Now that the secret has been out for a while, I can share my dress with you. Although I am a little late to the party. However,  I am having a cocktail to celebrate anyway!

Sally, has  launched her latest collection of patterns, for  her company Capital Chic Patterns. The collection includes 4 patterns: Cuba Libre, Gimlet, Grasshopper and Sangria.

I was really honoured when she asked me if I could pattern test for her the patterns and gave me a preview of the patterns. I wanted to test them all, I just did not have the time to do them all. I really like the Gimlet dress. It has a neckline I have not seen before. I would have tested this one as well, but I knew I would not have time to figure out how to do a FBA (full bust adjustment) on the asymmetric bodice. If any of you has an idea how to do it let me know, I really want to make this dress as well. A bust reduction is not an option. Ha, ha…

Then I remembered I’ve had on my To Do List a shirt dress for ages, so the Cuba Libre was perfect. Only little trouble was I used satin to make it and I never made a full on shirt before. You know just a little challenge never hurt anyone. I chose to make the knee length version.As I am trying really hard not to buy fabric (My Fabric Shopping Fast is gone out the window since Sewup North meet up), I had to chose fabric from my own stash. And found this satin fabric. But it was not enough, so I ended up playing around with the pattern pieces to incorporate a different fabric – left over Liberty fabric (for the cuff facing and placket, inside yoke an under-collar and a self made sash to use as a bet). I chose to make a size 10 based on the finished garment measurements. However,  for my next one I will make a size 12. I like Sally’s instructions as there is a combination of diagrams and wording. I am more of a visual person, and i can figure out what to do from the diagrams, and if not sure I just read the instructions then. They are also carefully made so the whole construction is easy to follow.  This was the first time I made a shirt placket as well. So I relied solely on the instructions provided.  As I did not have enough fabric I made a test placket to make sure I get it right. Yes, I actually did it. Usually I don’t bother just go for it, but I thought it would be more difficult than it actually was.  I think the packet on my dress make it more interesting and definitely different. I like different in the details of my clothes. You know just a  little something that it’s not necessarily big, but a little accent to draw attention. For the seams that were not enclosed in a facing or the yoke I used my overlocker to finish the raw edges, you know I like the inside to be pretty as well. I currently use grey thread on my serger. It blends well with the majority of my fabrics. I think I like this to be one of my signatures in my garments, as well as I am lazy and do not fancy changing the threads on every project. Too much hassle! Originally, I used my slim-flex ruler to get my buttonhole placement, I only added 5 buttons. On taking some pictures for Sally to see how my dress looked like, I realised I  needed more buttons, so I doubled up. Again I decided to slipstitch the buttonhole/buttons plackets as I jut don’t like flappy bits. So good, I have come around, and although hand stitching is not my favourite sewing activity, I do prefer the quality of the finishes when I used this technique. I enjoy pattern testing and giving detailed feedback. Yes, the Virgo in me is at home with stuff like that.  Here are some pictures of me wearing my new shirt dress. I wish the warmer weather was back,  so I can wear my dress.