How to hack a holiday dress

Dec 13, 2024

Hi everyone! My name is Raven Maureen and I’m a sewing content creator, Know Me pattern designer and small business owner. Today I’m sharing how to hack McCall’s pattern M8312 just like how I did it!

Here’s a list of supplies that you’ll need:

OLFA 60mm RTY-3/DX Ergonomic Rotary Cutter
OLFA RM-MG-01 24" x 36" Green Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat
Dotted pattern paper
A ruler and a hip curve ruler (optional)
Pattern weights
M8312 OR a similar pattern
ME2016 OR a similar pattern
4 Yds of 60 inch fabric

I redrafted the front bib pattern piece and made it into a jewel neckline. You can do this by using a hip curve ruler, eyeballing it or copying a pattern piece with a crew neck. For this tutorial, I am using ME2016 since it has a great neckline.

Match the shoulder seams together of ME2016 and M8312.

Tuck away the side seams of ME2016 pattern piece as you lay it on top of M8312. Begin tracing this with your pen or marker.

Transfer all the markings from M8312 onto your new pattern piece. Including the dot on the center front.

Once the pattern piece is drafted, cut out of your bib pattern piece on the fold.

Mark a dot on the center that you are comfortable with a cut straight down to make a slit. Do this on both front bib pieces.

To create the ties cut 3-4 pairs of 2x17 inch strips. Sew these strips with one end finished, the other end raw. Attach the raw edge to your neckline. Enclose the ties as pictured here.