Modern Sewing Co Celia Dress

Modern Sewing Co are a relatively new pattern company. The founder, Hetti, owned a small London based clothing brand, Henri London, and during the pandemic wound that business down and began to focus on the home-sewing market.

The first pattern I made from Modern Sewing Co was their Worker Trousers (I still need to blog these!). I really liked the little extra details so when Celia was released I was quick to snap it up.

Celia is a relaxed shirt dress with some delicate details. It is slightly A-line in shape, with a loose waist. There are gathers at the shoulders and centre back. The waist is shaped with a tie belt. There are in-seam pockets and the length is midi to ankle length depending on your height. I’m 5’8” and didn’t alter the pattern.

The first thing to say is I should probably have cut a larger size so that there is more ease. I wear the dress a lot as it is and it feels comfortable, but looking at these photos makes me think it would hang a bit better if it was slightly looser.

I made this dress at the Crafty Sewing Camp (which is held in Leicestershire every year and run by Crafty Sew and So). It was a running joke in my sewing room that I was making a Lab coat, because that is what it was looking like as I was sewing.

However, once I got the buttons on and the tie belt it morphed into a shirt dress. The fabric I used is a cotton chambray that I’ve had in my stash for well over 5 years. I chose to finally use it because my sister bought a beautiful pale blue shirt dress and was swanning around Glasgow in it last time I visited her, and I knew I needed something similar in my wardrobe.

The pattern is great, with clear illustrated instructions. I think some prior sewing knowledge would be useful before making this, as there are a few techniques like the collar, placket and 2 part sleeve that are a little more complicated / involved.

I’ve already cut out another version of this dress in a stripy linen, which may not seem autumn appropriate, but I’m planning to layer it with cardigans and jackets and make it work hard in my wardrobe!