Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress – Sew Over It Pattern

Laura has made a Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress using the Sew Over It pattern.  She has used a fabric that I really love –  Yoshie – which is available in a few really pretty colour ways.  The fabric is on sale at the moment too which is great news – makes it a little cheaper.  I’ve been really excited about these Sew Over It patterns coming in.  Lots of us are beavering away at making various clothes using them.

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

Laura talks about the make here.  “Moving from season to season I find I completely forget how to wear my clothes. Does anyone else out there suffer from this? I’d love to know. You see, I’ve just spent 6 months comfortable in winter styles then, surprise! warmer weather comes around and suddenly I can’t remember how I styled that dress without a jumper and long socks, nor how to pair those shorts with any of the tops I own- even though I made it all work perfectly fine last summer. Suffice to say, clothing wise, this transitional stage is very difficult for me. But when I saw Sew Over It’s Ultimate Shift Dress pattern I thought it looked like just the sort of transitional dress I would need to get me through this confusing time. Thank you Sew Over It- I am saved!”

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

“The Ultimate Shift Dress has a very simple construction and clear instructions which made sewing it a happy breeze. The pattern gives options for both a longer sleeve version and a very short ruffle sleeve version. Initially, I was just going to make the long sleeve version because long sleeves on a short dress felt more transitionally appropriate but then had another idea. Thinking of some of the soft, feminine blouses I have seen online on Korean clothing sites, I chose to make both sleeves which I think turned out quite nice!”

The pattern gives you the option of adding in a sleeve ruffle which Laura did add.  You can see the detail below – it’s a really pretty addition to the dress.

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

It’s bluebell season in the UK when lots of woodland walks take on extra loveliness as you stumble across carpets of beautiful blue flowers.

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

“Liberty Tana Lawn was absolutely perfect for this pattern, it holds its shape when ruffled and gives a soft drape to the dress. The Yoshie print has a whimsical charm to it which I felt achieved just the look I was hopping for and the darker navy background ensured that it wasn’t see through. The pattern does not include a lining, so choosing a fabric that wouldn’t be transparent was important to me. The pattern also included a long sleeve, waist length top version which I didn’t make but would also look super cute in Liberty fabric.”

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

The back of the dress is also really lovely.  The open detail with the button at the top alongside the sleeve ruffles gives interesting detail.

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

“I always like to make changes to dress patterns – can’t seem to leave a plain dress pattern be.  So, I inserted a triangular panel to both side seams, narrow tip at the bust line and widest at the hemline which gave me a comfortable amount of wiggle room. I also added a short ruffle to either side of the triangle panels which match the short ruffles on the sleeves tying the dress design together.  
 
Overall, I am so very happy with this dress! I think with its shorter hemline and longer sleeves it is the perfect season transitional dress to say ‘goodbye’ to winter and a hearty ‘hello’ to warmer weather. I can pair it with tights and boots on a cooler day, as I have here in the Bluebell Wood, or simple flat shoes for the summer.  Sew Over It also have lots of other great patterns available I would like to try- can’t wait to get sewing again soon!”

Liberty Ultimate Shift Dress

Alongside the Sew over It patterns, we’ve also launched the selling of Deer and Doe patterns.

Happy sewing.