I am not much of a summer blogger.
When the weather is warm and the sun is shining I'd rather do other things than sit in front of a screen, writing blog posts. I already do that, the sitting in front of a computer screen, enough for my job. But, this doesn't mean I stop sewing too.
I made this Kalle shirtdress a couple of months ago and as I sit now to write about it I realize there is not much I need to say about this pattern. It's a brilliant pattern. Lots of ladies sewed it and they loved it.
Of course, I had to put my personal spin on it.
First of all, I had to lengthen it. Because I am tall and in the original length I felt it would have been better paired with a couple of palm trees in the background, a bathing suit peeking from underneath it and a healthy tan. In front of my city's Duomo, with my milk-white limbs and in this silk cotton shirting would have looked like I was wearing a longer shirt and forgot my pants. It's all about context, isn't it? Then, instead of the original pocket (which I think looks the best on the cropped version), I put a couple of giant ones that end in a channel through which runs a drawstring.
I can wear this dress, either way, belted or not. I prefer it cinched at the waist. But then again it's the context. With a Panama hat and some sandals, I would probably wear it without the drawstring or maybe with the drawstring inserted but not tied.
When I first posted this dress on Instagram, Wendy did a little watercolor of it :)
The sewing challenge I gave myself with the Kalle was sewing the side seams lapped and flat-felled at 8mm to see if I can make the underarm curve. That bit was a little finicky but I made it. I love this type of seam for shirts and it makes really easy to pattern match because it's all sewn from the right side.
The only thing that I found a bit perplexing about this pattern is the way she chose to design the sleeve cuffs. The joint is at an angle i.e. doesn't flow straight. The instructions are on the vague side about that part. I was tempted to place the cuff seam under the arm but then I checked the pattern samples pictures and saw that seam is indeed over the arm. I did it as instructed, but it makes an angle and I got some puckering too. If it's a design feature is not my favorite.
I like to think my sewing is very precise but clearly attaching an angle to a straight line is not my forte …
Pattern: Kalle Shirt + Shirtdress by Closet Case Patterns available in English and French
Fabric: silk cotton shirting
Size: 4 (ref. measurements 177/84/68/94 cm)
Fitting : none
Mods: I lengthened it, added pockets and drawstring
P.S.: As of yesterday, this need not be a summer only pattern. Heather released a long sleeve expansion, which effectively turns the Kalle into a year-round design.🙂
Thank you for visiting. I would love to hear your opinion and if you like it put a <3 on it!