DOWNLOAD LINK AT THE END OF THE POST
The Etta pleated flounce dress features classic fit and flare silhouette, with elegant puffed short sleeves and pleated ruffle at the hem of the skirt. The fit and flare silhouette is unbeatable in flattering every body shape – no matter if you are top heavy or bottom curvy. Falling just above your knee, it brings you a youthful look and is easy to mix with other accessories.
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. For the pleats to look crisp, give it a good iron before sewing.
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 Bodice: cut 1 piece on the fold
- Back Bodice: cut 2 pieces
- Sleeve: cut 2 pieces
- Sleeve cuff: cut 2 pieces
- Front Neck Facing: 1 piece self fabric + 1 piece fusible interfacing
- Back Neck Facing: 2 pieces self fabric + 2 pieces fusible interfacing
- Skirt Front: 1 piece on the fold
- Skirt Back: 2 pieces
- Pleated Flounce: 2 pieces on the fold
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.
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 neck facing 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.
5. Place Front Skirt and one piece of the Back Skirt right side facing. Pin and sew the side seam. Repeat with the other piece of Back Skirt.
6. Place the Bodice and the Skirt right side facing, matching dart legs and side seams. Pin and sew to join. You get the main garment.
7. Attach invisible zippers to the back of the main garment.
8. Fold the pleats on the Pleated Flounce pieces, pin and baste to keep them in place. You will get several box pleats. Iron to get crisp fold lines. If you do not like pleats, use parallel stitch lines and pull to get ruffles.
9. Place the two Pleated Flounce pieces right side facing. Pin and sew side seams.
10. Pin the Flounce to the skirt, matching side seams. Pin and sew to join the flounce to the main garment and finish the zipper end at the same time.
11. Sew two parallel lines using longest stitch length at the cap of the sleeve (starting from one notch on the front side to the first notch on the back side of the sleeve). Pull the threads to gather the sleeve cap until it matches the armhole on the main garment, distribute the gathering evenly.
12. Use the same method to match the other end of the sleeve with the cuff.
13. Sew the side seam of the sleeve.
14. Sew the side of the cuff. Fold it into half with the seam allowance folded in.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Place the Front Neck Facing and Back Neck Facing right side facing. Pin and sew the shoulder seam.
18. Place the Neck Facing and the main garment right side facing. Match all notches and seams, pin and sew to join the neck facing to the main garment. Fold the facing in, staystitch the seam allowance to the facing piece. Clip to smoothen the curves.
19. Hem the dress. Give it a good iron and you’re done!
And here is the download link:
ETTA PLEATED FLOUNCE DRESS (SIZE XXS-5XL)
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns
Tiana
