Katie Shirtdress

I love sewing my jewel fabrics, but I need to learn to sew solids as well. This dress taught me that sewing solids doesn’t have to be boring. It also taught me that upping your sewing doesn’t necessarily mean learning a new technique. It may also be adding a notion to your arsenal, in my case a walking foot and a daylight sewing machine lamp. And it may also mean focus on quality fabric, which is the case here. This dress is made of a totally luscious 50/50 wool/linen blend. It was a dream to sew and ease and it’s a pleasure to wear. Enough said, here are my pictures and the review, since I’ll enter the shirtdress contest on patternreview.com.

 

Pattern Description:
THE KATIE shirtdress (SewSewDef) has a high low hem, side seam pockets, collar and bell sleeves.

Pattern Sizing:
XXS-2XL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes the instructions are beginner friendly.
The only thing missing and it’s a detail, is how to proceed when you skip the sleeve bells.
Otherwise I notice I question the instructions less when I “know” the designer (I’ve read Mimi G’s blog for years): I was going to interface the hem facing but I knew it was likely that she had skipped it on purpose and not just forgotten. Now I love the way the hem falls and drapes and I’m sure it would be different if interfaced.
There’s no button placement shown on the placket piece, everyone is to try the dress on find out the optimal placement. I had no problem with that. However, unless I made a mistake during the construction, a button on the collar stand would be useless because it couldn’t be closed: when the left and right placket and collar stand are superimposed, the collar ends don’t abut as they should, they are also partly superimposed. See pic:

The dress is a casual fit so that’s ok for me.
This pattern is beautifully drafted, all pieces matched effortlessly.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Pockets. Always a winner.
The drape. Dope.

Fabric Used:
50% wool and 50% linen in a fishgrat.
A dream to sew.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
No pattern alteration. There’s enough ease that no fba was necessary.
Skipped the upper button on the collar stand (see above) and used snaps instead of buttons.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I’ll probably sew it again in a patterned fabric.

Conclusion:
Winner!