Inspiration:

This dress pattern was on my sewing list as soon as I saw it in McCall’s Fall 2016 collection. I have to confess that I have been on a Ponti knit sewing streak for a few months now. It is a double knit, meaning that it is thicker and heavier than a simple jersey knit. This is what gives this fabric its stability while being flexible. It is soft to the touch, hangs beautifully, is easy to care for and is very flattering.

Fabric:

You cannot go wrong with Fabricville’s Ponti di Roma in-store selection. There are solids and stripes that you can mix and match to suit your project. For this dress, I chose black for the main fabric and dark heather gray for the contrast panels.

Pattern:

This dress was created from McCall’s pattern M7469 by designer Nicole Miller. This model is described as a fitted dress with seaming details, pockets, three-quarter length sleeves, front slit and bateau neckline. I chose view B with the contrast sides. This dress is very comfortable and easy to wear. The contrasting panels put the focus on my waist and accentuate my height.

Skills:

Overall, it was an easy project. The only parts that required a bit more skills (and patience) were the installation of the invisible zipper and setting the sleeves. I think that an adventurous beginner and an intermediate sewist will have fun with this pattern. If you are new to sewing with knits, I highly recommend Ponti di Roma. It is a great starting point to make structured items with the comfort of knits.

*Chantal Lapointe has been sewing ever since she was 9 years old. She shares her love of sewing on her blog at https://chantalbijoux.wordpress.com/.