DOWNLOAD LINK AT THE END OF THE POST
I am introducing the Amabel dress pattern – it is a design that works well for parties. You can wear it to a date night or a wedding, Christmas or birthday party.
The Amabel dress features a gathered bodice and pencil skirt. The higher waist design helps to lengthen your legs and the pencil skirt flatters your curves.
Let’s look at it in different prints and colors:
As usual, my pattern is made in 10 sizes from XXS to 5XL, so you will find yourself a suitable size. You can also lengthen or shorten the hemline to get your desired length – you can even make a maxi skirt from this pattern.
The pattern is made using layered PDF, please check for your desired size before printing so you won’t waste your paper. I have included a first page with many details about sizing and printing, so please first read the first page and make sure you know what size you need! If you still do not know how to print a layered PDF, please check for the printing instruction in this post: PRINTING GUIDE.
You can print this using your home printer and A4/Letter paper. I calculated the printing area so that you will be able to use either type of paper to print the pattern out perfectly. Always print the first page first and check with the test square if you are printing at the right scale before you print out the whole pattern – avoid waste of ink and waste of paper, save the earth!
Some PC may print smaller than actual size even when you choose 100% scale – I don’t know why this problem exist, but my HP laptop cannot print true to size. I have to scale up to 103% to get the right size. You may need to check with your PC to see if it prints true to size, if not, scale up a bit.
SEWING INSTRUCTION
You will need
- Fabric of your choice
- Invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing (light weight)
- Scissors, pencil or fabric marker, ruler, pins
- Sewing machine/Serger or needle and thread
- Printed pattern
What fabric can be used for this project? This design is made for woven fabric, but you can make it with knitted fabric with less stretchiness.
How much fabric do you need for this piece of garment? To be precise, you may need to check how much fabric you need before buying. It will depend on the selected pattern size, the width, and design of the fabric you plan to use. Just to be sure, print all the paper patterns and lay them out at the width of fabric you plan to use (usually from 90 to 150 centimeters or 35 to 60 inches). Measure how much fabric you will need. Don’t forget to account for pieces that need to be cut multiple times and pieces that are cut on the fold.
For this pattern, you will need to use a sewing machine that has the function to sew stretch fabric (zig zag stitch for example), or use a serger which is designed to sew stretch fabric nicely.
Cutting instruction:
After printing out and taping all the pattern pages together, you will get something similar to this image:
You will see that there are 2 sets of lines on each pattern size. The inner lines are sewing line (and you sew along these lines), and the outer lines are cutting lines (you cut the fabric along these lines, remember the folding lines where you have to fold the fabric before cutting). The distance between sewing line and cutting line is seam allowance, and it varies from point to point. For example, the side seam allowance is about 1/2 inch (1.2cm), and seam allowance at hemline is 1 inch (2.5cm). This is the reason why I do not remove the sewing lines from the pattern. Please use it as a guide to know how much seam allowance you need to give at each seam.
Fabric will be cut into following pieces:
- Front Bodice: cut 1 piece on the fold
- Back Bodice: cut 2 pieces
- Front Skirt: cut 1 piece on the fold
- Back Skirt: cut 2 pieces
- Sleeve: cut 2 pieces
- Front Facing: cut 1 piece self fabric + 1 piece fusible interfacing
- Back Facing: cut 2 pieces self fabric + 2 pieces fusible interfacing
Make sure to mark all notches and other design features such as darts, pleats etc. from the pattern pieces onto your fabric. When sewing the garment, pay attention to notches, they must match up.
Sewing instruction:
1. Serge/zig zag stitch the raw edge to prevent fabric from unraveling.
2. Fold and sew the darts on Back Skirt pieces.
3. Sew 2 parallel lines using longest stitch 1/8 and ¼ inch from the lower edge of the Front Bodice. Pull lower thread to gather the fabric so that it matches the upper edge of the Front Skirt piece, distribute the gatherings evenly. Do the same with the Back Bodice pieces.
4. Place the Front Bodice and Back Bodice right side facing. Pin and sew to get the Front Dress.
5. Place each pair of Back Bodice and Back Skirt right side facing. Pin and sew to get the Back Dress pieces.
6. Place Front Dress and Back Dress right side facing, matching the notches and the waist seam. Pin and sew shoulder and side seams. Do this with both Back Dress pieces.
7. Sew the side seam of the Sleeve pieces. Turn the sleeve inside out.
8. Place the Sleeve and the main garment right side facing, remember to match the notch at the cap of the sleeve with the shoulder seam, and the side seam of the sleeve with the side seam of the main garment. Pin and sew to join the sleeve to the main garment.
9. Attach invisible zipper to the back of the dress. Sew to close the center back seam from the end of the zipper to the lower notch on the back skirt.
10. Apply fusible interfacing to the Front and Back Facing pieces.
11. Place Front Facing and Back Facing right side facing, sew the shoulder seams. You get the Neckline Facing.
12. Place the Neckline Facing and the main garment right side facing, match the notches and shoulder seam. Pin and sew to attach the Neckline Facing to the garment. Turn the facing in, topstitch the seam allowance to the facing piece. Clip the seam allowance for smoother curve.
13. Finish the dress by hemming the skirt, back slit and sleeves.
And here is the download link:
AMABEL COCKTAIL DRESS (SIZE XXS- 5XL)
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns
Tiana
