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Debbie Shore's Dressmaking Studio: Shirt Dress
Moderate |
Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps
Sew an all-weather dress that you'll reach for time and time again.
About the project
You won't be struggling to decide what to wear once you've whipped up this shirt dress. This make-in-a-weekend tutorial is taken from Brogan Allard's book Dopamine Dressmaking. It's such a versatile piece with ease at the waistline, and it's cool and comfortable to wear. Press the the template button above to download the full list of measurements and sizes, as well as the cutting guide. This dress features a grandad collar that gives it more of a classic shirt vibe and there's an optional ruffle skirt tier to take it from midi to maxi if the occasion allows it. This book is packed with projects with fun variations that you can make. For this dress, you can also make a shorter version with a fabulous ruffle collar. For an extra-special make, look out for fabrics that include an embroidered border edge. You can cut the sleeve or hemline along this border to make it a unique feature on your dress! Try: viscose, linen and linen blends, chambray or lightweight denim.About the book
Using simple shapes and in Brogan’s signature style, this book features a collection of classic designs with a playful twist, in UK sizes 6-22. Brogan’s down-to-earth approach takes the fear out of dressmaking as she gently guides you through the projects, which include a simple t-shirt dress, a shirred summer dress, a showstopper party dress and an elegant tea dress, plus variations on how to turn many of these into tops too. The book includes downloadable PDF patterns, step-by-step instructions and illustrations, beautiful fashion photography to give you inspiration and Technique Tutorials covering all the core skills you need to tackle the projects in this book, from gathering to sewing on the bias. Learn how to style your garments throughout the seasons because dresses aren’t just for summer! No matter if you are new to sewing or more experienced, this book will show you how to make clothes you love that you will never want to stop wearing.About the author: Brogan Allard
Brogan is a sewer, fashion-lover and mum originally from Edinburgh, UK now based in Leicestershire, UK. She featured as a finalist on series 8 of The Great British Sewing Bee and has become known for her ultra-feminine style. Brogan creates content to inspire a new generation of 'stylish sewers' alongside sharing sustainable fashion and lifestyle content. From novice sewers to experienced seamstresses and beyond, she shares a little something for everyone and aims to show just how cool it can be to craft! Check her out on Instagram.Tips and tricks
- All seams should be sewn together with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
- Conversions to imperial measurements aren’t always precise as they often need to be rounded up or down, but they do work with the patterns. Stick with either the metric or imperial measurements – don’t mix and match.
- Depending on the look you are going for, you may wish to topstitch down each of the long edges of the placket to give an even cleaner finish.
- Watch our tutorials on buttonholes: Buttons and Buttonholes and One Step Buttonhole Foot. They'll really help with this project.
- And definitely check out our photo guide on Sewing Gathers here. This project uses Stay Stitching, here's how to do it:
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Sizes 6-14 (all sizes): 3.5m (4yd) of main fabric, 150cm (60in) wide
- Buttonhole foot
- Eight 1cm (3/8in) buttons
- Iron-on woven interfacing of a similar weight to your chosen fabric
Stay stitching will be your best friend when it comes to bias-cut fabrics. Stay stitch any neckline edges and other bias-cut edges that may stretch out by sewing a line of stitches on, or just within, the seam allowance.
Use lots of pins! Pinning your fabric in place across the whole length of a seam will reduce any stretching that may take place. Start by matching the fabric edges and any notches before easing in the rest of the seam.
Support your fabric as you sew to avoid stretching. Don’t let your fabric dangle off the edge of the sewing-machine table: make sure it is well supported and being held up as you sew.
If you think your fabric is stretching out as it goes through the machine, try reducing your presser-foot pressure, or switch to a walking foot which will feed the fabric through more evenly.
Member Discount
All Half Yard Sewing Club Members can get 30% off Dopamine Dressmaking by Brogan Allard, (Quadrille, £26.00), with their membership. Just click here for your exclusive offer code!
Photography by Olivia Bossert and Elliya Cleveley.
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You will need:
Equipment
Materials
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Project steps:
Step 1
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Step 2
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