The Italy Dress
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 10:17AM 
So my friend Lee is on a trip to Italy. Before she left, I kept hearing about how she wished she had "just a simple cotton dress" for the trip. Finally, after hearing how she was going to "alter the pattern" and "just cut three holes in a piece of fabric" I put the kabbosh on any further discussion. I showed her McCall Pattern M5137 - something I had recently purchased for myself, asking if it was something close to what she wanted. Just one look, and she was in love...with the dress. We made a date to go buy fabric, and I was to make it for her. The morning we were to go get fabric, I received a phone call: "I don't have any money, I just paid my bills, I'm going on vacation, I can't spend anything..." I reassured her that we could go to Poppy Fabric in Oakland and at least gather some swatches for the project...we ended up leaving with the appropriate yardage for her new dress - and spent only $43.00!
Lee's dress is an adorable vision that I'm certain she is wearing all over Italy - keeping cool, feminine, and chic in a very ice-cream-cone-on-the-Spanish-Steps way. Me? Oh, I'm making one for myself, and my other coworker Emi, and my sister Maura, and on and on...
I chose this pattern for it's simple lines, easy construction - no zippers or buttons! - and endless textile possibilities. For Lee's and my versions, we chose three complimentary fabrics that bring out the best in each other. I went with simple cottons, but for a more advanced version, it could be constructed in silks or jersey knits.
If you are On the Make and decide to tackle "The Italy Dress," drop P&C a line and let us know how it turned out...better yet, send us a picture!
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Lilou