This is a replay of an online live class which took place on Monday 27th Oct 2025 

 In this 2-hour online class we will show you step-by-step how to take a block/sloper and turn it into a shirt dress design. You can use your own block or use our specially drafted dress blocks (see more details on these below!)

The shirt dress is a wardrobe classic - both for wearing and for practising your pattern-drafting skills, offering a great variety of silhouettes, details and fabric options.

In this class we will be walking you through step-by-step how to draft x3 different shirt dress designs from the same basic block. As we go through each design you will learn all the pattern-cutting techniques you need to make the leap from block to finished pattern ready to sew, building your knowledge and confidence to make the styles as they are or use the information to create your own designs. 

The class will cover: fit, design, finishes and fabrics.

 YOU WILL LEARN:

• A brief history of the shirt-dress showing lots of designs from past and present to inspire you
• The x3 essential techniques of pattern-cutting - dart pivoting, creating panels and slash’n’spread  - and see how they work in the context of a finished design

• • How to transform a dress block/sloper into a shirt-dress design including:
  • X3 different silhouettes,
  • Necklines and collars
  • Fastenings (and how to get away without any!)
  • Sleeves and armholes
  • Pockets
  • Finishing details

• How to turn a design into a useable pattern
• How to choose suitable fabric and haberdashery
• Variations and inspiration for further designs and customisations

YOU WILL LEAVE THE CLASS WITH:

• The skills to draft x3 different styles from beginning to end.
• The knowledge of how to switch out different details to get your own unique design
• The confidence that you can draft your own patterns (it’s not as scary as you think!)
• Access to a friendly forum for questions and shirty discussions both during the live class and ongoing in our online community

ABOUT THE DESIGNS

Dress 1: The Classic Shirt Waister

This dress has classic side darts, a button front and waist seam. Our version has a shirt collar, short sleeves and a pleated skirt but you can customise with various different collars, sleeve and skirt styles. Make it in crisp cotton for a summery 50s vibe or lengthen the sleeves and go for wool for a cosy winter number.

Dress 2: The Belted Shirt Dress

This dress has a slightly a-line silhouette, with the bust shaping pivoted into front and back shoulder yoke tucks. It fastens at the side with an a-symmetric belt that is stitched into the back waist fisheye dart, giving 360 degree interest. Classic collar and cuffs complete the look. This style works well in a slinkier fabric like silk or viscose and makes a real statement when combined with a bold print.

Dress 3: The Bib Front Shirt Dress

This dress has a tuxedo inspired bib-front with hidden bust-shaping, grown-on sleeves and in-seam pockets. The inverted front and back pleats can be soft and easy-breezy or crisp and structural depending on your fabric choice. Lean into the tuxedo feel by adding pin-tucks to the bib front, or embellish with some piping or embroidery.

And that’s just the beginning - once you’ve mastered the techniques you can mix-and-match the details to create an infinite variety of styles!

ABOUT THE DRESS BLOCK/SLOPER

If you already have your own well-fitting dress block then you can use this as the basis for your shirt dress designs (perhaps drafted at one of Alice's Telestia classes).

If not, no worries! Please select the 'class + block' option and you can use our specially drafted dress blocks. These blocks were developed for our BEHIND THE SEAMS course and consist of a separate bodice, skirt and sleeve. They were created using the Telestia system we always use for our patterns to ensure a good fit for most figures. The size range is UK 6 to 26. The blocks are downloadable as a pdf in paper sizes A4, US letter and A0.

What you will need

During the class you will follow along using mini-blocks which we will provide for you to download and print out.

You will also need basic drafting supplies: paper, pencils, rubber, sticky tape, ruler and a tape measure.

How the class works

This is a replay of an online class which took place as a live video meeting via Zoom.

Once you sign up you will receive a download which includes all the details of how to join our ‘mighty network’ where you will be able to view the recording, access the pdfs and ask questions in the online class community space.

The recording will be available to you forever.