Recreating Ready To Wear: LK Bennett Tweed Shift

I don't know about you, but since I started sewing my own clothes regularly I can often be found taking photos of things I've seen in shops so that I can recreate them myself. 

Sometimes they're simple things that I think I could make a better job of, or change slightly, sometimes they're things I couldn't afford to buy even if I wanted to. 

This dress falls into the second category.

A few weeks ago I was out shopping with my husband and I saw this dress in the window of LK Bennett. 


LK Bennett Nessa Tweed shift dress
I didn't even go in and look at it because I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it, but I did think I could make it myself. 

It's basically a simple shift dress with added fringed edging to the hem, neckline, sleeve hems, pockets and centre front. 

I dug out an old favourite pattern, New Look 6000, and had a rummage in my fabric stash.  I didn't have anything identical fabric wise, but I did have a couple of metres of cream and black dogtooth check fabric that I bought about four years ago and had never used.  It was one of those purchases when you just want to buy something and I was never quite sure what I was going to do with it. 


My version of the LK Bennett dress.

I've made the simple shift dress version of NL6000 several times so I knew I didn't need to make a muslin.  The only change when cutting out the fabric was to cut the front as two separate halves, with a seam allowance at centre front, rather than cut it on the fold. 

When sewing it up I omitted the front fisheye darts at the waist and just sewed the bust darts.  On the back I sewed the fisheye darts as normal. 

For the fringed trim at the centre front I sewed the two front pieces together WRONG sides together, pressed the seam allowance open and then topstitched down the seam with a wide zigzag stitch.  I then fringed the two seam allowances to create a double row of fringing.  It's not exactly the same as the inspiration dress, but it wasn't until after I'd cut it out (stupidly) that I really thought about how I was going to do the trim.

Here you can see the zigzag stitch I used to secure the seam allowance at centre front.

The rest of the dress was sewn as per the pattern and I added the fringed trim after it had all come together.  I simply cut a strip of fabric, sewed it to the appropriate hem/edge with a zigzag stitch and then carefully pulled out the threads to create a fringe effect.  It was fun, but rather messy.  The zigzag stitch has the added benefit of preventing the fabric from fraying too much. 

Fringed trim on sleeve.

The hem and sleeve trims were added after I'd finished these hems, the neckline trim was added before I finished the neck because I didn't want my black zigzag stitch to show on the bright pink bias tape I used to finish the neckline. 

Neckline finish.

Pockets were added once the dress was complete.  I basically guessed on the size I wanted and marked the position of the top inner corner of one of them with a safety pin while trying the dress on.  Luckily I got the placement right first time!

The pocket blends pretty well into the dress, with just the fringe showing.

This is one of the things I love most about sewing; seeing something I would love to own but can't afford, or that doesn't fit me quite how I'd like it to, and being able to make it myself.

Back neckline and invisible zip.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I turn my ready to wear inspiration into a me-made garment.  I've got lots more of these posts planned and will be doing a monthly series.  I've teamed up with Minerva crafts to bring you Recreating Ready to Wear posts over the next three months, so watch this space.


12 comments

  1. Hi Sam, nice going. The inspiration dress is not really my cup of tea but it might be much better when seen on a body. I like the monochrome on yours much better as it makes the dress interesting and gives it personality, whereas to me the LK Bennet dress looks plain and uniform-like. I hope you'll wear it to the Sewcial sometime so we can see it on you.

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    1. Fran, the inspiration dress is much nicer in real life. The photo doesn't show the tweedy-ness of the fabric well. I'll definitely wear it to the Sewcial when the weather cools gown.

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  2. This is great! I love the inspo dress and you did a great job recreating it!

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  3. I love New Look 6000, it's such a great pattern and obviously quite versatile as shown by your dress. Love the houndstooth fabric!

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    1. Thank you Kristy. It's a great basic pattern, isn't it?

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  4. Wowsers! Your dress is brilliant. You did a great job recreating the original, and I love how the edging looks. It's it great that we sewists can do this?!

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    1. Thanks Lynne! Yes, this is one of my favourite things about sewing.

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  5. Your dress looks fantastic!

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    1. Thank you Gail. I just need the weather to cool down so I can wear it.

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  6. Well done! That dress is amazing! Can't wait to see more in your Recreating Ready to Wear series.

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    1. Thank you Jen. I finished the next one yesterday, so it will be on the blog soon.

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