27 Feb Oscar de la Renta Stretch Canvas Shirtdress
After making the white jacket (blogged here), McCall’s 6520 turned out to be just the pattern I was looking for; a semi-structured dress with a classic fit and a little tailoring.
I had a difficult time believing this whimsical Oscar de la Renta print is canvas, but now, not only am I believer – I’m practically a canvas convert.
The fabric is from the Mood Fabrics stretch-canvas collection. I knew I’d like any fabric designed by Oscar de la Renta, but I was surprised by its light weight and smooth texture. Mood offers a huge selection of canvas for both home decorating and apparel sewing but limited pieces with stretch.
While this stretch canvas would work well with several garments, including jeans and jackets, I wanted a casual daytime dress.
One that would work with boots, sandals and everything in between.
So let’s talk sewing….
I selected View D. I’m not sure I’ve ever bought a pattern in which the first two views are designed for woven and the third and fourth views are designed for knits, but Views C & D are designed for stretch knits. The canvas met the stretch requirements, giving me the green light to proceed.
Even though the canvas is lighter weight, I knew it did not have the drape of a knit so I decided to fit the back by adding two darts which blend into the fabric.
The fabric reminds me of a dressed up denim and I treated it as such.
To give the dress more of a denim dress appearance I topstitched the collar, cuffs and front bands. I opted NOT to topstitch the sash for fear of making it too stiff. As in the previous jacket I used flat-felled seams for the shoulders and bodice.
Since I fitted the back, the dress wears nicely both with and without the sash.
Many thanks to RTW FASTER, Laura Casey for surprising me with the cute two-toned buttons nearly five years ago! At the time Laura was working for the fabulous Asheville, NC fabric store, Waechter’s Silk Shop (no longer in business 😒). I have waited for the perfect opportunity to use them and this was it!
The moral of this story?
You can’t go wrong with classic style and quality fabric ….not to mention three days of sewing.
Until soon 😊
Jeff Laskowski
Posted at 09:41h, 27 FebruaryVery nice! I love the print.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 19:58h, 27 FebruaryThank you!!
Bobbie Calgaro
Posted at 09:50h, 27 FebruaryThe dress turned out great. I miss Waechters. It was my favorite brick and mortar store and worth the 2 1/2 hour drive from Clemmons to go there.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 19:58h, 27 FebruaryMany thanks, Bobbie! I think a lot of people miss that wonderful store 😒
Rebecca Bagwell
Posted at 09:52h, 27 FebruaryGreat look!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 19:59h, 27 FebruaryThank you, Becky!
Kathy
Posted at 10:25h, 27 FebruaryReally cute dress with fun fabric and a great fit, as was the canvas jacket before this one. Thank you for sharing your pattern and fabric selections. I really appreciate seeing something made up before using a pattern. It is like having a private fashion show in my in box! I having been sewing since age 5 and consider myself pretty accomplished in that area, but you have shared patterns and fabrics that I would not have know about or considered before reading your posts. Again, thank you very much.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:01h, 27 FebruaryKathy,
Many thanks for your nice comment 😊 Are you a member of the Pattern Review Website? If not I recommend it – 400,00 members sharing photos of their clothes and pattern reviews!!
Muriel Toane
Posted at 10:27h, 27 FebruaryGreat dress! I have this pattern but have not made views C or D. Did you make your regular size for the knit requirement?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:02h, 27 FebruaryThank you, Muriel!
Yes, I cut my size for the knit requirement especially since I was not using a knit 😉
Jacqueline Harris
Posted at 10:31h, 27 FebruaryFabulous!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:02h, 27 FebruaryMany thanks, Jacqueline!
Marianne Johansson
Posted at 10:50h, 27 FebruaryLovely jacket ! You are sooo good at sewing ! I’m impressed ! It’s inspiring !!
Xxx Marianne
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:04h, 27 FebruaryAhh………Thank you so much, Marianne🤗
Patty Dorion
Posted at 11:05h, 27 FebruaryThis is a great look on you. Everything came together so nice!! I need to look at shirt dresses more. They look very stylish and seem to never go out of style!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:04h, 27 FebruaryThank you, Patti! I am very pleased and agree with you about shirt dresses. I need more!
Molly Hayden
Posted at 11:08h, 27 FebruaryJust lovely! I like shirt and wrap dresses and have been considering some cottons with stretch instead of knits. Seeing how you did this one is pushing me to give them a go for Spring. I grew up driving past Waechters when it was on the corner, like a big candy store. So sorry it’s no longer one of my big girl destination shops. (But now I have my own!) m
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:05h, 27 FebruaryMany thanks, Molly! Glad you found. a replacement 😉
Maggie ecger
Posted at 11:41h, 27 FebruaryGreat dress and material looks wonderful. You make me want to sew again. A. Maggie
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:06h, 27 FebruaryThank you, Maggie! You should start sewing again – you’re so good at it!
La Riesha Simmons
Posted at 11:43h, 27 FebruaryGreat post. I am such a fan of the color combination on the fabric that you used and the buttons were absolutely perfect for this dress. Happy Sewing Sarah.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:07h, 27 FebruaryMany thanks, La Riesha! I too LOVE this color combo and the buttons were the icing on the cake 😊
Renee Gibson
Posted at 12:50h, 27 FebruaryI love the canvas print fabric and your dress! Would the fabric work well in warmer temperatures in spring or summer?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:08h, 27 FebruaryHi Renee!
Many thanks for your comment. This is a 3-season dress – too bad winter’s not the season for it but it shouldn’t be much longer 😉
peggy leah
Posted at 13:07h, 27 FebruaryI love your choice of fabric. I have so.many shirtdresses.,
that am almost hesitant to admit to that but they are one
of the best looks for me. Sleeve and collar or NO collar and
lengths can change them up so it doesn’t look like I have the same dress on (I HOPE!) Wrap styles work well too.
Can you wear the white jacket with this dress if needed?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:10h, 27 FebruaryOne can never have enough shirtdresses, Peggy!
I haven’t tried the two garments together, but I might need to mix textures since both are rather stiff 😉
Marybeth Tawfik
Posted at 17:45h, 27 FebruaryFabulous!
I miss Waechter’s, too. A lot.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:11h, 27 FebruaryThank you, Marybeth! I think you’re not alone………..
Anna A
Posted at 19:31h, 27 FebruaryThose buttons are beautiful and absolutely perfect with that fabric! I always get
excited when I see a new post from you! Thank you for taking the time to bring us such wonderful inspiration!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:12h, 27 February…… and thank you, Anna for your lovely comment! 🤗🤗
Vanessa Thomas
Posted at 22:49h, 27 FebruaryIt came out wonderfully! I. love the shirt dress on you, and agree that you will have a good time styling it. The print is beautiful, and I have to take a closer look at that pattern.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:14h, 28 FebruaryMany thanks, Vanessa! At some point I’m going to sew this pattern in knit.
Patty
Posted at 02:16h, 28 FebruaryGreat dress! Does the canvas fabric ‘breathe’ ?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:13h, 28 FebruaryThank you, Patty! Yes it breathes very nicely 😉 It’s nothing like what you’d think, other than the texture, and even that is very fine.
peggy leah
Posted at 08:08h, 28 Februaryback again…your comment about possibly making
the shirtdress in knit sparked my interest so when
you make it in knit, a tutorial on buttonholes in knit
would be wonderful!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 13:24h, 28 FebruarySure!…… I’ll be making LOTS of practice buttonholes on that one 😉
Rosalind Clayton
Posted at 08:32h, 28 FebruaryREALLY, REALLY beautiful Sarah!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 13:25h, 28 FebruaryThank you so much, Rosalind!!
Lisa Jones
Posted at 10:24h, 28 FebruaryBeautiful!! What pattern adjustments did you make??
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 13:26h, 28 FebruaryMany thanks, Lisa! I shortened the bodice by 2″, shortened the sleeves and added back darts. 😉
Laura Casey
Posted at 20:32h, 28 FebruaryThanks for remembering my gift….perfect for your classic make. I miss many things about Waechter’s but the button wall I miss the most! Great make, my friend….
Catty Andry
Posted at 07:58h, 02 MarchOh, I miss Waechter;s! And House of Fabric. joanne’s is the only brick and mortar left in Asheville. Your dress is spot on! Great fabric and fit! Love the versatility of it!
Joanne Waldron
Posted at 10:56h, 03 MarchMight have to buy that now, I’m always looking for a good shirt dress pattern. Love it!
Minna
Posted at 14:36h, 03 MarchThe buttons do make a perfect match with this fabric. 🙂