My modest raspberry dress

I am finally able to share my latest project (or more accurately, one of my latest projects) with you all - my modest raspberry dress! Yep, it's the ever so popular McCall's 5927. 

It is called the modest raspberry dress because the fabric is a lovely raspberry coloured double wool crepe (in fact, I don't really understand what "double wool" means but it was fabulous to work with) from the remnant bin from Macculloch and Wallis, for £18, and the cap sleeves made it modest enough  to be worn to work without needing a cardigan. And after all the troubles I've had with those darn sleeves, I had to honour them in the name somehow. 

I cut a size 4 for a close fit, and had planned on making view D. However, I don't know what came over me... when I followed the instructions, I followed those for views A and B! I couldn't tell you just how annoyed I was with my very silly self! The more annoying thing was, this was my first ever fully lined dress (obviously not counting my wedding dress here, which had a thousand layers!), and following the wrong set of instructions really messed up my otherwise beautifully smooth lining. 

I decided to be brave, and followed view B through in case I liked what I had. But I really disliked the straps :( I had great plans for this to be my new favourite work dress, and without the sleeves, it just didn't work. 

So after a few days of beating myself up, I decided to get over the on-show seams on the inside of the garment, and just add those cap sleeves to my "finished" dress. I'm so glad that I did! I think they have transformed the dress, and gave it so much modesty and sophistication. 

Despite my oversight, I thought this was a really good pattern. This is a pattern with multiple bust sizes, so I didn't even need to do a SBA! All I had to do was a petite adjustment on the bodice and skirt. 

The dress has such simple lines, which are perfect for a work dress, and the pockets are an added bonus. And I love that it is fully lined - the lining (faux silk lining, at £1.03 per metre from Fabricland) just makes the whole thing feel so much more comfortable and expensive. It involved a bit of hand sewing, but by no means excessive. 

Can you see the stitches?

 Some inside out photos (front and back) and right side out photos:

Having added the cap sleeves at the last minute, it actually inspired me to do the same to shop purchased clothes. Wouldn't that be a lovely refashion project?