Made By A Fabricista: Summer Dress Season is here!

I love attending outdoor Summer concerts! This month I wanted to make the perfect dress to wear to an outdoor Summer concert that is loose, flowy, comfortable and would be nice to wear in the south Georgia heat. I think I achieved it with the Marcel dress by Chalk and Notch in a Barbie Hot Pink Linen.

The Marcel dress is a tiered dress that has shoulder straps which comes in sizes 0-30 and 2 cup sizes. I chose to make my dress according to my high bust size and it fits slightly loose but comfortable. I made my straps tie by lengthening the strap pieces. You can make a tank, a short dress or maxi dress. I lengthened my dress by 3 inches as I am 5’10” and this dress is drafted for 5’7”. I added 1 inch (total of 3 inches) to the bottom 3 tiers, and 3 inches to the center front and center back panels. The length is perfect.

The back of the dress has a very open back and should be really cool for the hot Summer weather! I can’t wait to wear it out soon!

Chalk and Notch provides a QR code inside the pattern to a sew along if you need any help. The only thing I didn’t like about the pattern was that it didn’t have a layout plan for the fabric. I learned that is common with all Chalk and Notch patterns. I laid out the pieces prior to cutting to make sure I had enough fabric. I did not use interfacing as linen is stable and it wasn’t needed.

I added a sewing label that says “the bee’s knee’s”. I specifically made this dress to wear to a Zach Bryan concert with my daughter in August. We plan to go eat at McCormick and Schmidt’s and drink a cocktail called the Bees Knees prior. If you haven’t tried one, it is a prohibition cocktail with lemon juice, honey and gin. It is delicious! The name means “the best”. This was a perfect label to add to this dress! Do you add labels to the inside of your hand made garments? My favorite are Kylie and the Machine labels and Fabric Mart keeps them in stock! I just purchased the ones that say “my best work yet”.

I hope I have inspired you to make a Summer dress to wear outside doing what you love! I have wanted to try the Marcel dress and I really enjoyed sewing it. I want to make another one out of rayon and I just purchased another fabric from Fabric Mart to make another Marcel!

What dress will you make for the Summer? Please tag me at @Hoppaheedahoe on IG when you make it! I would love to be sewing besties and share our Summer sewing makes!