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Dressing Up in the Satara Shirt Dress by Winter Wear Designs!

"Take that dress off mommy... that's a princess dress, and you are NOT a princess," my four year old told me when I tried the dress on for the first time. According to him, I am JUST a mommy. I'll take it though - I like being his mommy, although, I WILL wear my new dress!
"Princess Dress" is absolutely not what came to my mind when I saw this pattern... when I think "Princess Dress," frills, ruffles, and lace comes to my mind, and those things just don't really suit me, but this one does. Let's talk about this pattern! 😉

**Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to the patterns used. If you choose to purchase a pattern using an affiliate link, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you.**

I participated in the "Dressed Up" Blog Tour hosted by Winter Wear Designs. I chose to make the Satara Shirt Dress for the first time for this tour.
I love a lot of things about this pattern!


This pattern is for a ladies shirt dress. It includes a unique collar, a back yoke, princess seams, a 3/4 circle skirt, inseam pockets, and multiple sleeve lengths. The 3/4 circle skirt can be made above the knee, knee length, or high low. There is also an optional tie sash included.

The princess seams on the dress are constructed with a 5/8 inch seam allowance, leaving plenty of room for french seams, if you desire. All other seams use a 3/8" seam allowance. 

The dress has some positive ease in the bust and waist, but there are instructions for taking in the side seams a bit, according to personal preference.


This pattern is drafted for woven fabrics, and many different types will work. You may prefer a fabric with more drape, however, I used quilting cotton with good results. 

My Dress:

When I saw the polka dot cotton print, I knew it was destined to be a shirt dress. I didn't have time to test this pattern when it came out, but I snagged it at release, and have been wanting to sew it. I've been planning and procrastinating, really! When Suzanne announced that April's blog tour would be about dressing up, I knew I had to make this dress happen!
I chose to make a knee length dress. I did use the pocket pieces (which I love). The pockets are deep enough to stick my phone (yay)! I also did use french seams for the construction of my bodice (it looks beautiful inside). 

My bodice had a bit more positive ease than I wanted for my preference, so I took in the side seams a bit more. Next time, I might size down even. 

I don't know why, but I struggled with the beautiful split collar on this dress. I've sewn many traditional collars, but this one was trickier for me! I ended up with one side looking nice, and one looking less than beautiful, but 🤷 I'll wear it anyway. I thought that maybe when I sew it again, I might mash the dress with the button up blouse (Blog Post Here) to get a collar that I'm better at sewing! 

My dress is sleeveless, and the arms are finished with bias tape. I chose to make the top four or five buttons functional (primarily for nursing, because there was enough positive ease to get into it without unbuttoning), and I stitched down the bottom buttons on the skirt through both layers of the placket. It was less buttonhole sewing, AND I don't have to worry about many buttons coming undone, which I like!

So... I do LOVE my new dress! And I'll wear this "princess dress" even though I'm not a princess! 👗👸



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Don't forget to check out all of the other posts on this blog tour! I've seen a few really amazing things so far, and I'm looking forward to see what everyone else makes for "Dressing Up!"

Don't miss out on any of the stops on the All Dressed Up Blog Tour:

Monday 4/22
Suzanne of Winter Wear Designs

Tuesday 4/23

Wednesday 4/24
Patricia of Sew Far North

Thursday 4/25
Rachel of  Violets and Jewels

Friday 4/26
Aurelie of Maglice and So
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Comments

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