My Latest Make - January 2023 - Simplicity 1609

This week I'm sharing my latest dressmaking project - a 60s inspired Simplicity 1609 shift dress in our Robert Kaufman cotton flannel fabric. This is the perfect project to kick start your sewjo for January! It was a lot of fun to sew with some fun sewing techniques and yet was also a very quick and simple sew. In the video I'll show you the dress, but also share some fun sewing tips with you, which you could use on this sewing project or other future sewing projects. As always you'll find links to our website and all the sewing products and sewing tutorials I mentioned below.

The pattern is a classic 1960s shift dress with bust darts, French darts and fish darts on the back to create a lovely fit. There are options for a Peter Pan style collar and a bow. The fabric is 95% cotton 5% polyester and is a gorgeous plum colour with a fun, subtle multi coloured fleck running through it creating a little texture and visual interest. We also stock Robert Kaufman flannels in a range of other colours and designs including a mini dogtooth, a mini herringbone, reds, turquoise, black and a larger traditional check flannel. I loved working with this fabric so much I'm already planning a skirt in the black colourway. (See links to everything below).

I cut a size 12 and graded to a 14 at the hips and waist. I made a high round back and forward shoulder adjustment and have included a link to the tutorial for you below. I lengthened the French darts for a better fit and also reduced the side seams to 3/8" and the centre back seam to 1/2" for a looser fit to allow for layering. I shortened the hem length and tapered the side seams of the bottom of the skirt to reduce the Aline.

This was such a simple sew, I only needed to cut out a front and back in the main fabric and the lining fabric. There were no other sewing pattern pieces needed for this project so great for a beginner or if you need a satisfying sew to kick start your sewjo.

I started by sewing the darts and shoulder seams in the main and lining fabric then I placed the main and lining fabric one on top of the other, right sides together. I sewed around the neckline and armholes, trimmed, graded and clipped the seams. I pushed the lining fabric through the gap between the lining shoulder seam and the main fabric shoulder seam to turn it through the right way and repeated on the other side. This gives a super neat, professional finish and is a lot of fun too! I've included a full sewing tutorial video in the links below.

I sewed a blind hem using my blind hem foot on my sewing machine and it gave the appearance of an invisible hem without the need for hand stitching. This was the perfect fabric for sewing an invisible hem because it is thicker and has a coarse weave so the stitches are well hidden and it was quick and easy to sew.

All in all I loved this sewing project and would highly recommend the pattern and the fabric.

[clothingalterations]

Very beautiful dress. Great job 👍🌺🌱🌻🌳🌹🌴🏵

[elsafischer]

This dress reminds me of my youth. Great fabric

[nancyk]

Love that dress. I remember making the green version of that simplicity pattern, probably in 1966, white collar and all. I think I will try it again, it is a classic. The fabric you used was gorgeous.

[aleciacope]

Your dress is so you! Fantastic make to kick off 2023!

[kathymannn]

Wonderful! Yet another great make Lucy. Love all the tips. Learning so much from your videos. X

[helenlord]

I love your videos Lucy and look forward to your Friday posts 😀

[michaelgracewatts]

I also love your videos, Lucy. Thank you for sharing your latest make. It looks very good on you....Grace

[marciahighsmith]

You did a great job with this shift dress. I really like the straightened out sides. I own the pattern and didn't remember our dresses jutting out to the side as the pattern shows. You nailed the look. I have on the dress with an oxford cloth blouse in my 7th grade picture. I live in the US and I have no idea how our educational systems differ other than what I learned reading the Harry Potter books to our children.

[dbdesignsandsewingaustrali]

Your dress looks lovely Lucy, great for the cold weather in the UK, Deb🧵🪡💕

[annerobinson]

You did such a lovely job. So professional 😀

[pamelafothergill]

This ‘dress’ really suits you Lucy, I loved it, might have to make it. Love your videos you are very clear with your explanations. Keep up the good work x

[annettecowburn]

I've used that method of turning out a garment and it really does work and looks super neat as you say. Really like the shift dress Lucy.

[tammelyn]

This dress is just lovely! I so appreciate your description of the process and all the tips and tricks you pass on. So helpful!

[joulsw]

Thanks Lucy. Looks like you eliminated the centre front seam?

[patriciabennett]

Such a cute dress! I don't need any more fabric, but you make this flannel look and sound like it would be a treat to sew with! Love your videos Lucy😊❤️

[martainf]

When I have difficult fabrics like the lining I use the cover stitch machine.

[sandrasimpkins]

Beautiful fabric and an adorable classic pattern! 😍 love it

[margaretbrown]

Just made something similar myself, I did the Nina Lee Camden, which again is fully lined but has a bit more complicated construction with the princess seams and waist band. Like you I feel this is a very good addition to my wardrobe.

[allisonjenkins]

Hi Lucy.. love your dress and inspired me to make it. I have come unstuck as the pattern does not have a lengthen line as I need to add about 4cm to the torso area but the darts are making it difficult for me to decide where to slash the pattern. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA Allison

[kathryns]

Hi Lucy, Great dress/pinafore. One thing: I don't understand how, once you have turned the dress the right way round after attaching the lining, you can then undersew round the neck and arms. Could you explain? Are you topstitching? It didn't look like it and if you were, then you would be able to go all the way round, which is not what you implied in the video. Obviously, I am a bit confused and one of those people wo constantly does something wrong - I'm very good at reverse stitching! Also, Love the red dress on the 'dolly' - is there a pattern/video for that?