Sunday, September 29, 2013

Early Fall Sewing #5: Shirtdress, Fall for Cotton



As soon as i read about the Fall for Cotton sew-along, I knew that this dress would be my entry. I was still planning it at the time, but everything fell togheter too well not to do it. I wanted a classic shirtdress with a full skirt, a very 50s silhouette but in a modern way, which is the style I try to develop. Feminine and classic, with pretty details but not fussy and with a silhouette that emphasize my waist. 


So a cotton shirtdress was made! I had this pretty cotton poplin I had bought in the beginning of the summer, and added a hem band in contrasting beige cotton. I finished all the seams by binding them with beige bias binding, as a little extra. I love knowing that the insides of my garments are just as pretty as the outside...  Working with cotton is such a joy. It doesn't shift, it presses wonderfully and this poplin has a great crispness to it, which gives a nice structure to the bodice. 
The pattern is McCall's 4769, with the 3/4 lenght sleeves and the cute little winged cuffs. I switched the skirt for a full dindrl, but kept the button band on the skirt. I made a straight size 10, and I'm very happy with the fit. I still haven't really understood how the collar gets sewn up... My collar turned out great, but I'm not quite sure how that happened as I had no idea what I was doing, other than blindly following the instructions. Oh well... I just feel there has to be easier ways to sew a notched collar? The instructions has you reinforce corners and clip into them, which is always scary.



 I leave you with a few more pictures. They were taken yesterday, which I fear was the last day of summer... I have my project #6 (a floral Cambie) finished and waiting for pictures and appropriate fabric for project #7 (a black and cream Chardon), so I am quite on track with my fall sewing plans. Project #8 is a circle skirt, but I can't decide on what fabric to use. A light black polyester that will twirl wonderfully, provided I have enough of it, or a grey/silver wool that is really more of a winter project? While I make up my mind, I cut into some navy batiste for another shirtdress, a Cami this time!




19 comments:

  1. Holy cow, this is one adorable dress! I'm such a sucker for ditsy floral fabrics and this one is sublime. Also, you look amazing in this silhouette. Love it!.

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    1. yes, the print is really great! feminine but not over-the-top. thanks for your nice compliments :)

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  2. This is such a pretty dress and your fabric is amazing! I love the flowery fabric in dark tones, perfect for fall and winter.

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  3. SO, SO, SO CUTE! I am over the moon for the cream colored border you added to the skirt. It's so simple, yet makes a huge visual impact against your black floral print. Really nice work.

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    1. the cream border was a happy accident... i didn't really have enough fabric to make the skirt the lenght i wanted it so after a small panic moment, i digged this cotton scrap and made a border! in retrospect, the lenght would have been quite ok without the border, but i prefer it like this now!

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  4. This turned out really great. It's a cotton, which is kind of summery, but choosing black makes it more fall. I'm really eager to see what you have in store for us with all your numbered projects lined up... :o) Especially eager to see your cami.

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    1. the cami really wasn't part of the plans, but plans are made to be broken, right? right? i couldn't resist another cotton shirtdress before it gets too cold for it. i really need to sort out the slip issue now, so i can wear all those cotton dresses with thights...

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  5. This is so cute! Great job, girl!

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  6. Oh, so pretty! I love notched collars and I've had a shirtdress on my to-sew list for ages!
    A while ago I saw a video with the easiest making of a notched collar ever. I'll have to find it again...

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  7. Found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v4zm1tbRbs
    She also has the smartest way of turning corners, ever!

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    1. gee, thanks! i'll watch it when i get home tonight. sunni from a fashionable stitch also demonstrated a great method i her S1880 sew-along, but i could't wrap my head around it for this pattern. the pattern peices looked weird to me... but hey, it worked out perfectly in the end! handmade jane also made a very clear tutorial using just this pattern and construction.

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  8. Adorable, I love the print you chose! The black polyester circle skirt sounds good, it will be floaty and go with a lot of things in your wardrobe :)

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