Kalle Shirt & Shirtdress

I liked the look of the Kalle shirtdress when it was first released and loved the versions I saw other sewists post on Instagram. As usual before I make a garment I find blogs of it and take notes of their findings. It is mixed for the Kalle shirtdress, some say they have sized down and preferred the fit and look. While others have made the size as guided by their measurements. I was unsure so decided to make a wearable toile in a brushed floral cotton /viscose. I’ve worn the dress a lot. It fits easily into my ‘throw it on and head out the door mummy wardrobe’. While it’s maybe not the most flattering dress out there for my figure, sometimes I don’t want to feel constricted by my clothes and just want comfortable easy to wear clothes that look good. I liked it so much I pretty much made another straight away, in this lovely Atelier Brunette cotton lawn. As before I made a size 12, no alterations. Except, making the bias binding wider and taking more care when cutting it out. This is because on the first kalle dress it needs the hem turning up because I wasn’t so careful with the bias binding, in my hurry to make it, that it has started to fray where I haven’t caught all the unfinished edges. Making the bias binding wider helped with this. This is the first Closet Case pattern I have made and I loved all the detail in the garment! The collar, and placket and even the finish on the arms, and the curved hem (which is pretty perfect on my second) are beautiful details, which along with the French seams I did, make the dress the best finished item I have sewn. The Closet Case Patterns sew along is great for more detail when required. I can definitely see more of the Kalle in my future wardrobe, next I think it’ll be the cropped shirt, or the Shirtdress again. I do love a shirtdress.
More details on the blog at https://rebeccasstitches.blogspot.co.uk