New Shirt Dress
I used Simplicity 8014 many years ago to make myself a denim shirt dress. I remember the pattern as being a little finicky, but I loved and enjoyed wearing the finished dress. Fast forward quite a few years ago and the dress is a little on the tight side. In a quest to make the few Big 4 patterns I still have in my stash I decided to try it again. Sorry for the blurry picture:(
I mashed up elements of the pattern. Essentially I was making view D but with modifications (of course). I did not want the curved hem on view D, but the straight hem on view C. Also I wanted the length of view C. I remember my original view D as being just a tad on the shorter length than I like.
After my good luck with the last collar I wanted a collar on the dress. Spoiler alert this collar is okay, but installation was not as easy as on my last collared dress. The fabric I selected was a poplin I purchased on clearance for $3 a yard. All together I think I maybe spent $11 on fabric. I am not out a huge expense if this does not work as planned. Those of you who are thinking doesn't she already have something in her collection that she could use for this test run are not being nice. If you don't have anything constructive to say about my fabric bargain just keep moving sister.
After I sewed the front and back together with the yoke I was getting housecoat vibes. I kept going anyway. The front bust darts behaved as usual. One was absolutely perfect the other wanted to be pointy. I of course did not read the cutting directions perfectly (well actually I did, the fine print indicated only 1 was needed for view D - who reads the fine print on a pattern) so cut out 2 front pockets instead of the 1 pocket piece I needed for view D. This worked out well in the end because the second decorative pocket hid the pointy dart. I do consider these decorative pockets. I put the correct number of pockets on the prior dress and never used this pocket when the dress was in actual rotation.
The pattern has you sew up the sides of the dress and insert the sleeves in the round. This is usually not my preferred method. I put a lovely hem using my coverstitch on the sleeves.
I then attached them as flat instead of sewing them in the round. When I first began sewing I did even know there was such a thing as attaching sleeves flat (what an innocent). Once I discovered the joys of sewing knits on a serger I was all in on the flat sleeve method. I also find it easier to gather the sleeve head when the garment is flat. It is my sewing and I will do what I want. I am in charge of my own sewing.
The collar was okay but I don't think is one of my best ever. No one (except my DH) should be that close to my neck and collar to see the slight imperfections. The directions called for hand sewing the collar facing. Um I think not. I just sewed a scant 1/8 inch seam on the back and called it good enough.
This dress calls for a lot of buttons. You would think I would have the size and color required for the dress. After all I have my inherited grandmother stash plus my own collection. Well you would be wrong gentle reader. I need 9 1/2 inch buttons.
What is the deal lately with buttons? They are almost impossible to find in stores. Hobby Lobby is not selling them at all (the few still left in the store are on the clearance rack for a reason). Walmart had just a few and then Joanns had more but really not enough of any ones I needed. The buttons ended up being a third of the cost of the material. Luckily I did not want to put on white 1/2 inch buttons because I never found them in all my button hunts.
After all that I cannot say I am over the moon in love with the dress. The sleeves are too puffy (they look great on my dummy but I think too puffy in person) and I am not over the moon about how the collar lays. I think these are probably me problems and will not be noticed by the average viewer. I do really like this fabric and enjoyed sewing with it. Had a very nice hand feel and drape.