Greetings from Edisto Island! Hubby and I are on the grounds of the island’s historic Presbyterian Church now in its fourth century of worship, and which we found to be a perfect setting for photos.
I was on a mission to make brightly colored summer clothes when New Look 6429 leaped off of the catalogue page. It is one of those patterns I’ve been looking for since I returned to sewing nearly 5 years ago. Cut in shoulders, cut out neckline, simple and chic, I was smitten.
I also had a beautiful piece of black stretch viscose crepe from Mood Fabrics waiting to be sewn. Often sewing is about creativity, but not this time ~ recreating View D was my goal.
While the pattern doesn’t require a stretch fabric, I knew this crepe with its very slight stretch would make a lovely Little Black Dress (in addition to jackets, skirts and trousers).
The dress is shaped by French darts which disappear into the texture of the fabric.
To help the dress maintain its shape, I lined it with Mood Fabrics’ Antracite Black Acetate lining although the pattern does not require a lining. The neckline and tabs are faced with self fabric which left only the bodice to line. Here’s what it looked like before I assembled the neckband to the tabs and back shoulders.
Oddly enough the back seam and zipper are sewn last.
I understand why the instructions are ordered this way, but it is impossible to try the dress on before attaching the neckband. This means if you have any fitting issues a muslin is a must! The pattern is well drafted and my only change was removing 2 inches of length from the bodice. The back is shaped by darts giving the dress an overall flattering fit.
I can imagine this pattern again in every view as well as a variety of fabrics. Perhaps in this Geometric Riviera Pique which is in my stash, or tweed for the Fall, or View D in solid white.
As Nina Garcia says, “Often the perfect little black dress finds the girl when she is not looking.”
How true! While clothes finding sewers is a less direct route, my new LBD was well worth the gentle interruption to summer sewing and happy colors 
Until soon!