Now the dress is completed. The total time taken was 5 hours but this could have been reduced in several ways, not least by taking a few minutes to read the layout instructions at the very beginning of the project!

Comments on construction: The instructions include binding the back sections of the skirt with bias but as it is not seen, it could easily be hemmed in the usual way thus saving four rows of stitching. I did not use a binding foot which meant that each piece of binding had to be stitched twice. The hem on the circular part of the skirt is double folded and involves two rows of stitching. It could more easily and much more quickly be neatened with the overlocker and then machined in place. Bearing in mind that a lot of the bodice edges were on the bias I took great care to ensure that I did not stretch it out of shape when applying the binding. I notice that the back neckline scoop is lower than the front and also because of the weight of all that circular skirt there is a tendency for the dress to pull to the back thereby making the back neckline even lower. The pattern envelope suggests 3 packs of bias binding but I did not use anywhere near as much as this so now have a small stash of black bias binding. Perhaps I will use it together with the half yard of fabric that is also left over from cutting out the pattern.

Comments on fit: I used to have an “Hourglass” figure but I’m afraid the time has run out and I am now more of an “Apple” shape. This being so means that I have had to make an adjustment/”work around” to ensure that I can fasten the dress back and front. To do this I made an extension piece on the front (which comes from the back) left-hand side on which to stitch the buttons for the three button loops.  I balanced up the button loops with a matching set of faux  loops and buttons.   As I could not find just the right buttons, I have used 22mm self-covered buttons which I think are perfect!

On the back (which is an extension of the front) I added two extension pieces to take the button and buttonhole fastening. As I no longer have an hourglass figure it would help the fit of the front if the second body dart was reduced or omitted.  As usual, my bust point is 1” lower than the pattern so the bust dart and body dart points need to be moved accordingly. The armholes gaped at the front and necessitate a dart to reduce the armhole shaping. To counteract the tendency for the back bodice to be pulled down by the weight of the circular skirt, next time I would raise that neckline slightly.

Final analysis: Having made up the pattern once any further constructions should be more time efficient and could reasonably be made in 4 hours. I enjoy the “uniqueness” of the dress (especially the liquorice allsorts print!) and will probably make another in a combination of fabrics, e.g. positive/negative print such as dots or two-tone floral print.

As promised in an earlier post – here is the story of my version of the famous “Walkaway” dress. For this project I checked the time allowed (4 hours) on The Great British Sewing Bee and timed myself to see just how long it takes an “ordinary” seamstress to make this iconic dress. When working to a time limit it helps if you read the instructions first! To begin with I laid out the fabric full width right sides together and pinned the skirt pattern piece before realising that if I laid out the pieces differently I would save a lot of fabric. So…. unpinned the pattern, relaid the fabric and then cut out the skirt pieces separately – as per the pattern’s instruction sheet! Using the suggested pattern layout meant that the dress took a smidgeon over 4.5 metres of fabric, so as I purchased 5 metres of the colourful “Liquorice Allsorts” design I have half a metre left over for another project. Having cut out the pattern and marked all the darts and notches I then set up the sewing machine and overlocker with colour-co-ordinated thread and put a new needle in the sewing machine. Off I went. Stitched the darts front and back and back seam of the skirt which I overlocked to neaten the raw edges by which time I had been working for 1.5 hours. Time for a break……

The Merchant & Mills Dress Shirt design kept popping up on various blogs and Pinterest boards and so I decided to try it. The pattern has been sitting in the pile for a little while. On opening the pattern envelope I was impressed with the quality of the pattern tissue and also the step by step instructions. Before I cut into the lovely linen look fabric bought from Fabricland I decided to run up a test garment using a length of White crinkle Broderie Anglaise cotton fabric. This fabric has been sitting in the stash for at least five years so once it had been laundered it was time that it was stitched up!

I graded the pattern from an 18 to a 22 and cut out the short sleeve version. By following the instructions this dress was made up in a few hours and I am delighted with the result. The length is just right and the Bib front will lend itself to a variety of different finishes, tucks, embroideries etc. The only negative that I found was a little bit of gaposis around the neckline but this I think is due to my square shoulders so next time I shall change the angle of the shoulder seam and I am sure it will be perfect. I look forward to a glorious Summer so that I can wear this dress!

As soon as I have completed the crepe blouse with lace overlay collar and the Cerise Liquorise Allsorts Walkaway dress, I cannot wait to stitch another Merchant & Mills dress shirt in linen look cotton.

Butterick pattern B4790 the “Walkaway” dress was used in week 3 of the Great British Sewing Bee as the technical challenge. It is proving to be as popular today as when it was first released in 1952 (the year after I was born!) The style was christened the “walkaway” dress because it was so easy “you could start it after breakfast …. and “walkaway” in it for luncheon! The simple flattering wrap design and easy construction are what makes the dress so enduringly popular.

For once, I was ahead of the crowd as I purchased the pattern and sufficient fabric for the project back in the Spring of last year. However, with one thing and another, plus the fact that I mistakenly cut into the fabric for a.n.other project, it got put in the “roundtuit” pile.

Having seen the design used on the GBSB and also last week on the Create & Crafts TV channel I was sufficiently galvanised to order new fabric and binding to make up the dress. I have chosen a Cerise background print of liquorice allsorts plus black bias binding from Fabricland. Having stated this fact at the most recent meeting of Sprat & Winkle Quilters the Ladies will now be watching the blog to see how quickly the finished dress appears. Know what my next project should be? However, I have just this afternoon cut out the White polyester crepe for a blouse with lace overlay collar plus a White cotton Broderie Anglaise for the Merchant & Mills Dress shirt, the Walkaway dress is 3^rd in the queue!

I purchased this pretty needlecord from a seller on eBay just a few weeks ago when I was actually looking for Sage Green! Oh well – I loved the colour and print so decided to go ahead with a pinafore dress whilst keeping an eye open for the Sage Green. I hacked the bodice pattern from the Spring flowers shirtwaister dress by re-drawing the scoop neckline, reducing the slant and width of the shoulder seams. I decided to use an “all in one” facing for the neckline and armholes which means that I had to have a centre back seam and leave the stitching of the side seams until after the facings had been attached to the bodice. This is useful when hacking a pattern as it leaves opportunities for adjustment of width at the centre back and side seams. As the fabric was approximately 60″ wide I cut the skirt as 1 and half panels by the length required and decided the make the 1/2 width panel seams line up with the bodice darts. I also stitched the pockets into this panel seam which makes them very easy to get at. I used my usual pocket bag design so that the top of the bag is stitched into the waistline seam and prevents them flapping about inside the skirt. Having completed the bodice I double top stitched around the neckline and armholes before setting the pleats of the skirt. Due to the thickness of the fabric I wanted to keep bulk away from the side seams so the pleats are set in the centre third of the front and back. All seams have been overlocked and the hem was blind hem stitched on the machine. I am happy with the way that the pinafore dress turned out although next time I may reduce the amount of fabric in the back skirt. I have noticed that due to my “wonky” hip the pleats at the right back do not sit quite as flat as the left back but hopefully when the hip settles down this problem will resolve itself.

                 FRONT VIEW                            BACK VIEW                      CLOSE UP OF POCKET BEHIND PLEAT

I cannot think what possessed me to purchase 8 yards of this colourful 100% cotton print from Fabricland, but it has come in very useful for test garments. Having completed the first of the Lisette tunics and as the sun was shining I decided to make a short-sleeved shirtwaister dress. This design is mostly self-drafted with a hack of the collar from a vintage Style pattern 1441 from the 1980’s. I have made up the blouse from this pattern many times and also hacked according to instructions in Threads magazine to do away with the yoke. I drafted the bodice with no darts having decided to model before placing the darts so that they fell in exactly the right place. The sleeves have a smooth cap and I think another time I will increase the sleeve head and add some small gathers. I cut the skirt as two full-width panels and made a centre back seam. I used my favourite in-seam pocket pattern so that the pockets are stitched into the waistline seam and don’t “flap” about inside the skirt. Having quartered the skirt panels I then lined them up with the side seams of the bodice and stitched together. It took quite a bit of “finessing” to get the waist seam to reflect my actual waistline correctly as I have a pronounced sway back. I needed 12 buttons for the button-thru look and should have checked my button stash first! I had only 10 buttons the same so had to add another 2 in the same colour but slightly different! But who will notice? They blend in so well with the floral pattern of the fabric and if anyone does comment I shall just say it is down to “quirkiness” of the dressmaker!

       Original collar pattern