A Holiday Dress in Merchant and Mills Indian Block Print Cotton
One of the best parts of sewing your own clothes is being able to identify and bring to life silhouettes that fit your body and personal style. The McCalls 7954, a mix-and-match pattern, allowed me to combine three of my favorites: a circle skirt (option 4) with and fitted bodice and bandeau halter neckline (option 1). Although it was a challenging make (oh, those pesky invisible zippers!), I couldn't be more pleased with the final product. It's a dress that's so very me... not an easy feat for someone with strong sartorial preferences.
Why I love this silhouette
Like most people, my body has changed over time (oh hey, motherhood and aging). But one thing that's remained consistent is that I have a large bust—fluctuating between a DD and F cup—and narrow rib cage, which makes it hard to find tops that fit snugly while also providing enough coverage. Bandeau-style tops work for me: they help minimize my bust and create a more proportional silhouette, especially when combined with a flared circle skirt.
Why I chose Merchant and Mills Indian Cotton
When I first started planning this dress, I was thinking silk or satin viscose... something shiny and glamorous and decadent. But I also had to be true to my personal style, and over the years I've realized I'm a "casual elegance" kind of gal. that means I like to dress down ultra-feminine silhouettes with simpler fabrics like cotton or linen (Ulla Johnson is a huge source of inspiration on that front!). So for this dress, I chose Merchant and Mills' Forest Haze Indian Block Print Cotton, an earthy, olive green floral print with coral, indigo, and cream accents. The pattern also called for underlining, so I used the Cloud9 Cirrus Solid in Sand for the bodice underlining and skirt lining, and self-lined the bodice with the primary fabric (that totals to three layers of fabric for the bodice, and two for the skirt). These combined to create a structured-yet-comfortable bodice and a lightweight, voluminous skirt that twirls like a dream.
Why I’ll absolutely make this dress again
I love this design, and I'm eager to try out the other bodice option that includes straps instead of a halter. I'll admit that the zipper installation threw me off, and the finishing isn't quite as tidy as I'd like. So the prospect of a second draft is exciting—I'm determined to perfect it this time around! Perhaps a Valentine's Day dress is in the cards, but until then I'm going to ring in the new year in this little number.