Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Cashmerette's Lenox Shirtdress

I really like this dress especially since I've been on the hunt for a summer shirtdress pattern. This is The Lenox Shirtdress by Cashmerette Patterns.


Cashmerette Patterns addresses all of my needs for a shirtdress in a pattern without a million and one pattern alterations. Believe me, I know I'm lucky that I pretty much fit them out of the envelope, but dayum it feels good to type that sentence.


One administrative detail, I pattern tested this for Jenny, and this is my pattern test version. A few subtle changes have been made to the pattern that's being offered now. 

So a few things first ~
Fabrics used:
- Ltwt printed denim that I bought from Emmaonesock but you can also find here on fabric.com for the dress body
- Denim from Stylemaker Fabrics for the collar, sleeves, waistline and buttonhole placket

Notions:
9 silver buttons from the collection instead of the 12 recommended. My buttons are a little larger so I spaced them differently.

Construction ~
As I stated before, I made no alterations to the pattern during the construction of the dress. I sewed a size 24 right out of the envelope. If you've been reading here for awhile you know that I really don't like waisted dresses with wide skirts on me. But I really like this one! Probably because I chose the pleated version and not the gathered skirt version.

I did do two things differently than the pattern tells you to. One, my sleeves don't have a cuff on them because I wanted the coverage for my bodacious biceps. Two, I omitted the pockets on this version. Although I reserve the right to use them in future versions.

Other than that, I cut this out and sewed this up in one day. Seriously, one day. So I have no construction pics to share because I just sewed.

Here are a few photos of the dress ~





I will make more of these. Also after seeing the finished dress in pictures, I will probably lower the hem by about two inches. I'm eyeing a yellow striped shirting fabric from the collection that will be perfect for those hot & humid summer days! I highly recommend that you get a copy of this pattern and make one yourself. 

To help you along, Jenny has graciously given me two copies to give away. One is a printed copy that will be sent anywhere in the US and Canada. Another is a pdf copy for anyone outside of the US & Canada. So drop me a line in the comments section of this blog post ONLY (comments left on bloglovin' will not be considered for the drawing) by Monday, May 22nd at 11:59pm EST. I will pick two winners and announce them on Tuesday, May 23rd

Hopefully you will be a lucky winner! 

...as always more later!




136 comments:

  1. Great version of this dress ! Thanks for the giveaway !!

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  2. I really like the fabric you chose. I'm in Canada.

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  3. I don't have any shirtdresses but this looks great. I'm in NZ

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  4. That is not what I am used to seeing you in, I love your fabric use choices, and it looks great on you. Not cutesy cute, just...ah heck. Summer will come, you have made it so.

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  5. Love this on you. I wasn't going to get this pattern as I have 4 or 5 shirt dress patterns, but you have changed my mind. I have a pink plaid seersucker in the stash that would look great.

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  6. This is a seriously great dress on you: you should definitely make more!

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  7. Such a flattering dress and I love the contrast fabric. Another win for you Carolyn. I'm very inspired by you / this pattern.

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  8. Lovely dress, nice giveaway! I'm in Ireland :)

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  9. I saw this on Pattern Review this morning. Looked very intriguing and even more so now that you say this is an 'out of envelope' version. This turned out great for you.

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  10. The shirtdress looks fantastic on you. How great to have a pattern that fits on the first go! I would love to receive the pattern. I'm in S. California.

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  11. I really like this on you. I like the sleeve especially not sure why... it's very flattering on you. I'd love to try a Cashmerette pattern. I'm in Brisbane Australia.

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  12. It is a really lovely dress, very relaxed yet put together! Good work! I am in the UK.

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  13. I find your blog inspirational. This dress rocks on you! The pleats sit so well. The last shirt dress I sewed made me look like a hot air balloon! LOL! That had gathers so I think pleats are the way. I'm in the UK if I'm lucky enough to be selected.

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  14. I don't always comment on your sewing because I am at a much lower level than you, but this dress looks really good on you! I hope you enjoy wearing it a lot this summer!

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  15. I follow all your blogs and am stunned about how you manage to sew such a lot of nice clothing besides bloging and working. It always takes me a lot of time to choose pattern and fabric. But I'm convinced about this lovely dress. I'm applying for the PDF Copy. I'm in Switzerland.

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  16. Carolyn, you wear this dress very well. I love your combination of fabrics. The v-neck is very flattering on you. Super dress!

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  17. The details make it great. I love the pleated skirt option. I am in Florida, USA.

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  18. Wow - that dress looks great on you! I love how you used two different denims...I'll be borrowing that idea for sure. A yellow stripe sounds perfect for summer.
    I'm in the US.

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  19. Love your fabric choice! And love the pleated option on the dress. Thank you for the giveaway. I'm in the US.

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  20. Loving the pleats instead of the gathers & v neck for the win! I'm in Australia. Also I'm totally addicted to your blog, please keep it going.

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  21. I'm so happy I've seen this post. You have inspired me. The pattern cover didn't do it for me but your version has . I think its that the fabric is perfect for you. I'm in Australia

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  22. Beautiful! No gaping, great fit. I need one in chambray!

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  23. That is a very nice looking dress, and the length (from the photos) looks good on you, although shorter than your norm.

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  24. I got my own pattern so please don't include me in the giveaway, just here to say you look fantastic and I can't wait to sew up my own version.

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  25. Great dress, love that fabric!

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  26. This is an amazing dress and it looks fabulous on you!

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  27. I love this dress on you! I was sitting on the fence wondering if it would suit me but now that I see it on you I NEED this pattern. :0). You make such nice things and it's always fun to see what you've been up to.

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  28. Seeing how wonderful this dress looks on you, makes me want to try it for myself. We have similar shapes. (I may have a more full balcony, methinks)


    Thanks for the opportunity!

    print version, I'm USA

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  29. The dress looks so nice on you, and the contrasting fabric gives it a nice little pop! I would love to give this pattern a whirl.

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  30. This dress looks amazing on you! I'm loving seeing this pattern out in the wild. It's making me really want to purchase!

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  31. Beautiful dress! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the pattern. I live in the USA.

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  32. Such a flattering dress! I would love to fit a shirt dress right out of the envelope!

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  33. I have never in my life tried to wear a dress like this....but Cashmerette's reputation of no gaping patterns and your great looking dress are tempting me to try it out!

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  34. Beautiful, I'd love a chance to win this pattern and make it for myself!

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  35. I'm a total Cashmerette addict. I love how well her patterns fit my busty self.

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  36. Wow! I saw this pattern a few days ago in an email from Cashmerette and liked it. But that "like" is now a "love" after seeing your version. I'm always intimidated by all the buttonholes when I look at shirt dress patterns, although I do like them, and would really like to give this a try. I hope you'll consider me for your give-a-way. Thank you.

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    1. Not sure if I was supposed to state that I live in the US.

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  37. Not need to enter me in the giveaway. I just wanted to say I LOVE the way the pleats look and the skirt falls :-)

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  38. Love your fabric combo, and looking forward to your iterations! Jenny dies a great job creating the "tools"and you use her patterns to make awesome garments!

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  39. That is a gorgeous dress. I'm in the US.

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  40. Love this dress on you. Beautiful fabrics.

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  41. Thrilled to hear this fit you right out of the package. Fingers crossed I'm a winner!

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  42. Its wonderful! Great use of fabrics. I haven't tried the Cashmerette patterns yet and this looks promising.

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  43. This dress looks amazing on you. What a wonderful pattern.

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  44. This dress is so flattering on you, it is absolutely slimming, what a great design. My hat is off to you and Cashmerette. I think I will give the Concord T a try. I think this is the first time I've seen you wear something with a defined waist and it looks so good.

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  45. Your version looks great. Great giveaway.

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  46. I did not consider this dress until I saw you make it. I was eyeing the Harrison shirt and dress. in US.

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  47. I love this dress on you! I don't care for pleats or gathers either. I might change the skirt to a gored look, which give me a smooth line at the waist and some flare at the hem, which balances everything!

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  48. I love this dress and I love your mad sewing skills...I love following along with you sewing progression and I love how you actively sew and complete garments...I find you very inspiring..tfs.Abby

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  49. The dress flatters your figure. I've always avoided making a shirt dress but seeing this one looking so nice on you I think I'll try making it with the pleats.

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  50. I love shirtdresses, but have not attempted to sew one myself. I will have to check out this pattern!

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  51. Sew a dress right out of the envelope? That must have felt FABULOUS!
    Reading bloggers like you and Cenetta made me realize that I had to get over the fact that I need to adjust every swingin' pattern I sew. If you want well-fitting clothes, ya just gotta do it. But sometimes it just feels like a chore. Getting better at enjoying the process, and your blog helps me with that. Cheers!

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  52. Carolyn this dress is a real success and I am not surprised that you plan other versions. Thank you for the giveaway and please count me in for the pdf

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  53. I'm not in for the drawing--but just to say you look great in that dress. Waist, pleats and all.

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  54. I love the fabric you used for this dress! I'm very tempted to buy the same fabric and totally copy you! I purchased the denim blue tencel kit, so I have the PDF pattern now. It's the first Cashmerette pattern that I thought could work for my style, so I'm excited to give it a try.

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  55. So glad you posted about this as I had the email about this pattern sitting in my in box. I'm glad to hear it fit you so well straight from the envelope. I have a batik border fabric that I had in my stash to make a shirt dress last summer but never had a chance due to the flooding in our area. I'd love to win the pattern to use that fabric for this! I think it's better than the pattern I originally had in mind. Great look on you too!

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  56. I love this silhouette on you, actually! You should sew this more often!

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  57. USA:
    A definite departure from your usual but I quite like this. I've been hesitant to wear this style but think with the pleats I could pull it off. I'm always concerned what the back view looks like as I've got a goodly sized behind and a gathered skirt doesn't help. I like your fabric choices, especially the your use of contrast fabric. I've some peach floral I think would work well for this as it's heavy enough hand to support the pleats but soft enough for a good drape.
    Blessings,
    Baa

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  58. This pattern was a good choice for you. It's a different look for you, and it looks great. Love the fabric. Can't wait to see other renditions. I live in Ohio, US.

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  59. Lucky you that this pattern fit you right out of the envelope! It looks great on you. I always love a soft denim blue. (Unfortunately, I am outside the size range of this pattern so do not consider me in the give-away.)

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  60. I love this dress on you, it looks great! I have yet to attempt a shirtdress, because like you I usually don't like waisted dresses on me, but you have inspired me to give it a try. Thank you.

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  61. Mine is on the way and I'm thrilled with this new pattern (I actually ordered the printed copy in a KIT!) I had thought when Jenny enticed us with her post over the weekend that this might be one I can actually resist :) but no way could I resist a shirt dress by Cashmerette. Yours has only whetted my appetite even more! Beautiful :)

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  62. It's been years since I've worn a shirt dress (probably middle or high school). Like you, I'm a bodacious gal who doesn't normally wear waisted dresses (unless it's an empire waist) but I love how your looks. I really like the accents of the solid denim.

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  63. Oooo, I would love it. This pattern is on my wish list. (I'm in the US!)

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  64. I have followed your blog for quite awhile now and have learned a lot from you! I have to admit that I have not yet tried a Cashmerette pattern and that I usually am not a fan of "waisted patterns" either but your make grabbed my attention with this one! I would be so delighted to give this pattern a try! Thanks to both you and Cashmerette for the opportunity to win this pattern!

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  65. You look wonderful in the dress--I like how you used the two fabrics. Thank you for the opportunity! I'm in California.

    Rose in SV

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  66. Very nice! It's a cute look on you. I could try out that pattern - it's a good basic. :)

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  67. Very nice! I'd love to be able to make a shirtdress with minimal fitting changes.

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  68. Ohhhh, I love this dress on you! If I could make one that looks half as good I'd be very happy! I haven't had a chance to try Cashmerette patterns as yet, but I'm looking forward trying one soon. Have a lovely day :)

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  69. Love the dress! It's such a neat treat to be able to sew something straight from the envelope! I'm not used to it yet! --Amy Jo @sewsewamyjo on IG

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  70. Shirt dress Swag! I need one!

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  71. What a generous offer! That dress really suits you, and I'd love to have a summery option for when (if) our weather finally warms up.

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  72. Your projects are an inspiration for me. Love the dress!

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  73. I love your dress! I was excited to see this on you as I've not been sure how shirtdresses would work for me, but I think this one might do. Thanks for the giveaway; I'm in the USA.

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  74. I love denim, blue and paisley. You ticked all my boxes with this one! It looks great on you. Nice job!

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  75. This would be adorable in yellow stripes!

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  76. your dress turned out very nicely! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity - I live in Texas

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  77. I would love to give this a try. Agree on future 2 ", although this one is fine. Texas summers would love this one .

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  78. Love the pictures of this dress. Think I will make one also.

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  79. I love all of Jenny's patterns, and this is no exception. Looks great on you!

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  80. After I saw the first picture but before I saw your comment about making the dress 2" longer next time, I was thinking to myself "Carolyn must be trying out a new hem length." I think it looks nice! Would love to make this dress, and will probably do so, even if I'm not the lucky winner of a free pattern. Thanks for your always-great posts!

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    1. Forgot to say I am in the USA.

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  81. Well, that looks fantastic! I was planning to put off buying this pattern because I have quite a queue and thought I didn't need a shirt dress right now... but this looks so good on you I'm reconsidering!

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  82. Oh my gosh, I am so excited! I have been eyeing cashmerette patterns for so long, as like you I think I would be able to get away with no alterations, I am overseas!

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  83. You are so talented. I like the dress on you

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  84. I love your version. Using fewer buttons like you did appeals to me. I love the Montgomery. I would like to wear mine here in SC where I live.

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  85. The dress looks great on you. I like the adjustments you made to the sleeves and buttons. I live in the USA.

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  86. Good look. I also like the pleated skirt. US.

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  87. Luuuv the dress. Greetings from sunny South Africa.

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  88. Your shirtdress looks really great on you!

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  89. I'd like to try the pattern. How do you feel the neckline sits on you? I made several adjustments to a New Look shirt that I might be able to extend/morph into a shirt dress. But, the neckline area gapes away from my upper chest.

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    1. Oh and I like that you can sew it right out of the envelope. I bought three Cashmerette patterns (Appleton, Concord, Harrison), but have yet to sew them. Your dress is quite nice.

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    2. I love my Concord Tee pattern! You should definitely use that one! Still have to make a Harrison Shirt, too.

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  90. Thanks for the giveaway! I am in Oregon

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  91. Love It!
    I had thought about and decided against it for the time being but now
    I even may need to copy your printed/plain denim versions too...

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  92. I really like this on you! And, damn, you made it straight out of the envelope? So fabulous!

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  93. I've just been looking at this pattern, now I need it!!

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  94. I don't think I've ever commented before... I would like to throw my name in the hat for the PDF version.

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  95. Another dress to add to the queue! I live in Florida

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  96. I like this dress on you very much! I like that you were able to complete it in one day. I'm in the USA.

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  97. Carolyn, I love everything about your dress! What a beautiful job you did! Great fabric and I love the contrast!

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  98. Love the pleats instead of gathers. Looks fabulous. Lorraine B Australia

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  99. You look very nice in this dress!

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  100. Love the dress! it looks fabulous on you.
    I would love to receive the pattern and make it for myself. I’m in Belgium

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  101. You make that dress look FANTASTIC! Thanks for the giveaway; I REALLY hope I win!

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  102. Beautifully made. I havery been thinking of making a lighter weight denim shirt dress and the fact that this one was so quick to make is fantastic. Thank you for sharing

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  103. The dress looks great on you, I particularly like the contrasting fabrics and would like to make this for my daughter who always struggles to find something to fit- Sarah UK

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  104. Making it look simple, as usual. One day?!? Anyway, it looks great! Lisa, Israel

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  105. This looks great on you! I love your choice to use both plain and printed denim and your placement of them

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  106. It amazes me how quickly you can cut and sew a dress. I am a fan of your blog. Thanks for sharing. This dress looks really nice on you.

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  107. I really like this dress on you! Isn't fun when you don't have to make a zillion fitting changes to a pattern😀

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  108. It should have read " Isn't it fun when you don't have to a make zillion fitting changes to a pattern"

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  109. I'm anxious to try a Cashmerette pattern. It would be great to not have to figure out a FBA.

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  110. The shirt dress looks great on you - I loved the Turner you made last week and it has motivated me to try it also. The chance to try this shirt dress is too good to miss. God Bless Jacqui from NZ

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  111. I have to agree-this dress DOES look great on you! I'm slowly curating patterns that actually fit, & Cashmerette's Springfield is my go-to top, so perhaps I can make this too

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  112. THAT looks amazing! I'm so excited to try this dress out. I love your contrasting denim. I'm in the US

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  113. Wow, great job on the dress! I am so intrigued by this pattern...

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  114. I love that fabric. I've been looking for a floral print chambray for a different project but I didn't think to look at lightweight denim!

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  115. Love how this dress looks on you. I'd definitely like to try the pattern.

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  116. The new Cashmerette looks terrific on you, Carolyn! I'm definitely interested in making this myself.

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  117. This dress looks great! I keep waffling on picking up the Cashmerette patterns, so I'd love to get the chance to try one.

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  118. Lovely shirtdress. I have a few big 4 patterns but not tried to make one yet. I have the Harrison too. I like the pleated skirt variation. Thanks for the giveaway - fingers crossed. International.

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  119. Thanks for the giveaway. I love shirt dresses and can't wait to make one. Your dress is an inspiration. I am in FL.

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  120. Nice! I love the paisley fabric. It looks great combined with the solid denim. And this dress is really flattering on you. The pleats seem to hang just right.

    I don't like dresses with fuller skirts either - or with waists, for that matter. That's mostly because I don't have one - waist, that is. But I think I'd like to try this one. I'm retired and wear jeans all fall, winter, and spring, but I like dresses for summer. They are so much cooler! So yes, I would love to be added to your giveaway drawing for the printed pattern.

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  121. I really like the way that dress looks!

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  122. I love how you look in a shirtdress. I think you should not lengthen the skirt--this is an excellent length, and lengthening it might make it a little dowdy. Do I see some fabric pooling just above the skirt? Might you consider shorting the back bodice length a bit? Great job!

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  123. Thank you for the review. It's a nice dress and based on your recommendation I'll add this one to my list!

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  124. I'd love to try this pattern. I wasn't crazy about the double princess seam on the last Cashmerette shirt (too much work), but this looks like the perfect basic.

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  125. Your dress is lovely. I've been looking forward to making a shirt dress and cannot wait to give this pattern a whirl. I'm in the UK.

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  126. I like your version. I wasn't sure this dress would look good on me, but I think it definitely has possibilities!

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