Polka Dot Shelby Dress in Lyocell
We just got snow today here in Canada. (But then it got sunny and warmer in the afternoon, so the snow is melting already!)
Personally, light-weight (as in not heavy like sweater; just like a regular shirt or similar weight) long sleeve clothes get a lot of wear throughout the year. I bundle up for winter outdoor activities of course, but the indoors are kept fairly warm everywhere here during the cold season. Heavy layers are usually not necessary indoors.
I was able to make a few long sleeve dresses this fall/winter and I’m very happy about it. This is one of them!
It’s really hard to see in the photo above, but the dress has a back waist tie which I love.
Fabric: Lyocell (Tencel) 100%
Pattern: Hacked Shelby Dress by True Bias (size 14-32 is also available)
Lyocell and Tencel are both made from wood pulp; in fact I believe they are the same fabric but named differently since they are made by two different companies. I read that they have merged into one company though; tencel is now the brand name while lycoell is a general term for the fabric.
Rayon is also a processed (recycled) fibre made from pulp, however, the manufacturing processes are different; as result, lyocell (tencel) is recognized as more eco-friendly and sustainable (from my understanding.)
I like rayon too, in terms of the feel of the fabric, but I prefer lyocell even more. Whenever possible, I try to choose lyocell over rayon.
This fabric comes in a beautiful light blue as well. I made a summer dress with it last year which I’m hoping to share it here soon.
The Shelby pattern has a princess-seam, with the bodice and the skirt pieces attached together (vertically). It’s a very pretty, fluid design that gives soft and elegant look.
However, I decided to make the bodice and skirt pieces separate this time. (It’s hard to see in the photo because of the black fabric, but you can see there’s a horizontal seam at the waist if you look closely.)
I actually made the pattern as is (with some minor fitting adjustments) last year, and overall I loved it. That being said, as a mid-sized short person, the torso part of the dress felt a tad too long. You can adjust the waist placement without making such a drastic change like I did, but I wanted to experiment!
What I did was basically to cut (separate) the bodice and skirt pieces horizontally at the waist. I then shortened the bodice length so that the waist seam would sit on my waist. I adjusted the skirt pieces accordingly so that the seam length where the bodice and skirt meet would match.
By separating the bodice and skirt pieces at the waist, if
I wanted to line just the skirt pieces
or, if I wanted to use a different shape/pattern for the skirt
the alteration will be much easier. I also think I can cut fabric more efficiently this way.
I think the adjustment went well! The torso length is now fitted better for my figure that when I sit down, there’s no more excess fabric around my waist, making it more comfortable.
What I especially love about Shelby pattern is the shape of the skirt. With drapey fabric like lyocell, the movement is so pretty and elegant. I truly enjoy walking in it!
Since
1: I separated the bodice and skirt pieces
2: I lined both the bodice and the skirt
3: The front centre is finished with facings
there were so many pieces to put together! It required some effort, but I’m really happy with the finished dress.
I personally love it when dresses (especially dresses for fall/winter) has lining.
Another change I made was the sleeves. The Shelby pattern comes with classic short sleeves. To make them long sleeves, I used the sleeve pattern from the Closet Core Patterns Nicks Dress once again.
I like this sleeve pattern so much that I used for so many things this past fall/winter.
The classic button cuffs are nice too, but it’s so convenient to have sleeves with elastic cuffs!
You can choose four views with the Shelby: skirt or romper, knee length or ankle length. Lots of variations to choose from!
Apr 17, 2024
