Dresses are a key part of our summer wardrobes at Mollie Makes. They’re versatile enough to wear to the office, for evening cocktails or for chilled holidays at home and abroad. We’ve rounded up our top sewing patterns so you can have a go at making your own summer dress and be the envy of everyone.
Feeling lucky? We’ve teamed up with Simplicity New Look to offer you the chance to win four of their sewing patterns too!
Coco top and dress
This is the sort of dress we can imagine wearing as we sail leisurely round the French Riviera on our super yacht. Ok, maybe we’re dreaming! We’re huge fans of the Breton stripes and zesty lemon pockets, which give it a bright splash of colour. With no fiddly bits, like buttons or zips, it’s designed with confident beginners in mind. Make it with an optional funnel neck roll to channel the sixties. There’s a tee version too.
Lulu dress
We’ve found the one! We’re in love with the Lulu Dress from Sew Over It, a summer staple that can be worn with chunky tights to see you through colder months too.
The 1960s-inspired number is an A-line shift dress and loose-fitting. It’s got pretty keyhole detail on the neckline and you can choose from different sleeve lengths too. Try making it in cotton for a cool summer option, or crepe for a glam feel. The Lulu pattern is suitable for advanced beginners and is available to download from Sew Over It.
Cleo pinafore and dungaree dress
This simple pattern from Mollie Makes fave Tilly and the Buttons is perfect for beginners but still looks awesome. There are no zips to add and the fitting is minimal. The pattern gives you the option of a pinafore with buttons or a dungaree dress with buckles. You can go for knee length or a mini too. Decisions, decisions…
Aphrodite Dress
Aptly named after the goddess of love, this dress is making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s a smart-looking shift that we’re already picturing as our new LBD. There’s a backless option to give it more of an edge too. French company I Am Patterns has designed it with intermediate sewists in mind.
The Dress Shirt
We’ve been stealing our boyfriend’s shirts to wear as dresses so it’s probably time we got round to making our own. The Dress Shirt from Merchant & Mills is super comfy with a classic cut. Make it with a short or a rolled-up sleeve and wear it with a belt to cinch it in at the waist. It comes in sizes 8-18 and can be ordered from their website. We’re also crushing on their punchy yellow Sulphur fabric and Maya Indigo fabric which the dress would look perfect in.
Zeena dress
This dress is all kinds of lovely but we wouldn’t expect anything less with Zeena Shah as its inspo. By Hand London chose the designer as its muse when it created the Zeena Dress. Box pleats help create a flattering silhouette, while side seams keep it practical. You can make it knee length or shorter if you’re feeling daring!
CLOSED | WIN four dress patterns from Simplicity New Look!
This year is a big milestone for Simplicitynewlook.com – marking 90 years of inspired sewing. To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with them to offer you the chance to get your hands on a haul of dress sewing patterns.
You could win a shirt dress, boho dress, romper dress and an open back dress!
All you have to do is fill in our short form to enter. The competition is open until 5pm on Wednesday 9th August 2017. Enter the competition.
Don’t forget to help Simplicity celebrate using #SimplicityTurns90.
The winner has been chosen and contacted. Congratulations to Hannah Mitchell.
The post Dress patterns to see you through summer, plus a free pattern giveaway! appeared first on Mollie Makes.
