarieMadeThis]

Some great tips, thank you so much! You clearly know your way around this pattern having made so many :-)

[@LostMyThread]

It's a little crazy how much we do to make patterns fit. They're practically our own designs at some point, but at least we are happy with what we get! I hope you can make the new fabric work. I think it's a great option for this dress!

[@MarieMadeThis]

So true! Fingers crossed for a delivery this week which may solve my problem … 🤞🏼

[@elizabethmcgrath2612]

Its beautiful. You did a great job 😊

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you Elizabeth! Actually wearing it today! 💚

[@anndunkerley6639]

Really useful video. I’m new to your channel, glad I found you 💐

[@MarieMadeThis]

Oh how lovely of you to say! Glad it was useful!

[@nathaliepalladino4128]

Great work, great video

[@barbarawarner4645]

I began with big4 in the 60s and learned to measure the pattern and make adjustments then. Your dress is lovely. I think we are too hard on our “me mades”. We aren’t nearly as critical of our store bought stuff.😂

[@MarieMadeThis]

Oh this is so true! Why aren't you whispering that in my ear to remind me when i get frustrated!😂

[@janfranklin2114]

I hate a wide neckline, I usually end up doing a narrow shoulder adjustment and a forward shoulder adjustment 😕. I think I should try sizing down first and doing a large bicep adjustment 🥴 . Such a palaver to get a good fit. Did you try shortening the waist and possibly moving the crossover more towards the side seam? I’m sure you have an extensive library of garment fitting books, it can take me days to figure out how to make adjustments. Next time, famous last words all sexists say. My motto is I made it dang nab it , I’m going to wear it!

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thanks for the suggestions, Jan. I definitely need to shorten the bodice so the waist sits better next time. For this one, I don't think there's a need for a bicep adjustment because the sleeves are mahoosive :-D You're right, there's always something I feel I could improve, but that hasn't stopped me wearing this dress a whole lot since I finished it. Thanks for watching!

[@donnacieslik213]

Hello Marie, lovely to see you back on your KZbin channel. I like the fabric and the dress on you , you worked hard to reach the right fit. Thank you for sharing. I have the same issues as you talked about at the beginning of the vlog. As for the fabric for your next make is there any way you could narrow the sleeves or even make them in a contrasting colour?? I look forward to your vlog , happy sewing take care. 👋🏻🧵🪡

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you Donna! I hadn’t thought about narrowing the sleeves! But I still don’t think I would have enough fabric 🙁 But stay tuned, I may have a plan!! 🤫😉

[@paulamattsson8583]

Hi Marie,so lovely to see you here ❤You absolutely look gorgeous in green 👍👍Your dress is beautiful 🤩 Haven’t made that dress just because for the fitting issues,but when you got it to fit your body the dress is very pretty,well done you 👍👍

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you Paula - so satisfying when it works out!💚

[@helganeufeld230]

I did the exact same thing. Sewed up the centre, and added a ruffle. Love the colour on you.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you! Yes, the beauty of sewing our own clothes is that we can adapt to suit ourselves!

[@stephaniecruz8260]

Love both fabrics.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you! Hope I can get started soon!

[@liza_lou]

Your dress is beautiful, I will certainly take your helpful experience into consideration when I go to make my own!

[@MarieMadeThis]

Wonderful! Thanks Liza!

[@elywolf9825]

Hi Marie, so glad to see you back! I love that color of the fabric on you. Glad you persevered, to get the dress to fit you. Do check the front of the pattern for the finished measurements, that's the only place I have found them. The other green fabric looks like it will be Lovely on you. I hope to see your next make.😎🌴☀️

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you! Green is my absolute favourite, so hoping I can make something lovely with it 💚

[@dianecrews6130]

Your dress is gorgeous and the color is absolutely beautiful on you

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you Diane 💚

[@ellieguillette9589]

You have a positive attitude on sewing. I would have thrown the fabric in the trash or made a skirt by that time.. I admire your spirit. Hope you do more videos

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you Ellie! I hate quitting half way through! More videos are on the way!

[@nathaliepalladino4128]

Interfacing on the binding so it doesn’t stretch out

[@conniesmith9989]

Hi. Thank you for sharing.

[@theseamstressatthecottage]

The green is so lovely on you and I love how you were able to make it fit you properly.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you! ☺

[@lyndagasper4346]

I have only been sewing a year or so but I choose the high bust size and do a fba. That usually works. I also have seen videos for a sloping shoulder adjustment that might help. Just my 2 cents.

[@MarieMadeThis]

You’re right, that’s what I usually do too. I think with this one the oversize fit threw me a little. But I have learned a lot and willing to try another one! 💚

[@katesander93]

I have made this dress for a bigger bust and I generally add depth to the bodice in your case you could have made a deeper seam in the shoulder and pulled it up so that your short depth to the armhole and your desire for a shallower neckline would have been accomplished in one move. It's never a bad idea to cut out a cheap piece of muslin or waste Fabric and fit it before you go for your Fashion Fabric. I did put some darts in the back neck before I put the binding on because the neckline was gaping. I generally have to do that for everything I make for my mother because she has gotten so narrow in the shoulders at her age.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Oh! That’s such an obvious thing to do now you’ve said it! I am so going to try that on the next one - thank you for the tip!

[@katesander93]

Just be sure you add length to the bodice so that when you pull up the shoulder line you won't lose the full bust adjustment that you need.

[@grandymommy4531]

No, I have not seen the fabric, but If you haven't already made it I have a suggestion. You made the dress you show with a waist length bodice and I believe other how to's I've seen made it empire waisted. That would save a lot of fabric. Also, you ended up taking it in and if you set that up before cutting it would save even more. The narrower sleeves use much less fabric ( have started this dress and only had enough fabric for the narrower sleeves) so maybe you could draft something in between. But I see 4 months have passed so you probably already solved your issues.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thanks for the tips! Fortunately, I have found a metre of fabric since making this video, so once the weather warms up I'll be having a second go. And you're right about the length of the bodice - I'm very short waisted and in making the other alterations, I forgot to shorten it so I will definitely be doing that next time around. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@vanessajones3508]

Some sewists line the bodice pieces to give the bodist stability, to eliminate gaping. You may want to try this in the future. I likely our dresses.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Oh that's interesting! I wonder if that would work for me? I may have to try it out! Thank you!

[@karolmolpus9536]

Lovely 🌹

[@cindyw4278]

I wonder if you could go down to the medium? I actually have this pattern also and I think you’ve sealed the deal I will not be making it lol I feel very much the same as you with neck lines and very hard to find patterns that fit into that sweet spot thank you for such an honest review of this pattern and I think you are right it’s more suitable for small busted people

[@MarieMadeThis]

I had definitely considered that, yes. I’m trying to work out just how much of a FBA that would involve. The next version will absolutely need another muslin. Thanks for watching!

[@janetsfollies2406]

Hello, green is your colour!! I saw on a sewing site that if you interface the bias, it is less prone to wobble and stretch. Can you bring the waistline up a few inches to lower rib? It looks like it is almost at hip? The fabric is so great on you, and beautiful flow. I look forward to seeing another! I just subscribed! Cheers from Canada.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Thank you, Janet! I agree, the waist is a little low and if I make another I will definitely make that adjustment . Thanks for subscribing 💚

[@Veemerica]

I believe Tom Kat Stitcheries made this dress in a smaller size but with a full bust adjustment. That way it crosses over correctly. I made this dress but it looks awful on me.

[@MarieMadeThis]

I can totally see how that would work! I’ll take a look at her video. It’s a shame that you didn’t like the dress on you after you made it, but hopefully you found some you like better. Thanks for watching!

[@Veemerica]

@@MarieMadeThis especially since I loved the fabric. 🤷

[@MarieMadeThis]

@@Veemerica Aw no 😢

[@lindaodle3952]

Couldn’t yo go back and add pockets? Even if you used a solid fabric to match the most prominent color of the dress? I’m talking about pockets in the side seams.

[@MarieMadeThis]

Linda you’re right, I could. I just didn’t have the energy at the time because it had been a battle to get the fit right, but the next one definitely will have pockets! 💚