Shirt Dress {Simplicity 2246}

Fabric used: I used stretch denim with vertical strips. I thought the weight of the fabric would be nice since it didn’t need to drape in any manner. I also though the stripes were fun because it is similar to a man’s shirt. 

Cost: I try really hard not to pay full price for anything, especially at the fabric store. I am without a doubt tempted beyond belief. There was a time that I would hoard all things crafty. It got to be a bit much---in volume---so I made the decision to only buy things that I want to use immediately. Yah, sometimes I don’t get around to it for a while. My 2011 scrapbook for example is sitting there waiting for me. 

The fabric for this dress did not sit around for too long. I bought it from the clearance rack which at the time had an additional half off sale. It ended up being about $3.50 a yard. I bought 3 yards, for a total cost of $10.50. The buttons are plain white ones that were again on sale. The cost for them was $2.40. It does require interfacing, but very little. I keep it on hand, so I have no idea what the actual cost would be.



Pattern sizing/alterations: I made view A of this pattern. I based my sizing off my hip width, selecting up because I wanted a roomy fit. The pattern does provide ease measurements, so make sure to take those into account. I cut my fabric true to the pattern with no alterations, including no alterations to skirt length. I did not want any of the pockets on the dress. First, I’m not comfortable in my own shell and did not want to draw attention to my hips. I also thought that the thickness of multiple layers of this already heavy material would affect the draping. Also, they would not really be functional for me.  

Were the instructions easy to follow? What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The instructions are really easy to follow. Like beyond. The collar is not complicated. I know some have complained about it, but it worked for me. I might have had better results because I used heavy interfacing. The sleeves are cute. For view A, I did not have any problems with the pattern. All pieces matched up perfectly. The design is simple, as it should be; it’s a shirt dress.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? My dress looks very similar to the picture. The one difference is the hemline. The pattern gives two options, a straight or curved line. I chose the straight hem. For the finish I spruced it up by doing a double stitch on the upper seam and then a single for the bottom. Finishing seams off this way will really only look right on a hem that is straight. It can be done on curved items, but there will be some bulk to deal with. 

Would you recommend it to others? If you are new to sewing and want to start making your own clothes, I would recommend this dress. If you sew a lot, the dress won’t challenge you so you probably will be disappointed. It isn’t a challenge. 

Conclusion: I couldn’t fall asleep one night. I started this dress at 9:00 cutting it out and by 3:00 it was finished. Will I make another one? I doubt it. I don’t really like wearing shirt dresses. There is nothing wrong with the design though. One is enough for me.   What I might do though is make view C or a version similar.