I truly believe that wrap skirts and summer are the perfect combination; they go together like strawberries and cream… or like gin and tonic! These skirts are such an easy option for both dressing up and down, and feel so comfortable to wear when the days get warmer. I was on the hunt for a good wrap skirt pattern and found McCall’s 7606, which has two options for the skirt and two bodysuits. I immediately was drawn to View C, as it would hit me about mid-calf length and has a big statement ruffle around the hem, which just screams summer vibes.
I picked this gorgeous fabric up from John Lewis, as my two friends had gifted me vouchers to spend in the haberdashery department for my birthday (thanks Becca and Stef!). It is 100% cotton, with a ditsy floral pattern on a dusky-blue background. Although M7606 doesn’t list cotton as a suggested fabric, it gathers easily and provides a little more crispness to the structure of the finished garment.
The pattern is another winner — the construction was very easy and the instructions are clear to follow. For View C, there are only 7 pattern pieces to work with, so it comes together pretty quickly. I would recommend sitting down with a cup of tea before you start gathering the ruffle, as it will take you a pretty long time! I like the dipped-back hem and that it is unlined; it really feels so light and airy. While I do highly recommend this pattern, if I were to make this again, I would consider lengthening the tie ends — this is just purely a personal preference, but I think a bigger bow tie at waist would also look cute.
I did not need to make any adjustments for fit – I just cut the straight size from the pattern. I finished all my seams as French seams (I’ve fallen in love with them!), as they look so professional. I also finished the hem of the ruffle with mitred corners, which is a neat way of finishing exposed corners. I followed the blog post by Tilly and the Buttons on how to sew mitred corners and managed to put them together without any hiccups on the way.
It is such a comfortable skirt to wear and I must admit, it is pretty good for twirling about in! I think this skirt will be perfect for brunch dates with the girls (whenever that will become possible again!) or for lazy picnics in the park.
