Review: McCall's 7242 | Bohemian-Chic Maxi Dress + Tassel Rope Belt Tutorial!

I seem to have a renewed love of maxi dresses.  So this is going to be a thing for a moment.  My latest one is McCall's 7242.  I researched this pattern and I found only a handful of iterations.  I'm not sure why, because this pattern has great bones.  It's a maxi shirt dress.  What's not to love?

The lines of this dress are so simple, it screamed out for heavily patterned fabric.  I'd found this ikat print at Hancock and I bought what was left on the bolt -- a little over 4 yards.  It's a poly chiffon.

I cut the 12 in the bodice and the 14 in the skirt.  For this style of dress, the skirt is cut very slim.  It's really straight.  If you're significantly heavier on the bottom, rely on the finished measurements on the pattern pieces.  They're accurate.  You may have to go up from you usually pattern size, 

I added length to the bodice, the skirt and the ruffle.  This sleeveless dress took all 4 yards of the fabric.  Instead of creating French seams, I serged my seams.  This fabric was shredding like crazy so it was best to just get it done.  

I also partially lined the skirt.  That is the only part that concerned me.

There is also a hook an eye at the elastic waist.

The armhole has a bias binding finish.

And I finished my ruffle with a narrow hem.

I decided to accessorize my dress with a Tassel Rope Belt.  Here's how I made mine:

What you need:

• Rope
• beads
• suede or leather fabric scrap
• ruler
• pen/pencil
• hot glue gun
• scissors or rotary cutter

Note:  Make sure your beads will fit over your rope and will still have enough room to slide over your tassel.

First, I made my suede tassels.  Mine are 1.25" x 4".  You have to cut fringe into the suede/leather first.  I did this by creating a 1/4" guideline.  My fringe are about 1/8" wide.  You can measure these off and draw guidelines or you can eyeball them as I did.  And make sure you don't cut through your guideline.  You'll need a sharp pair of scissors or a rotary cutter like I used.

String your beads on first.

Appy your hot glue to the guideline of the fringe, but not too much!

Tightly roll your fringe guideline around the end of the rope

Slide your bead down over your fringe and work it into place over the guideline.

And repeat for the other side.