Sunday 30 August 2015

The Knit Shift Dress

I've never really thought about where I fit into the style spectrum, I just make and wear what appeals. Oh yes, I've done the whole "what's in fashion now" thing, then look back at old photos and wonder what on earth I was thinking at the time?!

Now that I've done 2.5 years of ready to wear fasting I look at my wardrobe and realise that the shift dress, or variations of it, is a 'thing' for me. This probably explains why I've made two knit shift dresses in a month.

Mesa Dress

This is Mesa, one of the patterns issued with the June 2015 edition of Seamwork. It is described as "The flirty knit shift that's as stylish as it is comfortable", and I agreed 100%. Apparently it should only take 1 hour to make. It took me longer than that but that probably because I decided to line it.

I picked up 1.5 metres of this medium weight jersey double knit from Fabric Barn specifically for this dress.  The pattern suggested light to medium weight knit fabrics with at least a 25% 4-way stretch. Personally, I think that a light weight jersey would show all the 'lumps and bumps' underneath - No Thanks!


Mesa Dress

Because it's winter and I wanted to wear stockings for warmth but didn't want it cling, so I picked up some knit tricot to line the body. This stuff is so light weight that you barely notice its there but the difference it makes is incredible. In my opinion, so much better than having to wear a slip underneath that constantly keeps riding up.  After I sewed up the side and shoulder seams of the tricot I pinned it to the shell at the neck before attaching the neck band. I attached it to the armscye with a simple running stitch.

Mesa Dress

I didn't clearly fit into one size on the body measurement chart so decided to select my size based on my waist/hip measurement and made a size M (8-10).  Looking at the sample photos on the Seamwork site the dressed looked to be quite short and I'm taller than the average so went ahead and cut the length to the 3XL pattern length, 2" longer than the size M. This is the perfect length for me, falling just above my knee.

Mesa Dress

The hem, I just overlocked the raw edge, folded it up by 3/4" and stitched it down with two rows of straight stitch.  I also added 1" to the length of the sleeve - a short sleeve just didn't seam right.

There's a couple of things I noticed after wearing it a few times. The neckline at the front is a bit loose, so the neck band could be a little bit more snug, I could really do with an additional 1/2" around the hips and a bit more room across the shoulder blades.

I wasn't planning on making another Mesa immediately but my WSBN friends spotted this fabulous panel print at The Fabric Warehouse and as all good sewing friends do, sent me a picture and said "this has your name all over it". Having been fabric enabled I was down at the shop within the next 24 hours buying 1.5 metres of it.

Mesa Dress

After looking at the print for a while I decided that it best that the tall part of the tree should go up to the neckline at the front and back. I had just enough fabric to pattern match and get just the right part of the panel placed where I want.

Mesa Dress


Mesa Dress

I cut the reflection off the panel so the dry grass ended at the hem, so I could successfully wear some dark stockings with the dress without it looking odd.

I made a few changes to the pattern before I cut this version:
  • moved the shoulder seam forward 1/2"
  • dropped the front neckline 3/8"
  • widen the back at the shoulders by moving the armscye out by 1/8" on the back pattern piece
  • widen the hip by 1/4" on each pattern piece, blended down to top the top of the split and up to the armhole.
Mesa Dress


Two super comfy dresses that I've been wearing non-stop for the last couple of months :-)

More photos on my Flickr -->

24 comments:

  1. Amazing!! Yup, shifts are your thing. And awesome treatment of hat border print.

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    1. Thanks. I love the print, but I must say that I don't think I would have made the decision to buy it if I didn't have the enabling help of WSBN :-)

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  2. Ohmygosh that border print! What a find! So perfect for this dress.

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    1. Thanks and it is the most comfy dress to boot!

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  3. Oh my stars -- that print is so amazing. And the dress you made with it is so bold and awesome!! You look gorgeous.

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    1. Thanks so much - sorry the pictures couldn't be better, but both dresses are so super comfy to wear. I think I need to find more great fabric to make some summer versions.

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  4. great dresses and so you. I am going to use tricot knits for lining my new dresses, thanks for the tip

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    1. Thanks. I'm sure you will enjoy the knit tricot as a lining.

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  5. Sandra, that is absolutely stunning! I saw the fabric in the shop too. Will keep my eyes open for similarly amazing fabric!

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    1. Thanks. Left to my own devices I would probably never have bought this fabric, but I absolutely love it now that it's a dress. Interpreting fabric is such an art, that I'm still to learn so much more about.

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  6. These both look amazing on you, and it's great to make things that you wear so much! The border print one is stunning - I really like the way you've used the stripe of the trees on the sleeves.

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    1. Thanks Sherry. I'm glad there wasn't enough clear white fabric for the sleeves otherwise I may have gone that way. I'm super happy with the stripe - it does seem to balance the dress.

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  7. I am madly in love with the tree dress. Must check my local Fabric Warehous to see if they have any more.

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    1. Thanks Gail - there wasn't a lot left on the roll when I bought it, but I haven't seen it pop up anywhere else in blogland or on the streets so it would be interesting to know what others have done with it.

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  8. I have shift dress envy! I must say I really like a shift dress myself.

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    1. Honesty, I could full my wardrobe with these dresses and be completely happy and comfy :-)

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  9. Hi Sandra Have just found your blog and was wondering what do you think of the seamwork magazines. Seriously thinking of ordering and as I love this style. Love your clothes. Sue - Christchurch

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    1. Hi Sue, I do read the Seamwork when it's issued, but I must say I only subscribed for three issues because there were patterns that were of interest to me. I would say that if you've liked at least one pattern from each issue it would be worth it, otherwise the patterns are available for $6each I think, if you only wanted to buy the ones you like. I do think the Magazine is a great idea though and the articles have been great.

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  10. Glad I stumbled across your site! I love the tree print, and good call on putting the full height as the front and back of the dress. Kudos to the lovely dress and will visit your site frequently for inspiration, too!

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    1. Thanks Kayla for stopping by - isn't the online sewing community just full of real inspiration, my sewing list is soooo long because of what I have seen others sew. I could sew full time and still not get through my list.

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  11. Both look great, but the fabric of that second Mesa is just extraordinary! Beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Wendy. I thought I would wear it more in summer given it's white and short sleeves, but the print just doesn't feel summer at all!

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