Hi Friends!
I’m very into sewing for spring right now and this shirtdress was on the top of my queue, so I had it cut and sewn within two days! Just in time to wear it on Easter. I have a backlog of projects that are already photographed to share with you, but being sick for a week and now getting ready for an event later this month have cut into my time. Hopefully, I will start sharing all of them soon!
Source: McCall Pattern Co.
This particular project is the McCall’s 6891 Palmer/Pletsch shirtdress. I’ve had this pattern in my stash for a while as I love the lapel collar and half circle skirt. The sample photo on the pattern don’t do this pattern justice, but that doesn’t matter much to me as I always look at line drawings. This pattern has a classic silhouette and is exactly what I was looking for. I considered sewing this pattern a few years ago, but saw a bad review, so I shelved it, only to come back again and find the pattern to be a wonderful one to work with.
I made View C with the longer skirt from View D. The side pockets stick out a little bit on the dressform, but don’t when I wear it. Probably as I’m filling them out more with my proportions than the dressform does.
The fabric for this dress is the star of the show. It’s the “Bare Necessities” cotton poplin in the Bird’s Eye View Collection from Organic Cotton Plus. This is the first time that I’ve worked with one of the prints from Organic Cotton Plus as my past projects with them have been solid color fabrics. It was hard to choose a print, but this organic cotton peach print made by Cloud 9 stood out to me. It has a William Morris thing going on and I just love fruit prints. Maybe it’s not supposed to be peaches and perhaps it’s oranges, but I like to think that it’s peaches on a peach tree.
I used some pink JHB buttons that I bought at Hancock’s before they closed, which were meant for a shirtdress and I was pleased to see that they worked with this dress.
This fabric was wonderful to work with and perfect for a shirtdress. I originally planned on making a Cashmerette Upton dress with this fabric, but when it came, I felt it would work wonderfully for a shirtdress. It’s crisp, presses well and is lovely to sew with and I’m so glad that I picked this fabric. My second choice was this awesome chambray, which I think I will order sometime soon.
According to the pattern, I didn’t have enough fabric to make this dress by about 1/2 yard. I planned to use the skirt from M6696 and make a mashup, but after I laid out the bodice pieces I decided to see if the circle skirt pieces from M6891 would fit (I don’t cut anything out until I have all of the pattern pieces pinned to the fabric). It was tricky getting the skirt pieces cut as I cut them single layer, but I managed to get them all cut out and I didn’t have to piece the corners or shorten the skirt.
This was my first Palmer/Pletsch pattern, although I have both Fit for Real People and Pants for Real People and refer to both for fitting advice. There is a lot of the same advice included with this pattern, if you need help getting a great fit. I did my normal adjustments to this pattern which included grading it up to about a 26/28, full bicep adjustment and swayback adjustment. I normally lengthen my skirts, but I didn’t need to as this pattern has two skirt lengths to choose from.
I love how retro this shirtdress is. In fact, I have a vintage 1950’s shirtdress pattern that looks identical to this one. The nice thing about using a modern multi-size pattern is that there’s less fitting involved and you can easily grade between sizes to get a good fit. I also prefer a shirtdress with a lapel like this as opposed to one with the classic collar, collar stand, and back yoke. Without those details, it also makes this type of dress quicker to sew. I’m planning to make another version of this pattern without the sleeves and with the shorter skirt for summer.
Note: I received the fabric for this dress in exchange for a review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: McCall’s 6891 in Cloud 9 organic cotton, made by me
- Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
- Earrings: Vintage from my grandma’s jewelry box
- Sunglasses: XOXO
- Lipstick: Besame 1939 Tango Red (affiliate link)
I plan to buy this pattern tomorrow. I love how you look in your peach tree shirtdress. I, too, like the collar. I’ve made several other shirtdresses with collarstands and really don’t like the way the collars fit on me. I have a large bust and short neck and such collars add too much bulk. I like a collar that lies flat. Thank you for reviewing and sewing this pattern. It’s what I’ve been looking for, although I will most likely add a pleated or gathered shirt.
That dress looks so good on you! I love the nice touch of the thin belt, too. I just may have to try this pattern!
Thanks, Annette! I look forward to sewing another version.
So lovely, as usual! 🙂 I love your sewing label, too. Maybe you’ve mentioned it before, but where did you have them printed? I’d love to start putting labels in my handmade garments.
Thank you! My labels are custom labels from the Dutch Label Shop.
Beautiful dress, Tanya! I love the print on you. <3
Thanks, Andie! 🙂
Gorgeous as always. You are just an amazing seamstress and stylist. I look forward to all your posts.
Thank you so much, Lois! 🙂
What a beautiful shirtdress. The fabric is gorgeous and the length looks good on you.
Thanks, Robin! I’m very happy how it turned out. 🙂
Another fab frock! Blue is DEFINITELY your colour, you are glowing in these pics x
Thank you!! I agree with you. I have some more blue and navy in my sewing queue. 🙂
I have been looking all over over for a similar pattern, with what I was calling a camp collar (no stand), but wasn’t having much luck, so THANK YOU! a gorgeous dress, you do so well with fabric/pattern combos!
I have heard it called a camp shirt. So I guess it’s also a camp shirtdress! I also love this design and am looking forward to sewing (and of course WEARING!) another one.
So perfect for Spring ;o) I have been thinking about getting this pattern. If only my shirtdress fetish would translate from buying patterns into actually sewing some more!
Thank you! I know what you mean! I’m also a pattern collector and there never seems to be enough time to sew all of them.
You look fabulous in that dress. Love the fabric. I wanted to make a shirtdress all last summer, but never got to it. This may be just the inspiration I need. Thanks for the review. As always terrific.
Thanks, Christina! I was pleasantly surprised how quick and easy this type of shirtdress pattern is to make.
Yes, Tanya; I believe you are correct in your assessment of the print being peaches. Oranges have a bit of a different growing habit; and the leaves look to be peach leaves as well. Besides, we all know how birds love stone fruit! You are spot on about it being a beautiful fabric, too. What a lovely fabric selection for a perfectly lovely dress. You look fantastic in it; it is most inspiring. I want to make a shirt dress for spring and summer, too. Yours is just what I had in mind.
Yes, I definitely think it’s meant to be peaches, too. 🙂 Thank you! I love wearing shirtdresses in warm weather. They’re definitely a staple.
You had me at shirtdress… and then I saw it was a half circle skirt… #makeallthecircleskirts
This is so pretty, Tanz!!
Definitely! I want another one!!
Lovely, as always!!
Thank you, Lorali!