Why Simplicity 8546 Can Be The Perfect Shirtdress

It may seem early for some of you, but Easter and Mother’s Day (here in the US) will be here before you know it! So, today I’m going to tell you why Simplicity 8546 can be the perfect shirtdress. It’s flattering and easy to make and very comfortable to wear. This is a versatile pattern so let me break down the details.

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Simplicity 8546 perfect shirtdress front belted — Simplicity 8546

Pattern Details

There are variations for length, sleeve, collar and cut out (cold shoulder) on the pattern. I did make this in the longer version to make the maxi dress. I had actually made this in the Fall of 2022 with this GORGEOUS fabric I was gifted by Minerva Fabrics. Inseam pockets are included in the dress as well.

There is a back yoke and pleat the adds some style and helps with ease of wear as well.

Be aware that the pattern does call for a lot of buttons. I have some resources below that will help you in marking and sewing those buttonholes.

This Dress

The reason I say that Simplicity 8546 can be the perfect shirtdress is because of the versatility. As I mentioned above, those spring holidays are coming soon and many people like to wear a comfortable yet feminine dress. I’m telling you now so that you have time to gather your fabric and supplies to make this one.

Because the fabric is so bold, it’s best to use a pattern that has few style lines and details. That way you make your fabric the star of the show. This particular fabric is a viscose challis that is exclusive to Minerva. It is soft, breathable and washes and dries extremely well. Here is another Minerva exclusive fabric that I used for a different project.

Simplicity 8546 perfect shirtdress back belted

Pattern Changes

The only change I made to this pattern was to close the slit on the sides. On the pattern envelope, the dress is worn as a duster, unbuttoned. I simply closed up the slits and wear this as a maxi dress.

Why Simplicity 8546 Can Be The Perfect Shirtdress

Stylish: This is such a versatile pattern that has many variations. You can certainly find one you like.

Easy: This pattern is pretty quick and easy to put together. The thing that may take the longest is all the buttons and buttonholes that are a part of the front.

Comfortable to wear: In the pictures, I show this both belted and unbelted. There is no belt included in the pattern, but that is easy to remedy if you choose.

Be bold: A bold, colorful fabric is a great springtime option.

All of these items below will help you with this pattern or any pattern that involves making lots of buttonholes!

Simplicity 8546 Buttonhole guage Chalk pencils

*Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links.

Mother’s Day Maxi With Simplicity 1537

This year I decided to participate in the #sewmaxiformothersday challenge. I purchased this stretch cotton sateen from fabric.com. The bold print of this fabric is perfect for creating the look I want. While I don’t see anything like this fabric available now, here is something you can check out. I went through my pattern stash and found this OOP pattern. So I decided to make my Mother’s Day maxi with Simplicity 1537. It’s one of their “amazing fit” patterns that has separate patten pieces for different cup sizes. And with the princess seams, it’s a great way to get a terrific fit in your garment.

Woman wearing S1537 floral print maxi dress

I really like the design of this pattern. As a result of the princess seams, you can create the illusion of a defined waist. I only made one change to the pattern. The pattern calls for a 22″ zipper. Since I didn’t have that, I used a 16″ zipper. The shorter zipper causes no problems getting in and out of the dress. I changed the zipper application to centered rather than lapped. Initially I had done an incorrect lapped application and wanted this easy to install.

You could make the dress longer if you like.

It seems that many people like their maxi dresses to skim the floor. I don’t really like that because it can ruin the hemline of your dress. This way, I don’t have to worry about tripping over it either. This classically designed pattern came out in 2013. One of the reasons I rarely get rid of my old patterns is because I might find that perfect match of pattern and fabric. I think I did that with this particular maxi dress.

This fabric, with its light stretch, has good movement. It washes well and sews up very easily. The stretch just makes it comfortable to wear and move in. If any of you have this pattern, I would give it a go. It has other options for length and sleeves as well.

Conclusion

I’m so glad I finally made my Mother’s Day maxi with Simplicity 1537. This can be a pattern I’ll use again!

Separates Made With Minerva

I was gifted this fabric from Minerva.com recently. It’s a stretch cotton sateen. It washes and dries well and is super easy to sew. I enjoy using fabric like this for outfits like what you’ll see below, because it’s a medium weight that makes garments look fantastic! The patterns used for this outfit are out-of-print (OOP), but you can easily achieve a similar look with a button up shirt and a skirt. So, this post is about my separates made with Minerva.

Top: McCall's 2094
Skirt: Vogue 8295
Separates made with Minerva fabric

What I wanted was the look of a dress, but achieved with separates. Although I do plan to make a shirtdress (and I considered it for this fabric), I wanted more options. With a print this bold, I figure I will give myself the opportunity to break this up.

Top: McCall's 2094
Skirt: Vogue 8295
Belted separates Minerva fabrics

In the photo above I am wearing this belted. That’s a good way to break up the print and add some visual interest to the outfit.

M2092, V8295 top and skirt belted (wide), minerva fabrics separates

In the photo above, I’m wearing this with a wide belt. It’s just a different look rather than the other leather belt.

If you’ve never used this type of fabric, it has a bit of stretch but I think it stitches up beautifully. It’s great for things like this because it allows the garments to have some structure.

McCall's 2094 top made with Minerva fabrics

This shirt pattern is pretty much my go to for this style of top. It has 8 variations, including sleeveless.

Vogue 8295 skirt made with Minerva fabrics

I love the wide band on this skirt pattern. It has some length variations as well. There are also options that are more decorative. Here is a previous time I sewed up this pattern (you might need to scroll down to get to the picture of the skirt). Overall I’m very happy with how this turned out. I love the versatility of this outfit. I can wear it belted or unbelted, tucked in or out, and split the whole thing up! If you want to add some options to your outfits, especially if you want the most from your sewing time, you might want to consider sewing this way. I hope you enjoyed this post on separates with Minerva fabrics. I’ll leave another link below if you want to look at this fabric (or any others they have).