This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Disclosure Policy to learn more.

Hello all!

Its FriYAY! I love Friday so much – its my joint favourite day with Monday :-). I am here to share an Alder shirtdress that ought to have been finished a couple of months ago at least. Alas, it has been a UFO sitting in a carrier back waiting for button holes—oh the shame of it! Anyhow better late than never eh?

This Nani Iro ‘Poncho’ fabric has been in my stash for a really long time (like since the stash began :-)). Being rather precious about it,  of course it was going to made into a TNT pattern like the Alder shirt dress which I have made in blue cotton lawn here and in John Kaldor lawn here . Though I would have loved a bum ruffle – insufficient fabric meant I went for the minimalism of the View A. To add some sizzle I opted to use a scrap of Cotton and Steel in lilac on the under collar. I decided against sewing the full collar because double gauze  is so soft – it doesn’t do crisp corners very well.

Can I just take a paragraph to wax lyrical about how breathtakingly lush this fabric feels against my skin – I feel like I am wearing nothing on at all which is nice yet strange. I digress…pictures…

Nani Iro AlderSpring BBQ 192Spring BBQ 194Spring BBQ 200Spring BBQ 210Spring BBQ 220Spring BBQ 233Spring BBQ 244Spring BBQ 247

Construction wise I french seamed it and used self cover buttons. Speaking of self cover buttons I need to give a shout to Ali who recommended this Universal Tool for Cover Buttons and OMG they were a doddle to make. When I think of how long it took me previously! I love the buttons. They are like little candies. Spring BBQ 301Spring BBQ 304Spring BBQ 305

Spring BBQ 240Again sewing this up was so easy because the instructions are excellent plus there is a sewalong on Grainline website. I cant add anything that I haven’t already said about this great pattern.

I really like this dress because its also one of my first forays into cutting what I consider to be my most precious of fabrics. They say the first step is the hardest; I am hoping it gets easier as I have some Liberty Tana lawn and more Nani Iro. Have you cut into your most ‘precious’ fabric yet? Does it get easier after the first time?

Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing until next time.

Peace and love.

Hila

XoX