Simplicity Star Sewist Blogger Challenge Dress #1 Curvy Sewing.

So this year I have entered the Simplicity Star Sewist Blogger Challenge. There was a choice of patterns, and I have chosen to enter best dressmaking project

The pattern in question for this category is the NewLook shift dress 6145. I have called this Dress #1 with the anticipation of getting another one done by the end of the month. Will that happen? who knows :)

Honestly I don't think this dress will win any prizes, but I think its quite cute. The fabric I used was the stuff i was given by the Voodoo Vixen team at London Edge (ok, I scrounged it - I'd been after it a long time and when I saw they'd used it as a tablecloth for their makeshift bar - well I had to ask!)

Its quite a stretchy fabric, and I was initially going to make this into a pencil skirt or dress. However I honestly don't think I would wear it like that. I didn't want to go 'sexy' I wanted to go 'cute' so I thought I'd use it for the blogger challenge.

I don't normally wear shift dresses. I have a LOT of dresses, but those I wear (and make) tend to be 50s style with a fitted bodice and flared skirt. I have a big old backside and I prefer it not to be so exposed.

However I thought the shift dress style might not feel too revealing. Whilst its shaped, its not 'fitted' i.e. tight to my body. Because the fabric is stretchy, it doesn't feel restrictive.

Going by the packet, the pattern isn't in my size for dressmaking as it only goes to an 18 (in clothes shops I'm an 18 generally, but for patterns I'm a 22) however there is so much ease in this pattern that I felt I only needed to add an inch on each side in the waist/hip area. I used the size 18 for the bodice area and did not modify it.

I like the wide boat neck style, but I thought I would add some sleeves. Cutaways seems to be the thing this season as well as boho gypsy tops, so I slotted these in. I basically made two rectangles, seamed, added some elastic to the top edge to gather it, and just inserted into existing armscye. Its not that obvious on the photos. Bah!

I also added a patch pocket for no other reason than a) I like somewhere to put my phone and b) I had some pu leather scraps to play with.

The concealed zip surprisingly went in ok. You can't see it anyway :)

I love a bit of piping. I decided that the neckline should have red piping to really make it pop and added the piping to the top of the pocket.. I also couldn't resist some mini bobble trim on the sleeves.

I didn't interfere with the hem. Bobble trim - tempted, but there is such a  think as overkill and its already teetering on the edge of 'my eyes, my eyes'!!

I would wear this with flats/sandals/fitflops/pumps. Its a summer dress and meant to be light and cutesey. Overall I'm happy with it. What do you think?!