Let's draft together the pattern for this unusual shirt dress.
It's an interesting manipulation with a boxy shape at top: drop shoulder and loose fit at bust, pleats at waist that create skirt panels. Plus, a two pieces sleeve.
It's a good pattern drafting exercise!
You can sew it in any medium weight slightly stiff fabric as denim.
To draft the pattern, start from a basic block with darts.
Trace a copy of your basic block with darts and manipulate shoulder line first:
More details of drop shoulder patterns are in our Basic Blocks course – check it here if you didn’t join yet!
Here is a focus on shoulder area.
Close front shoulder dart by 1/3 of its width – as the dress should not be too tight at the high bust.
Drop armhole by 7 to 8cm and move armpit point outwards by 3 to 5cm on both back and front.
Draw the new shoulder/armhole/side line: it should look like this.
Add a 2 pieces collar and your pattern is ready!
For side slits, we suggest joining main pieces at side seam to draw half a U on back and half on front and still being sure you like the final shape 😉
If you sew it in denim or similar fabric, we suggest to topstitch all lines 😉
Depending on the fabric you might want to add a lightweight interlining to outer cuff, collar and button stand.
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