D.I.Y Ankara Shirt dress with McCall’s 6891

I love shirt dresses. I mean really love shirt dresses. So why not an Ankara shirt dress? For years I admired them in many stores, but could never find the perfect fit. They were either too long, too short, too loose in the top, or just did not fit right. So when I found this McCall’s pattern, I could not pass this one up. McCall’s 6891 is described as a shirt dress with a notched collar. It has an a-line skirt bottom, a semifitted bodice, side pockets, with sleeve variations and an optional sash.

I used an Ankara fabric that I have had in my stash for almost 4 years. I think the vibrant colors of the fabric really make this shirt dress pop. If I make this dress in another fabric, I would like to make the longer version of the dress and use a solid fabric.

The dress was a pretty easy sew with not too many pattern pieces. The instructions were very clear. I think beginners may find the notched collar a bit challenging. Finding the right buttons on the fabric was a bit challenging for me. I finally decided on these black shiny round buttons, because I knew I would wear this dress with black heels. Although the dress is pretty well fitted in the waist, I opted to make the sash as well.

Normally I shorten my patterns because I am only 5’1″. However, I did not need to make any adjustments to this pattern. The length was perfect, even for my short frame. There are longer views to accommodate those looking for a longer dress, as well as views with sleeve options. I would definitely recommend this pattern to anyone who would like a cute shirt dress to add to their wardrobe.

This Ankara shirt dress is a great to wear out to the movies or dinner, or even for family gatherings. You can pair this sleeveless dress with a black cardigan in the event that the weather is cool. I also made the sash to go along with the dress, although I have a really cute belt that will go great with this as well.