Chambray Pullover Shirtdress

This post is all about new, a new way I decided what to sew and a new style for me. I saw McCall’s 6885 featured on social media along with a famous designer
in a very similar dress. Right when I saw that photo, I knew I had to make this dress.

Now this is the first new  for me, usually I have the fabric and I look through my patterns to see what to make. This time I was in search of fabric and of course, Mood had just the right fabric, a  Mood Fabrics’ chambray year-round cotton flannel.  I should clarify this, I use to always have the pattern first and then find the fabric to make the garment.  Over the last few years, I find it easier to acquire fabric and then find a suitable pattern.  Thanks to Mood Fabrics’ great selection, I always find fabulous fabric.

This fabric was perfect – the chambray look but so soft with the perfect drape for this style of pattern.  This is important with this style of dress, I sure didn’t want the fabric to be stiff and add fullness to this style.  Now that is the second new for me, I usually don’t do shirt dresses or a looser dress but this one just really appealed to me.

I made a few changes, mainly the length of the dress, just look at the side of the shirttail hem.  I added 1-1/2″ to the length of the dress, thank goodness or my side hem might be way too short!  I also added 1″ to the sleeve length, which made the sleeves the perfect length.  This length is probably irrelevant as I don’t think I will ever wear the sleeves rolled down, the  sleeve tabs are just a great feature.

This fabric is thin so I have a slip on with this dress for modesty sake.  With the weight of the fabric in mind, I used interfacing on both sides of the collar and undercollar, a tricot knit interfacing to be specific.  I am pleased with this decision, the two layers gave the collar some substance.  I also cut the undercollar in two pieces on the bias.

I started sewing on this dress Sunday and guess what?  I didn’t have enough thread to construct and topstitch.  Anyone else have that happen?  A show of hands, please!  My solution, to use a gray to construct and the perfect match thread for topstitching and buttonholes.  I ran out of thread when sewing on the last button.  If I had more thread I would of added 2 more buttons and buttonholes, which I will do after a thread purchase.   And I really need another button for the bust pull, too.   Photographs tell us so much about our projects.

This dress is just so fun to wear and I know I will wear it with a belt most of the time but without the belt is just so easy and fun.  I did put a red cardigan on with the dress and loved the look but none of my pictures were in focus.  You will just have to take my word!

 I am so happy I tried a new look for me.

Note on the last three days of pictures.  We have had 13 out of the first 14 days in October with rain.  I had no choice but to take all of these pictures on the front porch on a gloomy day.  I also had to take them on the north side of the house to protect myself from wind and wind gusts.  So sorry for the darker nature of the photographs - but guess what?  The sun is shining today and is suppose to shine for several more days.  The farmers around here might be able to get back to their harvest.