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Shift dress sewing pattern

A simple woven dress, straight or A-line, with a bust dart, facings and a back zip; sleeveless to long sleeves. Confident beginner.

The shift dress as it comes; change its style in the app.

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Style options

Pattern pieces

PLACE ON FOLD Waistline Lengthen or shorten here Front Cut 1 on the fold Shift dress · UK 12 Grainline Waistline Lengthen or shorten here Back Cut 2 (a pair) Shift dress · UK 12 Grainline Pocket bag Cut 4 (2 pairs) Shift dress · UK 12 Grainline Sleeve Cut 2 (a pair) Shift dress · UK 12 PLACE ON FOLD Front facing Cut 1 on the fold Interface Shift dress · UK 12 Grainline Back facing Cut 2 (a pair) Interface Shift dress · UK 12
Front (1 to cut), Back (2 to cut), Front facing (1 to cut), Back facing (2 to cut), Sleeve (2 to cut), Pocket bag (4 to cut). Seam allowances included.

Sizes

Choose a standard size or put in your own measurements: the pattern is drafted to them. The women’s body measurements (cm):

SizeBust or chestWaistHips
UK 6765681
UK 8816186
UK 10866691
UK 12917196
UK 149676101
UK 1610181106
UK 1810686111
UK 2011191116
UK 2211696121
UK 24121101126

Men’s sizes XS to 3XL are in the app too. See how to take your measurements.

Fabric and materials

Suggested fabrics: Cotton lawn, poplin, linen, chambray, crepe, light wool.

For UK 12, as it comes:

How to sew it

  1. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the facings. Neaten their outer edges with a zigzag or overlocker.
  2. Sew the bust darts in the front: fold along the dart’s centre, match the legs, and sew from the side seam to the point. Press the darts down.
  3. Neaten the centre back edges. Put the invisible zip in at the top of the centre back seam, its teeth on the sewing line, then sew the rest of the seam below it.
  4. Sew the front to the back at the shoulders. Press the seams open.
  5. Join the facings at the shoulders. Sew the facing to the neckline, right sides together, folding the facing ends back around the zip. Clip the curve, understitch, turn the facing inside and press.
  6. Sew a pocket bag to each front and back side seam between the notches, right sides together. Press them outwards.
  7. Sew the side seams, pivoting round the pocket bags. Press them open and the pockets towards the front.
  8. Sew each sleeve’s underarm seam. Run two rows of long stitches over the cap between the notches and draw them up a little.
  9. Set each sleeve into its armhole, right sides together: the dot to the shoulder seam, one notch to the front, two to the back. Ease in the cap and sew. Neaten the seams.
  10. Hem the sleeves: press up the allowance, turn under the raw edge and stitch.
  11. Press up the hem, turn under the raw edge and stitch it by machine or by hand. Press the dress.

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