McCalls M6696 shirtdress progress

Part two of the Ray Stitch McCalls M6696 shirtdress was really enjoyable. Due to the crazy state of my house renovations I was unable to use a sewing machine to complete my homework - I hand basted everything in place. Luckily I managed to catch up on my homework by getting to Ray Stitch a little bit earlier and cheekily asked if I could use a machine to catch up. Thanks Ray Stitch!

So, what did I manage to get done on Tuesday? As you know from the previous post the M6696 is pretty pattern piece heavy and there are lots of individual steps.
This is what I achieved between 6pm - 9.30pm (including my homework):

• Attached the external back yoke to the altered back piece
• Sewed the side seams of the bodice
• Sewed the shoulder seams
• Attached the internal back yoke
• Trimmed the side seams and applied satin bias binding
• Hand-stitched the internal yoke
• Attached the external waistband
• Created two simple pleats facing outwards on the back piece to take out the extra material left from the removal of the gathering
• Attached the internal waistband
• Sewn sleeve seams
• Gathered the top of sleeves
• Sew the four skirt darts
• Attach the pocket linings
• Under-stitch the pocket linings
• Attach the pockets

Woah! When you list it like this it looks like I was working like a maniac! Unfortunately I haven't been able to do any sewing this weekend due to a number of DIY house chores (fixing-leaking-roof kind-of-stuff) and preparing for next week at work where I will be having Senior Management reviewing the department (scary!).

Here is a sneak peak of the bodice with lovely neat bias-bound seams and the black spotty contrast cotton. You can also see one of the two small pleats I added to take out the fullness of the lower back.

Fingers crossed I can be a speedy sewer again on Tuesday to get to the final stage of the shirtdress.