
Vintage shirt dress by Sew Over It
Hi all!
May I present the newest addition to my ever expanding dress collection: The vintage shirtdress by Sew Over It. The pattern for this dress is one of the two patterns I got a few days ago:
I started working on this dress almost immediately since I happened to have a suitable viscose fabric ready. (Again a find from the factory remnants section…) I was between the sizes 8 and 10 and decided to cut the size 10 to be sure and add a bit to the hem to be able to adjust the length of the skirt (Note to self: The next time remember to add the extra length to the facings, too!). I also added 1,5 cm extra length to the bodice in case I needed to lower the waistline.
Sewing the dress was quite easy. I tried the dress on before the sleeves were added and the long bodice was too much and the bodice was too wide in any case. I ripped the waist seam and cut away the extra length. I needed to take about 1,5 cm (a total of 6 cm) off from the side seams to make the dress less loose. On a whim I decided not to take in from the skirt but instead transformed the extra width to pleats.
I wanted short sleeves so I had already cut the sleeves a little shorter than in the sleeve pattern. To add a bit girlyness I gathered the extra width at the sleeve and finished the sleeve with a narrow cuff.
I did not manage to add much to the length of the skirt because I forgot to lengthen the facings. By turning the hem over the facing I, however, increased the length by about 2 cm.
I had some brown vintage buttons that suited my fabric and the look of the dress nicely. However the waistband was still quite loose and to give the dress some stability I added my first ever waist stay that I anchored to the waist seam from a few places. I must add that it also prevents the button band from gaping if I gorge myself with too much food!
So, here is the final result. I am quite pleased with it and it looks just as I imagined it would look. I particularly love the collar! I think that the extra width that the side pleats give to the skirt is a good addition since it adds a bit curves to my hips. I am also proud of my pattern matching at the center front!
The back looks also great. The size 10 was originally too baggy at the back but after I took in the side seams the dress fits very beautifully.
There is plenty of skirt for me to have a bit of a twirl which I like! On colder days I can throw a cardigan or a leather jacket over the dress and still wear it.
The shirt dress craze has clearly overtaken the patternmakers and sewists alike. I am already planning another shirt dress, this time a sleeveless one using McCall’s 6696. However, I don’t know whether I can resist the new Penny dress from Sew Over It, so it might be the next project after that!
I thank my son for the photography and you for visiting my blog! If you like these posts, please subscribe!


6 Comments
Let's Get Sewing
Your dress is absolutely stunning! The choice of fabric and buttons are just perfect.
kk
Thank you!
hopflower
Love this dress! The fabric is just wonderful, and as usual you sewed it perfectly.
kk
Thanks!
Christine Gagg
Your dress looks fabulous. Did you have a problem attaching the collar to the neck? The collar piece on mine is much longer then the bodice neckline, too much to ease. Any ideas?
kk
I don’t really remember. Slash the neckline at every 2 cm or so. That usually does the trick. Lots of pins help to ease the collar to the neckline.