DIY cold shoulder dress

A few weeks ago I needed a last minute little black dress.  When moments like this occur, I have a limited amount of time and typically stick to what I know best.  That means fabric I’m familiar with and patterns that don’t require 50 fittings.

The first fabric to pop into my mind was this black textural blended silk.  There aren’t enough words to describe how much I love this fabric.  My only complaint is that it isn’t available in multiple colors.  It sews, irons and cuts like a dream, and with lots of movement and body, it makes for the perfect little black dress.

This dress was made using Butterick 5948 shirt pattern view D with the following alterations:

-Added 10″ to the length

-Added 1″ to the width of the front and back pattern starting under the sleeve to the waist

-Added 4″ to the width of the front and back pattern starting at the waist to the hem

-Faced the arms and the neck

-Added a 9″ invisible zipper

-Remove the cap off the sleeve pattern.  Fold the top edge of the sleeve over 1″ and sew

-Attach the upper part of the sleeve to the bottom of the arm hole

-Cut two pieces of fabric 36″x3″ serge the edges, tie into a bow and attach the bow to the top of the sleeve.