The Betty Peter Pan collar dress features classic A line silhouette, with elegant long sleeve and contrast collar and cuffs. The A line silhouette is unbeatable in flattering every body shape – no matter if you are top heavy or bottom curvy. Falling just at your knee, it is a safe choice whenever it comes to choosing a modest outfit for semi formal or formal events. The best thing about it is that it is quite a simple project – with only a few details. Even a beginner can work out a decent result.
If you are wondering how this design can go with different colors and print, look at it in 3D simulation:
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 zippers
- Some fusible interfacing (optional)
- Scissors, pencil or fabric marker, ruler, pins
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Printed pattern
What fabric can be used for this project? This design is made for woven fabric. You can use either soft, flowy fabric or thicker, more bodied fabric.
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.
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: cut 1 piece on the fold
- Back: cut 2 pieces
- Sleeve: cut 2 pieces
- Sleeve cuff: cut 2 pieces
- Collar: cut 4 pieces self fabric + 2 pieces fusible interfacing (optional)
Make sure to mark all notches and other design features such as darts etc. from the pattern piece onto your fabric. When sewing the garment, pay attention to notches, they must match up.
The fusible interfacing is optional. It is used to make the collar stiffer and stay true to shape, but omitting it will not cause you too much trouble.
Sewing instruction:
1. Serge the fabric to prevent the sides from unraveling.
2. Apply fusible interfacing to one pair of collar pieces.
3. Fold, pin and sew the bust darts, waist darts on front and back dress pieces.
4. Place Front Dress and one piece of the Back Dress right side facing. Pin and sew the shoulder and side seams. Repeat with the other piece of the Back Dress. You get the main garment.
5. Sew the back of the dress and attach invisible zippers.
6. Sew two parallel lines using longest stitch length at the cap of the sleeve (starting from about 4 inches from the notch at the top of sleeve cap and ending at about the same distance on the other side of the cap). Pull the threads to gather the sleeve cap until it matches the armhole on the main garment, distribute the gathering evenly.
7. Use the same method to match the other end of the sleeve with the cuff.
8. Sew the side seam of the sleeve.
9. Sew the side of the cuff. Fold it into half with the seam allowance folding in.
10. Turn the sleeve inside out. Place the folded sleeve cuff onto the opening of the sleeve. Pin and sew to attach the cuff to the sleeve. Do it with both sleeves.
11. Place the sleeve and the armhole right side facing. Match all notches. Pin and sew to attach the sleeve to the garment. Do it with both sleeves.
12. Place two pieces of collar right side facing. Pin and sew along the longer curve all the way to the straight end. Trim off the seam allowance and clip at the curve and the corner. Turn the collar inside out. Press to flatten. Do it with the other side of the collar.
13. Place the collar pieces facing the right side of the main garment, pin and sew to attach the collar to the garment. Stay stitch the seam allowance to the wrong side of the garment and hide the end of the zippers. You can also use a bias tape to cover the seam allowance.
14. Hem the dress. Give it a good iron and you’re done!
And here is the download link:
BETTY PETER PAN COLLAR DRESS (SIZE XXS-5XL)
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns
Tiana
