May 15, 2017

Introducing the Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress!


It’s no secret that the sewing community is fond of shirtdresses, so I’m totally thrilled to introduce you today to the Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress! Are you as excited as I am?!

(Note, this dress was previously called the Montgomery Shirtdress, but we changed the name to avoid any confusion with other patterns).

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress

The Lenox Shirtdress is a classic fit-and-flare shirtdress, with features that have been thoughtfully designed to look absolutely fantastic on curves (and of course, it’s in our usual sizing of 12 – 28 and cup sizes C – H).

What makes the Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress stand out?

  • A gentle V-neck button placket frames your face and looks great on a larger bust.
  • The princess seams on the front and back bodice mean an amazing fit.
  • Short sleeves with a separate hem band.
  • Two collar versions: a traditional collar, or a simple band collar.
  • Two skirt versions: a lovely swishy pleated skirt (which is positively sculptural in mid-weight fabrics) or a simple gathered version.
  • Back princess seams with a built-in sway back, so no fabric pooling in your lower back.
  • A separate waistband which hits at the high waist, and looks equally great with or without a belt.
  • Pockets!
  • A beautiful finish inside with a faced waistband and a burrito-style yoke (and use you can use french seams for a 100% clean finish!)

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

You can use a range of light to mid-weight woven fabrics for the Lenox Shirtdress: chambrays look fantastic, and I’ve also made and seen awesome versions in rayon, linen and even silk.

Here’s my view A version in a classic blue chambray (available as a kit, so you can make this exact dress), in size 18 G/H, graded to a 20 at the waist. I’m 5’6″, and the skirt hits at the top of my kneecap. It goes so well with my new clogs, too!

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Montgomery Dress

Rachel’s wearing a view B blue floral rayon Lenox Shirtdress (also available as a kit), in a size 16 G/H, with the waist raised 1 inch (she’s super short waisted!).

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

20% off “Sewing for Curves” online workshop

The Lenox Shirtdress is classified as an Intermediate level pattern, because the construction is similar to that of a classic shirt, with quite a lot of steps.

However, if you’re an adventurous beginner, you should totally give it a go! You could also enroll in “Shirtmaking for Curves“, my online workshop: the techniques are very similar to making the Harrison Shirt, and it will hold your hand through steps like creating professional-looking collars and doing a burrito-style yoke (the main differences are that it won’t cover the skirt or the V-neck button placket). Use code MONTGOMERY to get 20% off the price (valid through 11.59pm May 21st).

We’ll also be doing a photographic sewalong on the blog soon, so you can see the construction step-by-step.

Cashmerette Montgomery Shirtdress

As always, the Lenox Shirtdress comes in sizes 12 – 28 and cup sizes C – H, and it’s available as a beautifully printed paper pattern, or as an instant-gratification downloadable PDF, which includes copyshop files for A0 and US printing.

Lenox Shirtdress Kits

As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve got four kits for you – and two of them are featured on our cover! All the kits come with the fabric, interfacing and buttons you’ll need, and have the option of coming bundled with a printed or PDF pattern, or just the fabric & notions alone.

First up, the fantastic blue chambray I’m wearing on the cover: is there anything more classic than a chambray shirtdress? (in these photos, the colour on the professional studio photos is the most accurate!). SOLD OUT! You guys move fast! 

Cashmerette Montgomery Dress

Then, we’ve got the bold and beautiful navy floral rayon that Rachel’s wearing on the cover. It has tones of purple, orange and green, and will brighten up anyone’s day.

This light red chambray version is totally on trend, and so pretty as we in the north head into summer.

Finally, that hard-to-find tencel! We sourced this beautiful dark navy tencel and paired it with gorgeous brass buttons for a really sophisticated Lenox. It has the appearance of denim, but with a much softer feel and smoother drape: win-win.  Alas this one also already sold out during the newsletter pre-sale! All the more reason you should make sure you’re signed up for next time 🙂 

I hope you love the Lenox Shirtdress as much as I do, and I can’t wait to see what you make. Make sure you use the hashtag #LenoxShirtdress when you post on social media. What do you think: will you be making a Lenox? What fabric and view will you go for?

13 thoughts on “Introducing the Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress!

  1. Ibijau says:

    I am just super excited for this dress, I bought the pdf the instant I saw it. I’ve got to do a mock up to check the fit, but I just can’t wait!

  2. Miss Celie says:

    Yay, Jenny! I also ordered this as soon as it came across my feed.

  3. erniek3 says:

    From the makes I’ve seen so far, you’ve nailed the fit/flow balance problems with some shirtdresses that some -kaff, kaff, McCALLS – company put out last year. Looking forward to giving you my money when my local shop gets this in. That curved placket ….schweet!

    1. Thanks very much! As usual, we’re always focused on curves 🙂

  4. Melody Lema says:

    HI, I purchased my Montgomery from Upcraft, printed it out, all 50 pages yesterday, and this morning I get a notice that there has been an update to my pattern, and I have to re-print it. Is there any way to find out if this applies to my size, and maybe what pages need to be replaced. I print out on 16 lb. Bond paper, which is expensive, but real nice to use.

    Thanks, a loyal Cashmerette-ite. I have them all, made them all, know what my adjustments are, and love how they fit me. Thank you for a quality product.

    1. Hi Melody! Ah, we sent an email out to people who bought directly, but you didn’t get it because you bought through UpCraft club. So the error was a slightly overlapping pattern piece, and it only affected sizes 24 – 28, and cup size G – H. If you’re in that size range, you would actually be totally fine just adding on a tiny bit of curve to account for the part that’s chipped off (it’s very obvious if you see the piece). Or, you can reprint just page 48. Thanks for your understanding!

      1. Melody Lema says:

        Classy like always, and I discovered it, and fixed it. I cut this out yesterday from a lavender linen that I had in my stash, I embroidered the button placket, sleeve cuffs, and the stand up collar. I went to bed around 11 pm, planning on getting up to finish it, but I couldn’t go to sleep, I was thinking about the dress! Up at 1 am, finished (almost), just needs the hand sewing, and hemming. My husband saw it on, and really liked it. He even said that’s nice, as opposed to his normal, fine! High praise indeed! I know this is going to be one ofor my go to patterns, and I am already planning the next.

        Thank you for taking the time to make quality patterns for us curvy women. I have to add at the waist and hips because I am wide person, but how you use princess seams, extra seams in the back, it becomes so simple to add a quarter inch to each seam, makes sewing fun again.

        Thanks again

  5. Lynn says:

    Is the coupon code still MONTGOMERY has it changed as well?

    1. Lynn says:

      Oh and as a short & busty chick, I am excited to try this pattern.

    2. The code for kits is LENOX now (although MONTGOMERYKIT will still work); the code for the class is still MONTGOMERY.

Let me know what you think!