How long does it take to make a Shirtdress?
Posted: July 2, 2019 Filed under: Burda Magazine, Dresses | Tags: Burda, Dresses 29 CommentsBefore I go any further may I just say how moved I was to receive so many supportive comments. This sort of response is probably why I even thought of continuing blogging. You are all officially amazing 😘.
Anyway, the shirtdress. It’s been in bits and under construction for ever – or it feels like it. It had been cut out and started when the lovely Sue, the Fadanista, came to visit at the end of May. I was a bit fed up with not having a set of buttons I liked in my multitude of tins which worked so I let it fester. It began to have the smell of a UFO about it so I decided last week that it had to be done!
The details. The pattern was from Burda 5/2010 (yes, it’s been on the mental list for quit a while) and the fabric was a Barry’s bargain table delight. At first sight it looks like any old chambray but it has an undercurrent of orange. The back and front of the fabric are very similar but not the same. That led to some fruity language during construction. I added shaping to the waist, back darts, and side seam pockets.
I’m reasonably happy with the final result, although it is a little bit big. The Management says it doesn’t have the drag lines on the back generally “you must have been standing funny”. What can I say? I have lost a little bulk and changed shape a bit with the work in the gym and the running I do to try to keep my bones strong so none of my old patterns for any more. Now that this pattern has been adjusted I think I may make another quite soon – but I need to let the memory of this one fade a little first!
Check this out – I even marked the pattern pieces and put them away properly before I move on! I’m hoping not to find too many more orphan pattern pieces where I have no idea where they belong. Let’s see how long that lasts…..
I already have plans for another project. Let’s hope it doesn’t take as long to make as this dress 😂.
The Material Lady 
Huzzah- looks like a great addition to your wardrobe- good old Barry’s!
It’s lovely, creases like a b**ch but you have it too so you will already know that. If I hadn’t already sewn the side seam pockets in so well I would have taken this in to fit better 😂
more room for cake!
Great dress and brava-brava to you for sticking with it! Eager to hear what strikes your fancy next. del 🥰
Already cut out!
Great news!
I love that first photo of you – the joy and relief are palpable 😃
What is it with our family photographers? They take our photos and don’t point out that we’re ‘standing funny’ until afterwards. 🙄 (at least i assume it was The Management doing the honours).
It was indeed. And yes, they never tell you at the time *sigh* I was very happy to get this finished – I m looking forward to sewing the next thing now!
Love this, looks so good on you!
Thank you! I’m hoping the next version is even better 😉
Looks great Kim, I like those pockets. I can see one in a light bright linen chambray would work well for your travels. What no travel plans? There’s your excuse! But dear, I have a new light bright dress i need to wear… xx
Hmmm, sounds good. I’m bound to have something suitable in my (seemingly) bottomless stash!
No immediate travel plans but it’s actually sunny here at the moment! Don’t blink 😉
I’m hearing you, every time I congratulate myself on chipping away at the stash, another piece floats into the cupboard! It has a mind of it’s own! Enjoy your sun, peel off the layers and lie in a sunny spot – infrared is so important for general health! X
That looks great! The fabric sounds lovely too; will you wear it with your orange jacket?
I hadn’t thought of that but I will try it and see how it looks. Thanks for the suggestion!
I am a HUGE fan of the shirt dress. Adequate coverage for the mature lady but perennially fresh. I have two both A line and long under which my varicose veins and chicken wing upper arms wobble away unseen. X
I can’t believe you have anything that needs hiding! I recall one of your dresses from your visit and you looked fantastic. They really are exceedingly forgiving garments 🙂
(That wasn’t meant to sound quite as insulting as it does now I read it back 😲. You would look lovely in a sack)
You’ve explained it perfectly – they are very forgiving garments. By the way, next photo shoot of your next shirt dress I’d like to see you kick up her leg a la Julie, The Kindergarten Teacher. X
Is that in the Maggie Gyllenhaal film? I’m lost…..
Yay! You finished it and it looks sensational! A bit of a marathon but you got there and I’m so thrilled I saw this in progress!
A marathon indeed. I’m glad it’s finished, and the pattern has been adjusted for another to be made soon 🙂
I love how you store the pattern! I shall steal that idea of putting a copy of the instructions with the traced pieces.
This is such a lovely shirt dress. I always politely refuse my family members’ offers to photograph for me, but mostly because I just feel like a complete fool vamping for the camera. I prefer to do it in private!
And now that this missed the UFO designation (relief!), what are you planning to sew next?
I’m not usually so organised – but I really need to make this a habit. I’m so tired of finding unidentifiable pattern pieces running loose!
I’ve cut out my next project which I’m hoping to sew today. Another blog post soon? We’ll see 😁
The cool thing about a shirtdress is that they have been around forever and they never go out of style. If I were making one for myself, I’d seek out one with princess seams just to make the bust fit well and the butt look right and for me I need a sway back alteration and curved upper back. I imagine this navy dress will see lots of action with changes of jewelry and scarves and compliments!!!
Too right Mrs M. There are also many variations in style, but all easy to wear. I like mine a little loose but a bit better fitted over the hips than this one.
Ooh this looks great. I have a shirt dress wip which had to wait for more interfacing and is still waiting… Ohps
I thought I’d never get this finished at one point. It’s a good feeling once a project like that is done!
Great design and love the look, just what I need for this weather.
Thank you! It’s a classic design 😀