At a vintage fair a couple of weeks back, I bought a big (curtain? Bedspead?) panel of 1960s Sheridan linen. I love this stuff so much. Shades of green and bile, big chunky floral… My cuppa tea for sure. But you want to be careful how you slice in to such a thing. Not only is it irreplaceable but big prints call for simple lines.
So I tested out a basic shift pattern. This is most unlike me because of my extreme human A-frame construction. I generally need me a cinched waist.
I’ve had this Mr Men curtain for perhaps 7 or 8 years. Nicely stash-ripened and time to cut. A few modifications – length, darts, neckline – but look, I made a shift! Terrible photo. I must take a better one.
If you must have your own Mr Men dress, I spotted the same fabric for sale on eBay.
Make it 'til you fake it 
CUTE!!!! I LOVE the Mr Men print, it really suits a shift dress. I’m looking forward to seeing the new fabric made up, it’s lovely too.
That’s very cool. I like the blue band at the hem! Can we see it on you?
Your shift looks much more flattering than the image I get in my mind when I think “shift”. Love that fabric you scored – I wouldn’t have been able to go past that either. Let’s see it on!
I think my mother lived in dresses like the one on the pattern envelope, in the 1970s. We lived down the road from a double-knit factory, so she dressed all of us — boys and girls alike — in hard-as-iron polyester double knits, in colors and patterns not found in nature, no matter how much we protested that the jumpsuits, tunics and leisure suits made us sweat.
I’m sure she meant well! But that sounds… sticky.