Sunday, March 17, 2013

McCall 3624: The 'Luck o' the Irish' Dress


I'm super excited to show you my most recent 1940 McCall project using pattern 3624 (view A):


Here's what the March 1940 McCall's Magazine says about McCall 3624:
A simple shirtfrock with small, high, notched-collar neckline--the kind of frock that makes up well in all fabrics.  12 sizes, 12 to 18, 36 to 50.  50 cents.
This is also my dress for the 'Sew for Victory' 1940s challenge hosted by Lucky Lucille!

I made the shirtfrock in a delicious emerald pongee fabric.  I've never come across this fabric in Scotland but it feels a bit like sandwashed silk.  It's super, super soft to the touch, drapes beautifully and is a nice spring weight.  The colour is an emerald green (which is a surprisingly hard colour to accurately capture in photographs--it's probably closest in colour to the first photo).


The shirtfrock has front and back yokes with the classic 1940s gathers.  I used some beautiful yellow abalone buttons.  I also had a 1940s bow belt buckle that I had been saving up for the perfect project.  In fact, it might have been the yellow buckle that was the impetus for this dress.  I already had the buttons in my stash and I realised they matched the buckle perfectly.  I love it when that happens!

We went to St. Patrick's Parish in Edinburgh for the photos.  The church is 150 years old and is just steps from the Royal Mile.  It's cleverly hidden away and you could easily walk straight by it without seeing it!!  I just love it!


Overall, the pattern was fantastic to work with.  I made my usual adjustments which included adding approximately 2 inches in length to the sleeves, shortening the hem by about 2 inches, taking the shoulders in by about 1/2 inch and lowering the neckline (I only used five buttons instead of the seven shown on the pattern envelope).  I also added shoulder pads to the dress.


I got the adorable 1940s tilt hat from the Flatiron Vintage Etsy shop.  I just love it and plan to make several more outfits to go with it!!  I was searching high and low for some green shoes to match the dress but ended up styling the dress with my Ness shoes and matching purse.  I'm still looking for some green vintage (or new retro styled shoes).  I've fallen in love with the Miss L Fire 'Mildred' shoes but it's hard to tell if they would be the right shade of green and they haven't been stocked in my size.


Today was a mix of weather--from sunny to hailing!  It started to rain towards the end of the day and David snapped a photo of me with my umbrella.  It's crazy how perfectly it matches the colours in my dress:


YAY! I am super happy with my dress...I plan on wearing it a lot!  It's the perfect weight for that in-between weather that we seem to be having a lot of lately.


Hope you all had a lovely St. Patrick's Day!!!
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49 comments

  1. Gorgeous! The drape of that fabric looks heavenly. I wish I could touch it! ...in a non-weird way haha! I also love the buttons and your super amazing hat :) Please ad a photo or two to the Sew For Victory Flickr pool so others can see your awesome, awesome dress!

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    1. Hahaha! Thanks Rochelle!! I haven't been in the Flickr group yet because I'm a bit of a dinosaur with Flickr....but I'm sure I have an account...I just need to remember what it is...lol!

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  2. I love this dress. It's gorgeous. And that hat is truly amazing. I wish I could wear those lovely hats, but my giant sized head just won't fit, lol.

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    1. lol....the nice thing about the tilt hats is that they are one size fits all! Makes it so much easier :-)

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  3. Oh that is a lovely dress- and such a springlike outfit :) I love how it is all colour co-ordinated (especially the brolly!).
    It is a lovely location too!

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    1. I didn't even realise the brolly matched until it started raining..lol!!

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  4. Your dress turned out so lovely, I love the colour, the style and the fabulous buttons and bow belt buckle you added! The little hat is very pretty, and you rock it!

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  5. How lovely! The colour is fantastic and great for spring - when we finally get there! I also adore your bag.

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    1. I love the bag too...my favourite is that the bag matches the shoes...I love being matchy matchy :-)

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  6. I love the colors you used for this outfit! Very cute!

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    1. Thanks Anthea...I didn't think I would like this colour as much as I do!! yay for emerald green!

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous Debi! The colours suits you perfectly and I love how similar your dress is to the pattern illustration. My favourite bits are the gathered yoke, the sleeves and the BUTTONS!! x

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    1. Thanks Jane!! I just adore the buttons too :)

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  8. What a beautiful dress, love the colour and the style. The hat just finishes the outfit off.

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    1. I was super excited to find the hat! I just love it!!

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  9. Very pretty Debi! Love your hat!

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    1. Thank you so much!!! I am just LOVING your recent make....very inspiring!!

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  10. This is so beautiful - the colour is just gorgeous. And I love the way it looks with the umbrella :)

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    1. Thanks Emma...it was a big surprise how well it matched the umbrella!

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  11. What a great dress and ensemble! Slainte!

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  12. This is beautiful! I love the colour, and the buttons and belt are perfect!

    I know that church, was lucky enough to attend a wedding there a few years ago - had totally forgotten it was there!

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    1. That's neat that you've been to the church...I just love it!

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  13. You are a vision in green, my friend! The green paired with the yellow is such a marvelous combination, and I love that your umbrella matched so well!

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    1. My dear Meg! I always think of you when I wear green! xoxoxo

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  14. it looks amazing and I LOVE that hat!

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  15. Oooh - I love how you styled this one with the hat and umbrella and all. Happy St Pat's!

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  16. Loving that colour! you look fab. hooray!

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  17. What a gorgeous dress. I love the colour.

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    1. Thank you!! I just love the fabric...I have a bit left that I'm hoping I can make a blouse out of!!

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  18. Lovely job! You always present yourself so well, from the dress itself to the accessorizing and photos.

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  19. The dress is lovely and it looks WONDERFUL on you! And then the hat and the umbrella, wow! They go so well with the dress.

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  20. Wow what a dress! Green IS really really hard to match! Its one of those colours, if you dont get the exact right shade, it looks odd.

    Those early decade 40s patterns have such high necks dont they? And the pattern envelope rarely shows just how high it is.
    I'm making up the pattern I won from your blog and it's a similar case!
    Fantastic fit though!

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    1. ohhh..so excited you are sewing up that dress!! And yes--it's tricky to pull off the high necks....but they are so stylish!

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  21. so pretty :) love that color on you, too..

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  22. Cute!!!!! Love this color on you, and the style is absolutely yummy!

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  23. Gorgeous, Debi!! Just perfect, both for the day and in general! I love it styled with all that cheery yellow, too. Mel got me a pair of green Miss L Fires (a different style) for Christmas, and I need to sew up something to wear with them, and you're inspiring me to do so even more!

    Also, you have the best umbrella, is it funny that I'm totally jealous of your umbrella? lol

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  24. oh, my. the shoes, the hat, the umbrella, the purse, the dress, the GAL, you look just absolutely perfect! i think those colors were cretaed just for you!

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  25. What a delicious ensemble. You look amazing as always, Debbie. That colour is stunning and your skills are incredible. Thanks for the hat link. Going to have a looksy! :-)

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  26. Everything about your outfit is perfect! You look so good in green. I love that you used yellow buttons, and the dress has a nice shape. And that matching umbrella...Ahh! So cute!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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