Yes, Spring is here! It’s time for the annual shirt dress making ritual!

 

I’ve re-used a pattern I bought last year – Butterick 5846.

 

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It’s Forties-style with a gathered yoke that looks just as pretty at the back as at the front. Last year I piped the yokes, but this year I managed to resist that piping urge…I lengthened the skirt a bit to take it just below mid-knee. The buttons are maybe slightly too small, but I couldn’t resist their squareness or the fact that they are the exact shade of red.

The fabric is Liberty’s wool/cotton mix. ‘lantana’ which handles and makes up beautifully and is really comfortable to wear. I lined the skirt and it feels great.

I don’t know what attracted me to this unusual check, but I couldn’t resist it. It seems to trigger a distant childhood memory of the kitchen in the house where I grew up. Our house was built in the early Sixties – all mod cons – and I’m wondering if the formica in the kitchen had a similar design.

The photograph was taken on a birthday (hence the large slice of cake) trip to London for the V & A’s wonderful ‘The Glamour of Italian Fashion’ exhibition. I’m sure it will be getting a lot more wear!