The Ava button front dress was on my to-do list for quite a while but I still haven’t got enough motivation to finish it until a follower on Instagram asked me to make exactly the same design. This design was inspired by a product by SLEEPER – my favorite brand for sustainable and comfortable clothing (but for the price tag of $290 for this dress, I think I’d better make my own lol). It is a milkmaid style dress, featuring puffed short sleeves, a relaxed fit, square gathered neckline and buttons. It can be made as a maxi dress, or a mini dress with only a simple modification of shortening hem length.
Let’s have a look at the details of this lovely item and how some people have mixed it with other items to create great outfits:
All photos are collected online, I do not own any of them. All credits go to their original creators and owners.
As usual, my pattern is made in 10 sizes from XXS to 5XL so you may find a suitable size for yourself. If you are not sure which size suits you, take a look at the measurement table before doing anything here: SIZE GUIDE.
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.
My patterns are now made in both A4/Letter paper and A0 paper format so you can print at home or at any print shop!
For home printers, you can print this using your home printer and either A4 or 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. I was informed by a reader that you can also print the pdf as image to get the right scale, however I never tested it on my computer.
SEWING INSTRUCTION
You will need
- Fabric of your choice. This pattern is intended for woven fabric.
- Light weight fusible interfacing
- Some buttons
- Some ½ inch (1cm) wide elastic
- Scissors, pencil or fabric marker, ruler, pins
- Sewing machine/Serger or needle and thread
- Printed pattern
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:
You will see that there are 2 sets of lines on each pattern piece. 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.
The fabric will be cut into following pieces:
- Front: cut 2
- Front Facing: cut 2 self fabric + 2 fusible interfacing (optional)
- Back: cut 1 on the fold
- Back Facing: cut 1 self fabric + 1 fusible interfacing (optional)
- Sleeve: cut 2
- Belt: cut 1 on the fold (you can adjust the length of the belt to your preference)
- Inseam Pocket: cut 4
Place the pattern pieces on the fabric, pin the pattern pieces to the fabric to secure them in place. Using sharp scissors, carefully cut out the fabric pieces along the outer lines of the pattern. Take your time to ensure precise and clean cuts, as this will affect the fit and overall appearance of your garment.
Make sure to mark all notches and other design features such as darts, pleats, draw marks 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. Apply fusible interfacing on the facing pieces.
3. Place Front and Back pieces right side facing, pin and sew the shoulder and side seam. Add the inseam pocket (you can skip this if you don’t want pockets). Tutorial on how to add an inseam pocket here. Attach both Front pieces to Back piece to get the Main Garment.
4. Place the Front Facing and Back Facing right side facing. Sew the shoulder seam. Do this with both Front Facing pieces.
5. Place the joined Facing piece and the Main Garment right side facing. Pin and sew the neckline. Trim the seam allowance, clip the curves and turning points, staystitch the seam allowance to the Facing piece.
6. Fold the center front seam and sew to create the button stand.
7. Sew along the two parallel lines marked on the Front dress, make sure to sew through both the main garment and the facing to create a casing for elastic. Cut two pieces of elastic about 5 inch (12cm) long. Insert it into the casing created by the sewn lines. Staystitch the elastic at two ends.
8. Sew two parallel lines ¼ and 1/3 inch from the top edge of the Sleeve, starting from the notch on the front armhole to the notch on the back armhole. Gather the cap of the Sleeve, distribute fabric evenly.
9. Sew the underarm seam of the Sleeve.
10. Fold the hem at the end of the Sleeve, sew along the two marked lines on the Sleeve, catching both layers of fabric to create a casing for elastic. Leave an opening on the casing to insert elastic.
11. Cut two short pieces of elastic, about the same length as the measurement of your biceps, insert it to the casing on the Sleeve. Sew two ends of the elastic together. Push it into the casing and sew to seal the casing.
12. Place the Sleeve and the Main garment right side facing, match the notches, pin and sew to join the Sleeve to the Main garment.
13. Hem the garment, make buttonholes and attach buttons to the garment as marked on the pattern.
And here is the download link:
AVA BUTTON FRONT MAXI DRESS SIZE XXS – 5XL (A4/LETTER PAPER)
AVA BUTTON FRONT MAXI DRESS SIZE XXS – 5XL (A0 PAPER)
To download just click on the link above and choose “Save link as”. The PDF file will be downloaded to your device. An advertisement may pop up, just close it and continue with your download. In case some ads attempt to make you enter your personal info, just ignore and close it. I do NOT require any kind of information to download my pattern files.
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns or tag me on Instagram #tianasclosetsewingpatterns, I will be thrilled to see the garment in real life!
Tiana
