Plum Chevron Shift

I love the chevron prints that are out on the market these days. Many people may say they are "over" the chevron movement but I LOVE IT still. Especially this Moda Purple dots print. I wanted to make something for my daughter that would show offer the print. A simple design with classic lines.

I decided to go retro and make a simple shift with a little girly flair. Here is what you need for this dress:

-1 to 2 yards of fabric
-1 yard lining fabric (I used white cotton)
thread to match

Create your pattern by tracing a well fitted t-shirt. This pattern actually works best with a shirt that is the perfect size or maybe even one size too small. Trace the shirt outline on some packing paper or tissue paper. Then you are going to create a boat neckline. To do this widen your neckline to the shoulders so the shoulder is only about 1 1/2 inches wide. Extend the dress down to the desired length +1inch for hemline  (for a 4T it is about 22inches long.)  Cut the main fabric and the lining fabric on the fold line.

Next create your sleeves adding 2 inches to the top of the sleeve for the puffy effect.

Now you have all your pieces.

Sew the main fabric RST at the shoulders, and repeat with the lining fabric.

Open the main fabric up and press the seams (serge or zigzag for a finished look). Open the lining fabric up and press the seams. With RST pin the main fabric to the lining around the neckline.

 

Flip right side out, press, and top stitch around the neck. 

Now take your sleeves and fold the bottom over 1/4 inch. Press then fold again 1/4 inch. Sew this down to create your hem. Repeat with other sleeve.

Open the sleeve up and make a mark for your gathering stitch. Mind started at the curve of each side of the sleeve. Sew a gathering stitch along the top of the sleeve and gather it to make a puffy top. Then pin with RST to the main fabric with the lining fabric underneath. (RS sleeve-RS main fabric- WS lining fabric. Does that make sense?) Sew the sleeve to the dress.

Now with WST sew the lining pieces together so that the lining hangs free from the bodice of the dress. 

 
This next part is the tricky part. With RST sew the dress up the side seams all the way through the sleeve. Make sure not to sew the lining. 

And you are done! I think next time I will add some elastic to the bottom of the sleeves for an even more puffy sleeve look but I wanted something very simple.

 

Actually the first dress I made was too big for my little girl. She is between a 3T and 4T and I used a t-shirt that is a 4-6T. As I said in the beginning, use a very tight fitted shirt or one that fits perfectly. 

Happy Sewing! Let me know if you have any questions.    

If you are interested in the 5T version of this dress I am selling it in my Etsy shop Today!