FROCKTOBER - frocks we love: The Dress Shirt, Merchant and Mills

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We're celebrating FROCKTOBER at The Drapery, 
to kick-start your spring and summer sewing!
When you buy any dress pattern plus the fabric to make it, we'll take 10% off the price 
(in store or online using code 'FROCKTOBER' at checkout). 
Plus, we've teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, 
and for every pattern + fabric combo sold we'll donate $2 to this great cause.




We are almost over and out with Frocktober, but for this one last post about a frock we love: The Merchant and Mills Dress Shirt.

Inspired by the shape of a classic men's shirt, the dress shirt is a loose-fitting frock with a bib front and shirt tail hem. It's one of those garments that is easy to throw on over leggings or worn alone, and it really comes into its own when sewn out of lightweight fabrics like linen or chambray.

The Dress Shirt, like other Merchant and Mills patterns we have tried (our review of The Factory Dress is here if you missed it), is a straight-forward sew, but with a few lovely extra details. I often end up learning a clever technique with these patterns. The pattern diagrams are charmingly hand drawn, and it really is worth paying attention to them as they often include small details not present in the written instructions.  


Our version was cut into a tunic length so most of the shirt tail hem was omitted. We used the mid-length sleeve, but there's a short option in there as well. The pattern covers UK sizes 8-18, which seem roughly the same as Australian sizes - it's a loose frock, so there's no precision fitting involved.

There are some gorgeous versions of this pattern doing the rounds of the internets, like this beautiful subtly striped version from Harmony and Rosie. And how about this smoky grey version over at Merchant and Mills? Oh yeah!

Our Dress Shirt was made from a hemp/organic cotton/wool blend fabric that we don't have in stock at the moment (hopefully back in soon), but any of our linens, or organic cotton/hemp fabrics would come up an absolute treat as The Dress Shirt. Our range of Merchant and Mills enzyme washed linens (1, 2) are a match made in heaven for this pattern.

 Here's the pattern cover & back:



Don't forget our 10% FROCKTOBER discount applies to pattern + fabric purchases until October 31! In our online shop, just enter the code 'FROCKTOBER' at checkout.

- Fiona & Jane xx
 

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