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!