Happy on a Bed of Roses - Sew Over It - Vintage Shirt Dress

Wednesday 3 June 2015


Hey Guys and Gals,

Well I know FOR SURE this dress must have popping up at some point on your feed today, but I thought I'd poke my head into the circle and show you mine too!


If you haven't been reading your feed today, this is the latest pattern release from the girls over at Sew Over It, The Vintage Shirt Dress. I have been eyeing this dress up since last Summer, when I saw the shop sample of this dress on a mannequin in the corner. Of course it started it's life as a class at Sew Over It, which of course they still run (Lisa is actually wearing the sample on the class page!). I knew it was going to be a pattern eventually so I had to bide my time! Although the girls have produced a sleeveless version for the pattern release which I'm so happy about.


I helped the girls by testing the pattern a couple of months ago, and I got this lovely blue floral cotton to whip it up. Unfortunately, I think they kept me the last scrap, but there's definitely lots and lots of beautiful stuff in their shop, and I sure as hell had a hard time choosing! I think I would also have loved one of the blossom prints that Lisa used for a Betty recently. You know I love a blossom (seen as my leg is painted in them!).


I didn't attempt any pattern matching, I don't think it's worth it for a print like this! In terms of the pattern, you know I like my skirts long (and if you remember I did that massive hem) so I think I added a lot of length. But that's the easiest adjustment in the world so there were no problems there.


I wore this first to the Imperial War Museum for the Fashion on the Ration exhibition (where apparently Amy (AlmondRock) wanted to rip it off my back haha).


I don't know that I followed the button placement, to be honest I did them all on the morning of the exibition so I did what looked right for me. It was my first time doing them on my machine - the buttons I mean! But I didn't have the right foot, and I made the rookie mistake of not leaving long tails to secure them. I've caught a few falling off since, lol! How and ever, I did really enjoy doing them on the machine, so I'm definitely going to do it again in the future. Just properly next time.


I'm really proud of my armholes. I used my new edgestitch foot and they turned out beautiful! One side didn't even get those weird ripples you sometimes get with bound armholes!! The other did though - no cooperation.


The dress is super comfy. Next time I might give myself a smidge more in the bust. ASIDE: if you worked with me, you would know that I completely overuse the word 'smidge'. It's quite funny, we all have our own catchphrases at work. I know it's a word and not a phrase, but that is definitely one of mine!


I'm actually really proud of how my collar and lapel turned out. I was really lacking in confidence that I could achieve a good result, but I did! I've begun to think collars are my nemesis but I took my time over it and it worked out well. There was something else that worked out particularly well that came to me in a sewing epiphany - I'll share that with you guys later in the week!


My skirt is almost the complete fullness. My fabric was a little on the narrow side (and of course making it longer made the flare wider) so I needed to compromise a smidge (there! see!).


I feel like I might want one more button. I ended up putting an extra one on while I was wearing it the first morning haha. Talk about cutting corners.


I seem to have accessories coming and going in these photos, but in the one above I'm wearing one of the brooches I've been playing around at making :) Although it hasn't completely sated my love of buying... there's a camp, glittery crocodile winging it's way to me as we speak. MMMMMM GLITTER.... Speaking of glitter, I have spent approximately £25 this week on glitter. Clearly I don't have a car, mortgage or children. Whoops.


Last but not least, if you got this far , I have a few surprises to end this post!

The lovely girls at Sew Over It have offered my a free pattern to offer to one of you lovely readers! To be in with a chance to get a free copy, all you have to do is leave a comment before Saturday 6th June at Midnight GMT. That gives you a few days! If you want to comment but don't want to be entered, let me know!

Oh and if you're not lucky, you can get the pattern for 20% off with the code EMMIE20VSD in the Sew Over it Shop for the next week, until Midnight next Wednesday the 10th :) My first code, how awesome!

I think there are a few other surprises coming from the girls later in the week, so look out for those too!

So what do you guys think? Anyone got the itch to get this under their needle?
Also, Marilla said that the cover art looks like Lisa and I! 
How flattering ;)

Emmie xx



20 comments :

  1. This is such a lovely dress - perfect for summer - I do like all the details on a shirt dress!

    Please enter me in the giveaway!

    louise at fate16 dotcom

    Louise

    ReplyDelete
  2. It looks like a great pattern, I've been looking for a nice vintage style shirt dress, so please put my name into the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your dress and how you've styled it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It looks like a lovely pattern - your version and the others that I've seen today are all really pretty! If I'm not lucky enough to win then I might have to take advantage of that discount code!
    nightingaleanddolittle@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh what a gorgeous dress! I was rather excited to see this appear in their Instagram feed last night - looks gorgeous on you, too! :-)

    Would love to go in to win it please - macska at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, how gorgeous is this dress and you? I love the accessories too! I'm a complete Luxulite junky, so am in awe that you can make your own, which is a great reason to buy so much glitter! Fingers crossed for the pattern as I've already earmarked fabric for this!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am entering all the giveaways for this one! You know i love this dress / pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a big fan of all the SOI patterns, I can't believe I didn't see this dress pattern coming! Would love to have a copy. You look great Emmie, this dress style really suits you and the fabric is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've been waiting for them to release this pattern for a while. Your version is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous dress!! I don't know how explain how much I love this pattern... Too much!!! Shirt dress forever ;) Thank you for the giveaway! stitchnpastitch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sleeveless shirt dress, what's not to love? You need some sunshine now to get out there and show it off to the world. i would love to make one. Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am absolutely in love with this pattern! Your version is gorgeous!

    prairiegirl1971{at}hotmail{dot}ca

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the dress and your total look - that hair and lipstick.... I'd like to be in the giveaway too please:)... Francesca dot amodeo at gmail dot com...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love it - and so perfect for the Fashion on the Ration exhibition.

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's okay, you're safe now I've bought the pattern :-) Though your fabric choice is still lush. And I am right with you on the nice deep hem. It looks fab on you. I cannot wait to finish my current project and jump on the shirtdress wagon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Very pretty, and I particularly love that yours is in a floral! Can't get enough florals :) Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your dress, I've made 2 mcalls 6696 but I really like this lower collar. Very pretty fabric choice. I'd love a chance to win the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your dress is just beautiful! I think that the fabric is absolutely lovely, and I wish I could find some that was similar. . . Thank you for the giveaway, Emmie!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That dress looks lovely, especially the collar, simple and classic.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You and the dress both look fabulous! I'm about to start my own version of this dress and I just hope it'll turn out this well. I now wish I'd gone for a flowery fabric - maybe next time. Meike x

    ReplyDelete

I really adore reading your comments :)

Made With Love By The Dutch Lady Designs