Sewing pattern?
July 22, 2013 3:13 PM Subscribe
Please recommend a pattern for a simple shift dress.
I am looking for a pattern for a simple Lilly Pulitzer-like shift dress. No zipper! or complicated sewing. I can sew, but not well. I want a simple pattern for a simple shift without sleeves. I prefer no darts or closures, but bust darts and a couple of buttons are OK. I will be using a light weight woven cotton with a loud pattern (like the original Lily Pulitzer dresses).
I am looking for a pattern for a simple Lilly Pulitzer-like shift dress. No zipper! or complicated sewing. I can sew, but not well. I want a simple pattern for a simple shift without sleeves. I prefer no darts or closures, but bust darts and a couple of buttons are OK. I will be using a light weight woven cotton with a loud pattern (like the original Lily Pulitzer dresses).
You can check out reviews of specific sewing patterns at Patternreview.com, and usually preview what it might look like on real bodies/sewn by real people.
Here are the reviews for the Colette pattern suggested by mollymayhem.
posted by annsunny at 3:39 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here are the reviews for the Colette pattern suggested by mollymayhem.
posted by annsunny at 3:39 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Of the big-name brand patterns, Simplicity and, believe it or not, Vogue are fine as long as you take your time and are patient with them and do all the pressing. Many of the chain stores will have monthly / every two month sales on them so you're not paying >$10/pattern.
Annsunny's pointer to Patternreview.com is a good one. (You do have to make an account to see reviews more than six months old) I did some browsing and, for example, Simplicity 6022 (on Patternreview, or Simplicity's Website) seems to me to fit what you're looking for, especially the zipperless (which is hard to find). It's also cheap.
posted by cobaltnine at 3:54 PM on July 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Annsunny's pointer to Patternreview.com is a good one. (You do have to make an account to see reviews more than six months old) I did some browsing and, for example, Simplicity 6022 (on Patternreview, or Simplicity's Website) seems to me to fit what you're looking for, especially the zipperless (which is hard to find). It's also cheap.
posted by cobaltnine at 3:54 PM on July 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
I have made this pattern and just lengthened it to a shift length. It's super easy.
posted by sconbie at 4:50 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sconbie at 4:50 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've been crazy about this dress of late. You can make it with just a plain scoop neck as well, and it has pockets! (Yay pockets). It can be sewn without the sleeves as well.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:32 PM on July 22, 2013
posted by bitter-girl.com at 6:32 PM on July 22, 2013
Best answer: OK, now that I have time for a little research:
Butterick Patterns: 5815, 5211, 5415 all have good reviews, are on sale here thru Friday.
New Look: 6889, 6803, 6068
Simplicity: 2120
McCalls 6465, also on sale with Butterick until Friday.
Most of these links are to the patternreview site. You can sign up for a free membership, if you want. I pay for a membership, but that's because I am keeping track of my patterns.
I didn't link to any Burda patterns, though they are perfectly good. The instructions are sparse, so not as good for inexperienced sewers.
posted by annsunny at 8:18 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Butterick Patterns: 5815, 5211, 5415 all have good reviews, are on sale here thru Friday.
New Look: 6889, 6803, 6068
Simplicity: 2120
McCalls 6465, also on sale with Butterick until Friday.
Most of these links are to the patternreview site. You can sign up for a free membership, if you want. I pay for a membership, but that's because I am keeping track of my patterns.
I didn't link to any Burda patterns, though they are perfectly good. The instructions are sparse, so not as good for inexperienced sewers.
posted by annsunny at 8:18 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not sure if this will help or not, but if you see a pattern that has sleeves, it's very easy to leave them off. The easiest way to finish an armhole is with bias binding. Tutorial, and another, though you can find a good tutorial yourself easily.
posted by annsunny at 3:23 PM on July 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by annsunny at 3:23 PM on July 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
On second look, the dress variation has a zipper, but the blouse doesn't. You may be able to omit the zipper.
posted by mollymayhem at 3:31 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]