Lenox Shirt Dress

 It's done! Lenox Shirtdress from Cashmerette. Not perfect, but finished and pressed and hemmed. I made this in a linen from Joann's, I think it's 55% linen and 45% rayon. It's got a nice feel, not as stiff as some 100% linen but still that slubby look. White buttons also came from Joanns - I think the pattern called for 13 but I only had 12 so that's what I used. The buttons are fine but not excellent - I might need to find a new button source.

I didn't put a button right on the waist band, the pattern didn't call for it (though it did specify to put a button right at the bust apex which I didn't), but in the future I probably will put in a waist band button because that's a place that I get gaps. Looking at the samples again they all do have a centered button, but the sketches in the instructions don't. I have a nifty scale thing that lets me evenly space buttons which worked great. If I had 13 buttons I could probably get 4 between the neck opening and the waist, and then just carry that spacing down the rest of the front. If it bothers me I'll put in a hook and eye on the inside of the waist band. 

Front view of Lenox dress


Overall I'm pretty pleased. I could definitely have done a bit more fitting in the bodice, I do get diagonal draglines under the bust that I'm not super clear what's causing. And I should probably do a forward shoulder adjustment next time, since the shoulder seam is definitely behind my shoulder point. But overall it's an imminently wearable dress. 

Closeup view of collar on dress form

Overall I'm pleased with the construction. I think my top stitching could be a little closer to the edge of the collar and front bands, and the front band width isn't the most even ever, but they'll do. It was also the first time sewing a button hole on my machine (I think). It has a handy programable button hole setup that should make all the button holes exactly the same length, but in practice it's not perfect. It might just take some fiddling though to make sure I'm not feeding the fabric through ahead of the feed dogs or anything like that. Also I think I might have made the button holes a little small for the buttons - it's kind of a tight squeeze to get them in. 

It has pocketsess!
Side view - pockets!

I can move my arms!

Side view showing arm mobility

Weee!

Spinning in the dress


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