Peggy's Sewing Workshop Archive #9:
Shirtdresses, Unleash Your Sewing Dreams.

SHIRTDRESSES

This spring, the latest in dresses is shirts. It's the truth, the best new dress for the approaching warm weather is the shirtdress! This new look borrows the essential elements of shirts: button-down placket fronts, crisp cuffs and patch pockets. But many skip the predictable shirt-weight cotton fabrics in favor of jersey, buttery suede, polyester and elegant silk shantung.

The shirtdress is the next generation of a family that includes the slip dress, the polo-shirt dress, and the sheath dress, each a top-seller in its debut season. The shirtdress traces its heritage to two of the strongest continuing trends in women's wear: the resurgence of dresses and the evolution of shirts. As you know, the shirt has been a reliable basic that sustained women through fashion's many turns. The shirtdress offers the dual advantages of the shirt's versatility and the sheath's one-piece simplicity.

Sew 'n' Sew is offering a rare opportunity in the March/April 2001 issue. With one year's subscription ($24.00), you'll receive our exclusive set of original full sized Signature Pockets -- absolutely FREE! These pockets present a unique fashion front to this season's shirtdressings by featuring a small pocket turned diagonally under a larger pocket.

The beauty of a classic shirtdress is its power to transcend expectations. In silk shantung, it's the working woman's update of the sheath. In clingy jersey, it's the sultry substitute for sheer slip dresses. In printed polyester, it's the hottest thing at high school.

The shirtdress has arrived in universal style, but ultimately unique. Take a glance at these patterns (Vogue Easy Options 2487, Vogue Easy Options 2502, and Butterick 6793), set up your sewing machine and let the threads fly!


UNLEASH YOUR SEWING DREAMS

So what's keeping your from trying that sewing project you've been dreaming about? With one year's subscription (6 issues) of Sew 'n' Sew: The Newsletter for Designing Women, you'll have all the tips, tricks, and secrets to create and finish beautiful garments with ease.

Would you like to take a peek at our March/April 2001 issue? It's better than a front-row seat in a sewing class and it's like having your own personal teacher guiding you every step of the way.

With Sew 'n' Sew by your side, you can tackle that challenging, "Make A New Fabric," you've been reading about. What are shrinkable fabrics doing in your sewing room? Helping you make machine textured fabrics with unbelievable ease!

Line-by-line pattern adjustments will show you how to create small border insets on the bottom of skirts that curve with more detail that you have ever seen! That's why it is so easy to master small pattern adjustments and finish your border skirt faster and easier than ever!

Packed in this single issue, you'll learn the skills, tips, and shortcuts to create a machine textured inset on your favorite skirt. You'll discover smart new twists to traditional techniques and create beautiful strap seams in a fraction of the time!

Why not add a surprise accent with a set of Sew 'n' Sew's exclusive Signature Pockets featuring elegantly mismatched, perfectly judged pockets? Detailed directions simplify any technique. Step by step illustrations make it a snap to pick up new skills. Speedy secrets slash your stitching time in half.

There's more information in our workshop archives, click here!
Have a sewing question? Ask Peggy!