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SEWING MY STASH | MCCALL'S 7743
I’m a maxi and midi girl. I love wearing my dresses below the knee. When I first saw this McCall’s 7743 Wrap Dress, my plan was to sew View C because of the maxi length. But when I pulled this gorgeous fabric and realized I didn’t have enough to sew a maxi, I decided to shorten it to above the knee. I barely made it. Whew!
The sewing challenge is heating up. This is pattern #10 of my personal challenge to sew 22 patterns that I already have in the year 2022. Aaahhh!!! I’m in the double digits now. That means I have12 more to go. You can see Pattern #9 HERE.
PATTERN INFORMATION | MCCALL'S 7743 WRAP DRESS
McCall’s 7743 is a fitted wrap dress with three design options.
- View A: Above knee-length, raglan sleeves,hook & bar and ties closure, front neckband closure w/hook & eye
- View B: maxi-length, raglan sleeves, double hook & bar closure, front neckband closure w/hook & eye
- View C: Maxi-length, kimono, double hook & bar closure
The pattern is currently available on the Something Delightful website in printed copy only. The company rates the pattern as Easy, and I agree. If you have basic sewing knowledge, you should be able to complete the dress.
The pattern instructions are fairly straightforward and simple enough for a beginner with basic skills. As always, take care to transfer your markings from the pattern to the fabric.
INSIDE THE GARMENT
Now, let’s take a look at the inside of the dress. This excites me as much as the outside of the garment. My Baby Lock sewing machines help me to produce beautiful finishes on the inside of my garments. I used my Baby Lock Soprano to sew all the seams. The seam allowances were finished with the Baby Lock Vibrant Serger.
Hemming has become a favorite part of my sewing process now because I have the Baby Lock Eurphoria Coverstitch Machine. It has literally made the hemming process a breeze and complete joy. I never got excited about hems until I started using this machine. You will hear me talk about it over and over again. It does an amazing job of creating perfectly finished hems. I love it so much.
Although I used my serger to finish the raw edges of the facings for View C, I would definitely follow the pattern instructions for Views A and B in finishing the front and back neck band edges. When slipstitching a neck band over seams, I think it looks better when the band has a folded edge rather than a serged finish.
ALTERATIONS INFORMATION
Following the finished garment measurements on the front pattern piece, I cut a size 14 for both the bodice and skirt of the dress. I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern (not even my usual Swayback Adjustment).
FABRIC OPTIONS
The fabric suggestions on the back of the pattern envelope are: Crepe, Shallis, Georgette, and Crepe de Chine. These are all lightweight, flowy fabrics.
I purchased this beautiful fabric from Melanated Fabrics in Atlanta last year when I was in town for an event. I don’t remember the fabric contents but I know it’s a Rayon Blend. It feels like a Rayon Crepe. It’s lightweight and perfect for flowy garments. I think it looks amazing paired with this dress. The colors are stunning.
NOTIONS INFORMATION
The pattern calls for hook and eye, hook and bar, and ribbon for closures.
STYLING OPTIONS
The dress is amazing no matter how you accessorize it. I think it would look really cute with a pair of big hoop earrings, flat sandals, a beach bag, sun hat, and sunglasses.
Styling Option #1
I styled it with a pair of periwinkle chunky heels, blue charm necklace, rhinestone stud earrings, a beaded bracelet that my youngest son gave me when he was in 8th grade, and a cute silk handbag that I received as a gift many years ago.
Styling Option #2
You know I had to bring out the big pink hat to complement the colors in this dress. Now, THIS is how I will style it for the tea party. All the same accessories, but the hat takes it up a notch.
PLANS FOR THE DRESS
I plan to wear this dress out for events like dinner dates, baby/bridal showers, tea parties, and other fun occasions.
How would you wear the dress?
Would you wear this dress? Do you have the pattern? How would you style it? Talk to me in the comments. I would love to hear from you.
5 YEARS WITH BABY LOCK
This month I am celebrating 5 years as a Baby Lock Ambassador. They have been really god to me and I can’t imagine a better company to represent. They treat us like family and do special things for us to make us feel as such. Not only do they have quality products, but they care about people. When I went through aa really rough time after I joined the Ambassador team, they allowed me to take the time away that I needed. Now I’m back and I treasure my relationship with Baby Lock. If you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, Baby Lock Sewing is a GREAT choice.
Don't Forget your Sewing Project Checklist
Did you know that I created a Sewing Project Checklist to help you stay organized while sewing your garments? If you missed the video where I shared 3 Steps to Time Saving Sewing for Beginners, check it out to learn how you can streamline your sewing process. Tap the link below to get a Free PDF copy of the Checklist.
Thanks for stopping by,
Remember: When you live in your DESIGN, it is from there that God SHINES!
Links to Products, Posts & Tutorials
Here are links to products, blog posts, and tutorials mentioned in this post.
- Pattern
- Sewing Project Checklist
- Fabric Option 1
- Fabric Option 2
- Fabric Option 3
- Fabric Option 4
- Learn to SEW
- Baby Lock Soprano
- Baby Lock Vibrant
- Baby Lock Euphoria
(DISCLAIMER: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. All opinions in this post are my own.)
This Blog Post is sponsored by Baby Lock.
PLANS FOR THE DRESS
This Post Has 25 Comments
I love you Anita! You have been so helpful! Please keep doing what you do!
You’ve got beautiful legs, show them off! It’s a beautiful dress. Great job!
Thank you DJ!
Anther winner!! The print is perfect and it looks like a good wear for this hot weather we’re experiencing. Looking good!!
Thank you De!
Love wrap dresses
Thank you Mary
I so agree with the previous post….do you ever have a loser? NOOOO! No you do not. This dress is just down right cute, as my granny would say. Thank you again for inspiring us to sew!
Oh yes, I’ve had many projects that were trashed. LOL! Thank you, Monica!
WONDERFUL!!!!! Anita you have such grat taste, and the dress looks good! So do you.
Hi Gwendolyn! Thank you so much.
Another adorable winner (do you ever have a loser?!? Just wondering :). I think you’re good at anticipating how things will look when finished, though, which is a real talent). I think this also has colors that would work into warm fall days, too, depending on where you live, and was thinking it might look cute styled with athletic shoes the way dresses are increasingly shown now, with a casual tote for shopping, etc. Reading the other comments, I can say I sew not just to have something that only I have, but for distraction from a lot of recent loss in my life, for the fun of figuring out a challenge that yields something fun, new, pretty and useful, and if I don’t get carried away and am thoughtful about the ready-to-wear versus handmade calculation, I actually save money although I know “they” say that sewing for oneself doesn’t pay off, but I’ve found it does when I’m careful and analytical about what I buy versus what I sew (e.g., watch for those sales on fabric and patterns, etc, while also deciding if it’s worth making something myself.). If Shannon reads the rest of the comments, I hope she will be encouraged to try a very easy project for herself and gain the thrill of having something she made just for herself that fits and makes her happy! Thank you, Anita, for another wonderful post.
Thank you, Mary Jean! Yes, I think. it would look great with sneakers too. I agree with you about sewing for oneself paying off. Thank you for encouraging our SEW Sister, Shannon.
Hi Anita!
You are so adorable and I love this simple wrap dress. It’s super cute on you and looks easy to make. The Rayon Crepe is perfect for our hot California summer days. Love it!
You are a wonderful teacher and very inspiring. I love the 22 challenge and I’m trying to keep up with you. So far this year I have made 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 1 blouse and numeral crafty items such as tote bags, cosmetics bags and several Amish Folded Star Potholders.
Sewing is my solace and brings me peace and joy.
If I don’t sew every day, either hand work or machine work, I feel like something is missing. I think I have little microscopic sewing machines in my veins instead of blood! LOL
My friends call me Little Stitchy 🙂
Can’t wait to see your next project.
Thank you for your loving spirit and unending inspiration!
Sew On!!!
Tonya (Little Stitchy), I love this so much! I resonate with your love of sewing. The peace and joy, YES! This craft has helped me get through some really rough times in my life.
I love that you are sewing. your 22 this year too. WooHoo! So exciting! Stitch on, SEW Sister!
❤️
This dress is lovely! Going to make the longer and the short version. Need a new summer robe it this hot weather! It looks fabulous, and your styling is spot on.
Sharon
Yaaaayy, Sharon! I’m planning to make the longer version too. Have fun sewing your dresses. It’s hot here too! Whew!
Love the dress. Wrap dresses are fun to make and wear. One problem I have had in the past is the top cross over gaping. It doesn’t happen every time but enough to frustrate me. How did you get it to fit you so well? I have stopped sewing wrap dresses because of this problem. Any suggestions? Thanks Anita. Love your blog and your youtube recordings.
Hi Stephanie! I’ve had that problem with wrap dresses too. My solution is adding a safety pin to keep it from gapping open. LOL! Maybe there’s a pattern adjustment to fix that problem on YouTube.
I just heard from another SEW Sister who says that Cashmerette has a wrap dress pattern, called the Appleton Dress that does not gap at all. She says it’s the best no-gap wrap dress out there. Check it out.
https://www.cashmerette.com/products/appleton-dress-0-16-pdf-pattern?_pos=2&_sid=8462be3c5&_ss=r
Wow! This is a beautiful WRAP dress, and it looks absolutely stunning on you! I would love to make it too. Since I’m now retired, I am trying to save monies to be able to take your online sewing class, and can’t wait!
Thank you Devoria! Your day to join the sewing course is coming.
I have been following your posts for about 6 months and really love the information. I am almost 60 and want to learn to make my own clothing. What I fear however is how to figure out the right measurements on me and how to take them on my own. I have never been able to buy store clothing that fits. I am short with big girls so the sleeves are too long and the bust is too tight or the the buttons let you look at my bra and pants drag on the floor even if they are short or the snaps roll over and the legs are baggy. I can look at a skirt in a store or a dress hold the shoulders at the top of my head and it still drags on the floor. So all my life I could never by or wear anything but t-shirts and rolled up jeans.
Wow, Shannon! My heart dropped on that last sentence. Learning to sew your own clothes takes patience and time, but I assure you it’s worth your time. If you want to learn, I really encourage you to join my sewing course for beginners. I cover the basics to get you started. Once you have mastered the basics, you can apply them to continued skill building. The most important part of learning is getting that strong foundation as a new beginner.
While some measurements are easier to take with assistance, you can take your measurements on your own. I do it all the time. I know it can be intimidating and scary but pushing pass the fear and investing in a skill that will help you to create clothing you want to wear is worth it. Again, that last sentence.