Maison Fauve 'Skyline' Shirtdress Hack in Toile À La Mode Linen

This shirtdress hack was an experiment, and I’m thrilled with the result.  I love the Toile À La Mode collection, but I had to start my toile dabbling with the REVERSE, ‘Safari Bright Royal’.  There is something about this blue . . . 💙  

The Maison Fauve ‘Skyline’ is one of the new patterns in this French Indie Pattern Company's range.  The triangle cut-out in the back yoke is the key feature of the design, and it’s a welcome cool vent for warm days.  The construction is lots of fun and I love it when aspects of the making process keep things interesting.  Could you do this cut-out without a pattern? Well, yes, but I wouldn’t have thought of it without Maison Fauve’s design.  I should note that the pattern also comes with a regular yoke.  

To highlight the back yoke, with the unique triangle cut-out, I used the contrasting ‘Safari Bright Royal’.  The whites in each of these is a little different, but they still work together.  I also used the contrast fabric on the under collar, and the darker collar stand provides a lovely break between the yoke and collar.  I used white top stitching around the triangle, and blue top stitching on the seam that joins the yoke to the back.  I wish I’d used white for both, but I can live with it👌.      

The ‘Skyline’ has several options, including either the classic French collar or the Peter Pan collar.  I opted for the former.  Both have optional pleats, and I know it gets lost in this print, but this is a great feature.  If you’re making a plain colour shirt, this pleated detail will look amazing.  Again, this component is much easier than it looks. 

I didn’t include the pleats all the way down the front, as my Maxi shirt dress is A-Line and I wasn’t sure how that would sit.  To do this I simply folded the pleats in the pattern pieces before I cut out the fabric.  I used 15 simple, white 4-hole shirt buttons all the way down the front.  They offer a little relief from the sea of blue and add a nice vertical line.  I also didn’t bother with the front pocket, and as for the cuffs, I cut them out but whilst trying on the shirt I decided that the three quarters sleeves were much better for summer.    

To make this shirt into a dress was a straightforward process.  I used the Simplicity s8546 shirtdress pattern (View B) as a guide from the waist down.  I tapered the waist on the ‘Skyline’ in a bit rather than following its straight shape.  The fabulous ties are also from the s8546, although I cut mine a little narrower.  I love this type of shaped tie that’s sewn into the side seam. 

 

This was an amazing dress to make, and I will be doing another maxi shirt dress soon, and I’ll certainly circle back to the ‘Skyline’ pattern in the autumn/winter.  

I hope my shirt dress adventures encourage you to do a bit of hacking.  The shirt-to-shirtdress hack is one of the easiest.  The Simplicity pattern is a great guide.  It works well for me as I like a bit of waist shaping, and there is just enough ease over the hips.  The pattern is very long, so save yourself some fabric and measure your desired length beforehand 😉. 

 

Happy Sewing,

Gabrielle xx