Introducing the Amanda Shirt & Shirt Dress Pattern
I’m excited to introduce the next addition to my pattern range: the Amanda Shirt and Shirt Dress!
This pattern is currently with a lovely group of pattern testers, who are busy making the designs so I can troubleshoot any issues before it goes on sale.
The Amanda pattern originally appeared in Love Sewing several years ago and was extremely popular. Its success inspired me to develop it further and add it to my collection.
The pattern has two main options: a shirt dress and a longline shirt. It also offers two sleeve styles — a classic shirt sleeve with a cuff or a straight 3/4 sleeve — giving you plenty of versatility.
The Amanda Shirt and Shirt Dress is fitted around the shoulders for a neat, tailored look and features a classic collar and collar band. A deep pleat in the centre back gives the shirt an A-line shape, while the dress is cut longer and includes optional pockets for added practicality. This adaptability means the pattern works beautifully with a variety of fabrics, from summer linens to cosy winter-weight flannel, and can easily be styled for casual or more formal occasions.
Like all my patterns, the Amanda Dress is named after someone who has inspired me. Amanda was a young girl I taught in South Africa, and her story profoundly shaped my journey as both a teacher and a sewist.
She was 13 when she joined my classes — quiet and scarred by a life she had no choice over. Despite these challenges, she never failed to show up and kept trying, showing remarkable determination.
At the end of the year, the school held a New Year lantern parade, where the whole school took part. That year, the theme was “Make a Wish.” Amanda made a lantern representing her wish: to go to school, a privilege only available to a few. The ladies running the school noticed her determination, and we agreed to save any money from the sale of her stitched projects to fund her education.
The cost of a year’s schooling was about £20. Amanda continued sewing small projects, even as others moved on to more advanced work. By the time I left South Africa, she had sold enough to fund at least one year of schooling.
I still vividly remember the day I saw her in her school uniform — a smart shirt, tie, and blazer. The timid little girl I first met stood there beaming from ear to ear, radiating a new confidence. I felt immensely proud. That moment taught me the true power of sewing — its ability to transform lives, not just wardrobes.
The Amanda Shirt and Shirt Dress pattern carries that same spirit: practical, versatile, and inspired by courage and determination.
