Cutting-edge designers and clothing experts say that fashion is cyclical. Shirt dresses were popular in Europe in the 80s, and now they are considered a trend for 2019-2020. This article tells you how to sew a shirt dress with your own hands, and what you need for this.
Selecting a model and material
Below are the main fabrics that are used to sew a shirt dress.
Thick woolen fabrics
Such materials shrink quite a lot after washing, so it is necessary to buy at least with a 10% reserve. In such a product, you can easily walk all autumn and winter. It is suitable for both office work and for walks. The dress looks very good with warm leggings or jeans.
Denim fabrics
The standard cut of the product assumes a straight style, the presence of transformable sleeves and large side pockets. The denim dress is suitable for girls of any age, it can be decorated with buttons or a zipper.
Cotton fabrics
This material is used in many products. A cotton shirt dress is perfect for those who are allergic to synthetics, because the fabric is completely natural. But it is better to buy fabrics with the addition of elastane for good durability.
Classic flax
A soft natural fabric with a slight ethnic look. Linen stands out especially in single-color items or with clear geometry (squares, lines), as well as with a small floral print. When buying beautiful linen-based fabrics, you need to remember about the possibility of wrinkling. The linen structure is soft to the body, but does not look good with all things.
Thin chiffon. This model of the product will be mainly for evening walks. The material is quite light and flowing, so it is better not to weigh it down with sleeves, pockets or small details. It is advisable to construct a pattern with hidden zippers and add an imitation collar.
Famous designers have been using shirt dresses in their work for a long time, below are the main popular models.
Off the shoulder
A dress of this type does not provide for the absence of sleeves, here, on the contrary, long sleeves will look quite beautiful. You can emphasize the waist using a wide belt.
Lace models
A shirt dress with added lace can be sewn in various styles and used for various events. For example, if only the hem is decorated with lace, then you can walk or go to the office in such a dress, if the bodice is completely made of such fabric, then this model is considered evening.
With smell
There are no zippers or buttons involved, so the wrap dress is considered practical.
Attention! But you should be careful with this type of product, because some styles look like a medical gown.
Below is a pattern for a shirt dress for a beginner.
Cutting a straight shirt dress
There is a basic dress pattern, and you can sew such a product according to it. For beginners, you can use an old dress, just edit it a little. Experienced tailors can add a beautiful fluffy skirt, but it will be difficult. Constructing a pattern according to individual sizes is not so difficult if you divide the process into steps.
Basically, all patterns are on the Internet or on handicraft sites. Therefore, it will not be difficult to find something that suits your taste. The forum "Postil" or "Burda" presents patterns of any complexity and with beautiful skirts.
It is very important to take measurements correctly before sewing. And it is better to do this several times, because the size can change. For example, if the first time the chest circumference was 60, and the second 62, then you need to choose the larger parameter.
Fitted Shirt Cut
The length of the fitted product along the back is approximately 85 cm, the shelf is shorter by 7 cm. The length can be adjusted depending on personal preferences.
To make a dress, you can use the classic pattern of a bodice with a bust dart (while adding allowances for the bust).
To construct the back, it is necessary to deepen the armhole by 1 cm and make a new armhole line. Along the center line of the back from the neck, draw down the width of the yoke 9 cm.
Draw a horizontal line. Then, along the armhole line, drop 1 cm down from the horizontal line and draw a line for attaching the yoke, making it rounded. Cut off the yoke.
Along the center line of the back from the neckline, lower down 85 cm. Straighten the side seam and make it rounded.
Cutting and sewing of the product
Below is a step-by-step process for sewing a shirt dress for a beginner. It is recommended to choose linen or cotton as a fabric, without prints or geometry.
Cutting
First of all, you need to prepare all the tools for work:
- fabric roller;
- disappearing marker;
- centimeter;
- threads with needles;
- textile.
It is advisable to wash and iron the fabric before you start sewing. This is necessary so that the fabric shrinks.
When purchasing material, it is better to add 15 cm to the required size for reserve.
Now you need to transfer the pattern to the base of the product. This is done using a disappearing marker. When all the elements are drawn, you can cut out. Cut out the parts strictly along the lines.
Sewing
For sewing, you need a machine with options for straight, elastic and zig-zag seams or an overlock. Before work, you can baste all the elements of the dress with threads. This way, you will have the option to change the sizes after trying on. Step-by-step sewing of a shirt dress.
The first thing you need to do is duplicate the facings, this is necessary so that the dress does not lose its shape. Next:
- process their internal seams using a machine or a zig-zag stitch;
- sew with sides;
- for the shoulder seam you need to fold the elements and stitch;
- duplicate and assemble the collar, sew it into the neckline and decorate;
- sew on the sleeves and finish all edges;
- make processing and sew on cuffs, if necessary;
- The bottom of the dress can be finished or simply folded to the desired length.
Side seams
The side seam needs to be straightened, its length from the waist to the bottom will be approximately 35 cm. This important note cannot be overlooked, otherwise the dress will turn out lopsided.
What to wear with
There are many options for images with such a product. For a walk, you can focus on shoes and choose high heels. This style will suit girls with slender legs, but short stature.
A wide belt looks great on such a product. It allows you to focus all the attention on the waist and emphasize the chest. Curvy women can wear such dresses with thin leggings or stretch pants. If a shirt dress is worn in winter, it is not recommended to weigh down the image with various accessories. You can put on small earrings or glasses. In winter, such products are mainly worn with warm felt boots.
For thin summer dresses, you can use small bags or clutches. In this look, you can not only walk, but also go on a date. For office style, it is advisable not to wear dresses with open shoulders or too short.
Shirt dresses look equally beautiful with jeans and thin tights. It is very similar to a tunic. Some models are sewn with a completely closed neck, such dresses look good with leather jackets.
Attention! A big plus of such a product is that it is suitable for women of absolutely any build and is able to hide figure flaws or emphasize curvy shapes.
A shirt dress can be sewn not only for yourself, but also for a child. Such a thing is quite comfortable, a girl can play, walk or run in it in the summer.
You need to be very careful when buying fabrics. New craftsmen should not buy fabrics that crumble when cut. In this case, you will have to process the edges, which will significantly increase the time. It is also undesirable to use silk for the first works, even experienced tailors cannot always work with it. It is advisable to give preference to chintz or cotton, they are quite cheap and easy to care for. Some use old shirts in their work, this will be an excellent option for honing your skills.
In conclusion, it should be noted that even a beginner can sew such a dress on their own. The main difficulty is taking measurements, but how to do it correctly can be found on the Internet. Experienced seamstresses strongly recommend watching at least three master classes before starting work to understand what you will be working with.
