Pattern and Instructions: The Claire Dress
The Claire Dress is my tribute to the genius of Claire McCardell, the designer who proved that practical clothes in simple fabrics could still be utterly chic.
This sporty day dress has a bias-cut bodice shaped with clever pleats and darts, with an adjustable wrap front, button details, and a defined waistband. The full gathered wrap skirt brings just the right amount of swish, and the cut-on short sleeves (with comfortable underarm gusset) keep the silhouette relaxed and easy to wear.
The dress has three different grainlines (bias grain for the bodice, straight grain for the waistband, and cross grain for the skirt), which makes it a fun pattern to play with stripes, plaids, and border prints. Sew it in crisp cotton gingham, cheerful prints, or classic solids, and you'll have a dress that perfectly captures the carefree optimism of vintage American sportswear.
And because one fabulous outfit is never quite enough, keep an eye out for a sleeveless-racerback bodice expansion arriving later this month to our Glamour Circle+ members!
VERY VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you select only the layers for your dress size(s) when printing this pattern. There are SO MANY MARKINGS and you'll hate the project if you print every size.
If you don't know how to print just your own size, this is a great time to learn! Open either the Tiled or A0 pattern pieces PDF in Acrobat Reader (the free version is fine). Then open the Layers Palette (by going to View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Layers) and uncheck all of the layer(s) except the ones you want to print. Some layers are locked, but all of the size layers are selectable. If you are sending the pattern out to print, make sure your printer knows which sizes you want.
IMPORTANT: You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #clairedress and #charmpatterns!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (61)
Hi guys, did the expansion not post today, the 15th?
I love that this has wiggle room for weight changes! My weight fluctuates a lot, and I tend to put off sewing when my weight isn't holding steady.
This is the one I was hoping and wishing for! Thankyou thank you 🙏🏽 ❤️😍
I LOVE Suzie's dress!!!! Also, I think my Mom had a dress much like this, except sleeveless, and hers was done up in a red and white bandana print. I absolutely need to put this in my sewing lineup!
I love this! It’s elegant and timeless!
Love the pattern though and I can’t wait to try it!!!
Wishing you had a “Suzie” for us no figure eg. 36-30-36 girls. It’s not such an issue with full skirted patterns but oh those straight skirts and pants! Nearly impossible to make.
I have been WAITING for Claire McCardell in this year's series and I am so thrilled!!
OH!! Thank you thank you thank you!! I have been searching for over a Year for a popover dress pattern! I will be making this ASAP!
Beautiful! I can't wait to make one!! Or two!
I am SO EXCITED for this one!! Thank you Gertie!
I have a cookie tin full of bright and interesting buttons from my grandma and great grandma that have waited for their day in the sun. This dress is it. As soon as the sleeveless version drops I am on it 💜
I love it but I already feel discouraged about the fact that I have to do a FBA 🙄
Do you have to do an FBA on all Gertie’s patterns or just this one?
LOVE it!!! So glad to see a modest slight v-neck! I am positively indecent in most v-necks, but they're also so important and much more flattering for a large bust
So cute!! I need to get my sewjo back so I can make this beauty.
I’m in love with this!! ❤️
When this year’s theme was announced I was hoping we’d get this dress! THANK YOU!
Thank you Team Charm for making this! I watched the crowd cast for the Youthquake Skirt last night and when Gertie was talking about feeling a need for shirt dresses, I was in total agreement! When I make this dress I can tell it's going to be really useful- especially that big pocket for toddler snacks and toys! I've loved the designs from Claire McCardell for years, thinking, I would really like a dress like that, and now, at last- I can have one!
This is ***soooooo perfect*** especially I didn’t think of the Linen option til G said it!! I can imagine 5 different versions of it in my wardrobe. I wonder if she would release a pencil skirt expansion!!!! 😍😍😍
Omg obsessed! The plaid! I need both, let’s start sewing.
I love this. It feels very classic Gertie! ❤️
Love it! And I see opportunity for skirt expansions in the future!
Ahhh I can’t wait to make this. Claire McCardell is an icon!
Wow! I love this. Thank you!
I rarely like wrap dresses, but this is cute 😍
Wow this looks amazing! I can't wait to get this bodice started in the fitting process 💜💜💜🖤🖤🖤
Love it! I live alone and the idea of front buttons is very appealing.
Claire McCardell agrees with you!
Oh My Gosh! All my fashion dreams of dressing like Donna Stone from the Donna Reed Show are coming true!
This is stunning, I love a classic 50s design.
So cute! And you could turn this into a cute top, too. Great way to start back-to-school month!
Super duper cute! I am so excited to make this!
I love this!! Thank you!
If I wasn't currently sick AF I would be printing this out immediately 🤩
I am so excited about this pattern!!!
Canceling all weekend plans!!😆
I'm 90% finished with a Cinch-it Dress... but I think I'm gonna take it apart and repurpose to make this! Hope it works!
It’s amazing!🤩
I'm excited! I picked up Claire McCardell biography about three weeks ago. 😁
This is GORGEOUS! I’d be curious to see how the sleeves look/work for someone with fluffier arms, but that sleeveless version is just to die for 😍
I let out a cheer when I saw this pattern! I have wanted to make a replica Claire McCardell dress for ages and here it is!
I love Claire's designs. This dress is so 🥰 cute!
Such a beautiful dress, I love it 😍
this way exactly the pattern I was looking for to create my McKenzie tartan red dress last winter :-) lukily I gave up, so non I can do it with this precise Claire partner....this year you are releasing all my dream pattners!!! And chance we are also getting the Dior 'Carcas' partner at some point?!?!?
I just looked up Dior Carcas. Absolutely gorgeous !! I hope we get that sometime too !
Love! Love! Love!
OMG I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Ooooohh I love this! Very Jackie! https://www.google.com/search?q=john+jackie+kennedy+grass&oq=john+jackie+kennedy+grass&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABjvBTIKCAIQABiABBiiBDIKCAMQABiABBiiBDIKCAQQABiiBBiJBdIBCTEyNDk2ajBqNKgCAbACAQ&client=ms-android-verizon-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8#sv=CAMScxoyKhBlLTVzeW1ZdkYyZGR6RkJNMg41c3ltWXZGMmRkekZCTToOQzNjZnFOVkItcXM2Tk0gBCoxChtfZlA5dGFyRHJPZkhzbUxRUHpvLXJnQVlfMzcSEGUtNXN5bVl2RjJkZHpGQk0YADABOABKBAgBEAIYByDo84f_DEoIEAIYASACKAE
I loved Jackie’s style, absolutely loved it!
This is going to be an amazing showcase for fancy buttons!
The cut and design is so cute!
I have to say this - I absolutely LOVE that Suzie is part of the imagery always. I am built very much like her (except much, much shorter) and always wonder how a particular design will look on me. Thanks to Suzie, I don't have to wonder or guess! Thank you Gertie for including her and thank you Suzie for showing me that I can look put together even with a non-traditional shape!
Exactly. I’m really short waisted like her and I really appreciate being able to see how a design looks on that body feature.
Aaaaggghhhh! I'm in love!!!
!!! The way I was searching for a Popover pattern like two months ago! So excited to try this one out
Have you checked out Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses? The size range isn't as inclusive as current Charm patterns but there is a Popover pattern. And the design is very forgiving. Great design to try shirring!
Love the plaid one!!
Ooohhhhhhh!!!! I’m loving this one!!!! Especially Suzy’s version!!!!
This looks super cute I have just the fabric for it!
I feel like I could whip this one up in a weekend….lets be realistic and say the end of the month. I am so excited!