My new dress! Hehe, seems like I’ve got new stuff coming out every day lately but actually this is not new at all! really, it’s months and months old!! but it is new to my blog here. And the pattern is brand new to the world too, so… “new”, with caveats. The pattern is Closet Case patterns’ newest release, the Kalle shirtdress. I have been SOOOOO looking forward to wearing my version here only like ALL SUMMER LONG, welcoming it into my rotation of little dresses, cos you know how I love wearing my little dresses! I made it back in October when Heather kindly asked me to be a tester for her new pattern. SO I made it, bam! and like a good little tester I sat on it and didn’t wear it, well, not publicly, anyway! waiting for the go-ahead from Heather. Finally!
So, yes, it’s a adorable little pattern, I really love it. Heather says it is her most requested design yet, and I can well believe it! her own personal first white version was utterly delectable and had me all drool-y want-y too! The pattern has three variations; I made the dress version C but with the half-length button placket of version B. Except I used snaps because they were just handy. I also added three pockets to mine, one breast pocket, and two inseam side pockets… my curved-bottom breast pocket is a lot smaller than the one in the final version of the pattern, because the tester version was pocketless and I just added one for fun and visual interest. I see Heather has added a breast pocket to the final version of the pattern, yay! and as for the hip pockets, well I mean, who doesn’t LOVE hip pockets?! Hehe, I tried to not have my hands shoved into them in all my pictures, you know, to show the dress as it’s been designed but they just crept in there every now and again. I’m sorry, it’s just… pockets! I couldn’t help it!
The design is beautifully breezy and very comfortably roomy… I love the cute little cut-on sleeves with a simple cuff, the petite collar has prettily feminine proportions, and the exaggerated lower hemline looks quite dramatic and really cool, imo. That one big box pleat in the back is fabulous, and a pretty dramatic feature too, yes? love how the folds balloon out and down to that gently shaped back hemline. In fact I love all the features and the shape of the dress, full stop. It’s like the perfect little summer shirt-dress. I’m going to wear this one a tonne, for sure, and and probably going to make a tonne more too!
Fabric; a 100% cotton seersucker gingham. This is, um, it’s a little embarrassing… ahem, but it is actually an old tablecloth that I bought from the op shop in Toodyay, when I went there with Sue and Nicki on an alpaca-finding mission, a few years back now! Hohhhh, yeah!! “Tablecloth” might give one the urge to squeal “ew, groooosss!” but I assure you it was well washed, has no stains, and is in fabulous nick. The fabric is actually beautiful; crinkly, crisp and strong, but with a soft lovely drape. They just don’t make tablecloths like they used to!
Alterations: I pretty much made it up exactly to the pattern, because obviously I was testing! and needed to give accurate feedback. However I did do a few very minor little things…
a) as mentioned previously, I added three pockets; a curved-bottom breast pocket, and two inseam side pockets
b) for the lower hem I didn’t bother with bias tape to finish it, just turned up a skinny hem twice and hand stitched it in place. I know bias tape is an excellent choice for curved hems in certain types of fabrics, in fact sometimes it’s just about essential; but I found it just wasn’t necessary for my seersucker. Plus, I wanted my hem to be light and floppy and breezy, without any of the stiffness that comes with the extra fabric and seams.
c) for visual interest, I cut the front plackets, the sleeve cuffs, breast pocket and outer collar on the bias, although the under collar is on-grain, for stability.
d) not an alteration, but I inverted the back pleat on mine, so it’s set the same as for the little cropped shirt version A. Which, by the way, is OMIGODSOCUTE. I need to make one of these!
e) also not really an alteration as such, but Heather has reduced the neckline size by a few inches, so my collar doesn’t sit as close to my neck as it would do in the final pattern.
Note; also an excellent design for cat-cuddling
Sophie!! it’s hard to tell, but she’s being made to “wave” to the camera
Details:
Dress; the Kalle shirtdress by Closet Case patterns, gingham cotton seersucker, also my tutorial for adding inseam side pockets is here
Hat(below); Vogue 8844, ivory corduroy, details and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; made by me! details here
below; before I could “reveal” it I sneakily did wear it once or twice anyway… 😉
location: Bunker Bay, Western Australia
This is so gorgeous! I like your addition of pockets, and the floater hem. I love your use of the gingham tablecloth and see no reason for embarrassment there, in fact you’ve made me rethink a white embroidered duvet cover I just bought – I was thinking I’d use the plain side for quilt making but now I’m thinking the embroidered side would make a lovely kalle shirt dress!
thanks so much Kathryn! ooh, an embroidered shirt dress would be DIVINE!!
I love this dress. And the last photo is a dream dear. Kissssssssss from Spain!!
thank you so much, Elena!
Definitely a very stylish tablecloth! It is a great recycling effort.
thanks so much, Andrea! yes, I believe any piece of fabric in good nick is fair game when it comes to cute little dresses 😉
This looks really like the perfect airy shirt dress for summer days. I love the silhouette on you. I think that it was clever to use the inverted pleat because the side silhouette looks much better than that of the pattern’s example dress. The gingham details are lovely. I loved Heather’s version, too and now I am looking out for the right fabric…
Thank you for showing your version!
thank you so much SaSa! this is a really cute little pattern and as you say, the perfect thing for hot summer days. I’m looking forward to seeing your version! 🙂
Such a fabulous dress out of that pretty blue gingham! Who cares if it was a tablecloth in its previous life, great fabric is great fabric regardless! And ‘Hi there Sophie!’ Waving back to your pretty kitty. 🙂
thank you Lisa! I agree, fabric is fabric! Tablecloths are particularly good to look out for at the opshop because they’re usually the perfect amount of fabric for a little frock! 🙂
My Kalle is on it’s way and now I’m beyond excited seeing yours 🙂 Beautiful Caroline – you always make me smile… your last Closet Case pattern was made up from a shower curtain if memory serves me right 🙂 You are always an inspiration. I had joked with Heather Lou that I was desperate to get back to sewing knits and of course had to order her other newish release – the Ebony. She replied she was looking forward to getting back into wovens and hinted she had a new pattern coming out… oh boy and I had sworn off buying any more patterns! I have so many in my cue I’m positively and literally “closetty” about it 🙂 But when I was notified about the release of the Kalle…well you know what happened – resolution to the wind!
thanks so much Kathleen! I’m pretty keen on the Ebony too, there’s just something about it that is super modern and stylish to my eyes… I don’t know if I can resist! 😉
Love it! I’ve been looking for something new and fresh for cottons – this is great. Adorable!
thanks so much Coco! You can never have too many cute little summer frocks imo, and it’s fun to find a new style. I really love this one 🙂
This is super cute. I never would have guessed the fabric came from a tablecloth.
thanks Sarah! 🙂
This looks fabulous on you. I wasn’t even aware of this pattern and it just screams summer in a gingham.
thanks Shirley! it’s a fairly new pattern, I love each of the three lengths, so am bound to make some more myself! Also, gingham IS like the perfect summery fabric, yes?! 🙂
OH gingham, how I love thee! LOVE your dress so much! The pattern! The fabric! Sings summer to me! I can’t wait to make this one!
haha! thanks Sue, I KNEW you would be up for the gingham challenge… now I REALLY want to see yours… ASAP!
What I fun dress! You’re going to wear it ALL SUMMER LONG, except you can’t because you have so many other wonderful things to wear too. I saw the gingham and thought, oh, Sue of A Colourful Canvas will all over this. And yup, her comment is just above this one. Heh.
thanks Melanie! I’m sure if this was yours you would style it with kelly green tights, and an awesome yellow trench or something… hmmm, *cogs turning* even just thinking about your style is inspiring me to get creative with it somehow. 🙂
I am not sure how I feel about this silhouette for myself but I still think you made yourself a great little dress. I like your alterations and the fabric you choose, looks way to good to spend it’s days as a table cloth! 🙂
thank you Katharina! Yes, I agree, tablecloths are greatly overrated, yes? I’d much rather turn them into little dresses! 🙂
Yes. Really do like this very much. Pockets is a great idea. Might have to make this pattern for indie month!
thank you! I’m of the opinion that if it CAN have pockets, then it WILL!
That is the best use of a tablecloth ever in my opinion! This style looks perfect on that beach, I can see why you were desperate to wear it!
thanks Stevie! I really love wearing this one, so comfy and breezy, in fact it would be great as a cover up for the beach too 🙂
Love your dress and the gingham fabric was perfect for it. It looks so comfy and cool for a hot summer day.
thank you Tomasa!
Perfection! (I prefer the back pleat inverted too.)
thank you Kathy! 🙂
Looks so fresh and that is an amazing shade of blue! I love how ingenuitive you are with fabric repurposing. I thought of you when I recently threw an old shower curtain into a turquoise dye bath–hoping to make some big billowing summery… Something. A shower curtain is a larger piece of fabric than I normally allow myself to buy!
thank you Kristin! Yes, there’s plenty of lovely fabric to be had in tablecloths and shower curtains, not to go to waste! Something turquoise-y sounds perfectly gorgeous for summer… *sigh* 🙂
I love gingham. Your dress turned out so beautiful and looks great on you.
thanks so much Olivia! 🙂
Oh to find gingham of that quaility now, well spotted and a very summery Kalle Shirtdress.