Pattern and Instructions: The Society Dress
Welcome to the first pattern in the covert and mysterious Society of Charm! We’re delighted to initiate you into this year’s theme with a return to Charm’s vintage glamour roots.
The Society Dress is a 1940s-inspired fitted knit dress in two lengths with two sleeve options. Go undercover in the office-appropriate A-line skirt and short pleated sleeves, or commit to full drama with billowing bishop sleeves and a six-godet floor-length gown. The optional draped cowl hood will give you an air of mystery!
And . . . can I let you in on a secret? This dress is as comfortable as a pair of pajamas, but looks way more polished. Perfect for a meeting of a glamorous secret society—or even as elevated loungewear!
For our Society of Charm initiation, Suzie and I committed to full drama in floor-length stretch velvet gowns.
And for more every-day wear, Suzie is in a shimmery stretch lurex and I'm wearing a bold rose-printed knit.
For all the fabric and supplies, check out the written instructions at the bottom of this post for links and recommendations.
You'll also 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 pdfplotting.com). Please note that we now 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!
xoxo,
Gertie
P.S. As a gentle reminder, please do not share these photos or patterns anywhere (including to other social media sites) so that we can keep creating exclusive new content for you.
Comments (199)
Did someone add pockets to it? I just saw a short version with bishop sleeves, I miss pockets 😱
Has anyone made a color blocked version of this? (I have searched FB & IG and have not found one). Getting ready too tart on it and would like to use a print and a solid, and I am struggling with placement of each....
This is a great idea! Great way to use up all the knit odds and ends i have in my stash.
Gorgeous xxx
Is there a tiled pattern assembly diagram? I just want to print the bodice pieces to check the fit but it's really hard to tell what page is what without the overall assembly!
oops, found it in the instructions!
I've made this twice now, the short and long version.... and I thought perhaps it was the fabric I chose for the first one, but I have found the bodice works out about an inch and a half higher than my natural waist. Would you suggest lengthening the waist/fitted section, the bust or both?
I love this dress! I’m on my fourth one already and thought I’d mention a future pattern expansion I’d love to see for this one: flutter sleeves. I think flutter sleeves would be so cute and summery!
Can the dress be made without the godets for a less full more slinky skirt?
I just joined and would love to make this dress for a 1940s wedding I am attending. I am not sure it is going to work for me after looking at the measurements. Can you help me with sizing before I start cutting fabric please? I wear a 38DD bra, my waist is 42-43" and my hips are 47". That puts me in sizes, 8, 14 and 20. I typically wear a size 16 dress, but would imagine for a dress of this style I would wear a size 18 in US dress stores.
Well this is just stunning.
I absolutely love this dress it is so comfortable and I get compliments every time I wear it I made it in a beautiful Floral Liverpool knit. I did the short dress version.
Absolutely gorgeous dress pattern! I have already made one in 2-way stretch velvet, And I just adore it! I would love to make one in a 4-way jersey that I have in my stash. The pattern specificly says to use fabric with little or no lenght-wise stretch, but isn't the floral liverpool knit in the pictures a 4-way? Would it be unwise to use a 4-way, and why? Very grateful for answers!
Did you ever try the four way stretch? I’m wondering the same thing…
I am having fit issues. According to the size chart 18-34 I would need a size 20 cup F/G to accomodate my bust, but even with cup H the bodice is still too short. The seam line isn't falling under the bust. The back is also too short. Do I need a FBA and/or can I lengthen both bodice parts? If so, where should I lengthen the bodice front? Or should I try the 2-20 range? I've read they are larger in the bust area?
Ooh!! I love the short dress! Just what I have been wanting. For me the long dress would be lovely with the short sleeves but I am unlikely to ever need a long dress.
Could you add in-seam pockets to this dress? Or would that throw off the design too much (especially with the stretch fabric)?
I personally feel it would ruin the slim line of the hip (can cause gaping, etc), but you can always try it and see if you like it! I always avoid side seam pockets in slim skirts for this reason.
Had anyone made this without the powermesh? I don't seem to get this material in my country. I am thinking about using fusible interfacing in stead.
I found some on Amazon!
OMG. I am supposed to be sewing my wedding dress at the moment, but keep getting waylaid by stunners like this! Stop being so fabulous! Seriously though, this is gorgeous. Looks like a really satisfying sew and something that would be so lovely to wear. Added to my list!
I love this dress! I made the knee length version with the short sleeves. I used stretch taffeta for the fabric and it gave it an interesting crisp look. I cannot wait to wear it!
love the dress... love love love it. But I too would love to see the old pattern layout return. I don't love the BIG page numbers in the middle of the page (would love an option to not print them) and I really really miss the big alignment squares. those tiny grey triangles in the corners don't do it for me. still! a minor inconvenience because i adore charm patterns and can't WAIT to finish this dress.
You can remove the big page numbers by de-selecting that layer! I hope that the new pattern layout does eventually work for people because it will free up team hours to do other things that people have been requesting (like videos for Charm Patterns!) so I'm hoping it's a minor adjustment that will work for people in the long term. 🤞🏻Thanks for your feedback!
I found the printing pattern layout tricky. It took me all day to put together! I have come to like previous patterns where corners were numbered with the pattern piece number . Still looking forward to making it!
I love this!
I wonder could the bodice back be altered to a deep V which would allow the drape to show the bare back?
You should alter the hood attachment too then. it goes arund the whole neckline, you could just make a rectangular piece and only attach it at the shouldersems i guess. Interesting Idea.
Absolutely gorgeous!!
Anyone have best advice for doing this in cotton?
Cotton Jersey? Or non stretch fabric? You would need to account for zero stretch to this pattern, when I remember correctly it only has negative ease in the waist. You should make size, that would firt your waist measurement and then go from there. TBH - I would just search for a similiar style pattern for wovens and try to transfer this design, if your set on making it from non stretch fabric.
LOVE this pattern!!! My fav rtw dress is almost exactly like this so I'm super excited to make more! Any suggestions on how to modify to sleeveless for summertime would be great too!
This pattern reminds me ALOT of the jumpsuit from Miss Candy Floss -- so I think the split tulip sleeve design they use would work PERFECT for a summer sleeve. It is what I am going to try. :-)
Beautiful
I love that this dress is in knit fabric! I've been looking for patterns in a 1940s style for Swing Dancing, and this is just perfect!
This is wild. In the survey I asked for gothic and I reckon I’ve scored already! Thank you 🖤
Seriously, a dream come true!
j'ai hate de me mettre au travail j'adore l'idée des longueurs des manches
Oh yay! A stretch dress! I can’t wait to get started. I have so many of your patterns but even though I’m a confident sewist with stretch I still get a bit freaked out by fitting woven so I can’t wait to get started on this one
This dress is lovely and I appreciate all the options regarding sleeve and dress length. I've not worked with stretch velvet yet buy this is a perfect opportunity.
Oh looks like my birthday dress is sorted. In love with this
Loooove the roses fabric in this, saw it was already sold out. Anywhere else i could find it ? And what is special about the 'liverpool stretch' ? Never heard of it
You could try etsy, or just searching "liverpool knit rose print." I talk about liverpool knits in the video, they have a special texture to them. :)
Absolutely gorgeous... so excited for this new theme! 2023 is definitely off to a great start!
This is the one I'm going to make for my mum. She's always looking for a dress to feel comfortable in.
This is my dream pattern! I love it 😍😍😍
It's no surprise that so many people are loving this 1940s inspired dress as it's Stunning! I would also love to see this dress with a pattern hack so it can be made in a woven fabric with zip. 👗🥰
Yep. I prefer woven fabric so am trying to work out how I could make it work in a woven for wearing to the office
I am so stoked!!! Loving the dark Victorian Gothic vibes ✨️ 🖤 Hoping for a Wednesday-inspired dress as part of this collection🤞
With the hood it reminds me of Endora from Bewitched
I am pleased!!!!!
Omg how did you know I needed this pattern !!!
Oh I can't wait to make this! I'm going on a cruise in July for my birthday. It will be so nice to wear in the Dining Room on Formal night
I love this so much. The hood is a nice touch too! Could make it super casual in a plain knit fabric, but then the velvet ones look so glamorous. I love the versatility! A part of me also wants to just make the top part into a really extra hoodie to wear with high waisted skirts too!
Wow!! What an amazing dress!!! Love it!!
I'm so excited for this dress! All the heart eyes!
I am very excited. I love the style of this dress and with a "work" appropriate version. Yes!!!
'This is a stunning dress for next New Years party ;)
Gorgeous ✨
Already ordered the power mesh and pdf pattern!!!!
This makes me so excited for this year. I have some perfect florals for this.
I don't understand the 7 inches of positive ease in the bust; certainly the photos seem misleading, it doesn't look like that much ease in the bust, was this a mistake?
That is the *flat measurement before gathering note on the finished measurement information page.
I have wanted a hooded dress for so long. This is amazing!!! 😍
This dress💕💕💕💕 This helped give me a swift quick in the rear to get back to sewing so I'm pulling out all my sewing stuff today😊
This 🙌🏼 Is why I rejoined. Beautiful, wow, seductive, color choice 🤌🏽
Oh my oh my, I'm in love with this xxx
A bunch of words I can't say here came out of my mouth when I saw this pattern. To say it is gorgeous and I am excited are beyond an understatement. Cannot wait the see what this year and theme holds for us. If this is any indication of what is to come I am in heaven.
This is EXACTLY the dress I have been looking for and sent to Gertie as a goal for 2023! I'm so STOKED!
This is so amazing!! Everyone is going to look so fabulous in this dress.
SUSIE IN THAT GORGEOUS SILVER GOWN IS EVERYTHING!!!!! <3
This is so beautiful! 😍 I just noticed that the pattern only gives the yardage for 60” fabric. Was that intentional?
Yes, most knit fabrics only come in 58" or 60" bolts.
7” of ease through the bust sounds super odd to me. Are the models wearing dresses based on the sizing charts, or are they all in smaller sizes?
That is the *flat measurement before gathering note on the finished measurement information page.
Not me over here screaming because someone finally made the perfect pattern for a dress I've been dreaming about!
And that aubergine velvet for Geetie's dress. Delicious!
Holly crap this gave me chills reading the new theme. I am so impressed by this months dress. I haven’t wanted to make a dress so bad in a long time. Thanks Gertie for lighting a fire in me with this one. 😍
These pictures are so BOMB!!!!!!
I slammed the subscribe button so quickly when I saw this gorgeous dress, now the fun part - which fabric to make it in??
Ahhhhhh!!! This is so good! I gasped when I saw this dress!!
This is absolutely glorious!! I can’t wait to make it!
Love this! I could also see turning this into a jumpsuit with the Lucille pants!
I could see the Jasmine jumpsuit bottom being a great match for this bodice.
I am so grateful to Charm patterns and to Suzie. I am a short and curvy lady, I’ve always had trouble picturing dresses in my size. I am a 40DDD and have insecurities about wearing fitted dresses. Thank you Ms. Suzie and team for all y’all do!
I love it!! It reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Taylor's green wedding dress with the dramatic hood. What a lovely way to kick off this new year - thank you Gertie and team! :)
This is my all time favorite bodice style! I was starting at the Peggy a couple days ago wondering if I could hack it to have a V neck. Then you give me this, and with bishop sleeves!?!?! Swoon.
I am BEYOND thrilled! When we did the survey and were asked which pre-Charm patterns we would like to see in expanded sizes, I voted for b6380. I saw that it didn’t get very many votes but who cares? This is so similar, maybe even better!!!
Oh my!! I definitely going to make this asap. True love.
I love the new layout of the instructions!
Wow. Gertie, I am COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY!!! Theme is awesome, these pics are perfect! Your hair styles look the best I've ever seen them, and I love the light reflecting off the drapey napped velvet that really stands out from the background. Yes, INNER CIRCLE here I come! Just can't get me enough of Gertie!
Absolutely freaking beautiful! Please someone tell me that they're going to use the bodice and hood with a Lucy pants to create a bodysuit.
So excited!!! I think I’m going to have to make the hooded velvet version as some dramatic loungewear. 😁💕
I'm definitely making this dress for every season!!! SO good.
Oh my goodness, this dress is fabulous!! And I love photo four - clearly Suzy and Gertie have discovered someone's been using their fabric scissors for paper, and are discussing going to "have a word"...
Obsessed with this! I’m on a stretch velvet kick, so now the question is scarlet or emerald?
Why not both!
I’m so here for this one. I want it in 37 different colors.
YASSSS QUEEEEEN the pattern I’ve NEEDED in my life!!
As soon as I saw the hooded velvet, I thought Siouxsie & the Banshees Superstition album cover. This is my dream dress, I absolutely love it!
Very nice pattern! I would love fabric recommendation with each pattern post. That would make my life easier. 😉
Check the instructions, they give plenty of fabric recommendations!
I certainly hope this is a timed release and the Charm team isn’t working on New Year’s morning. Thank you though!!!!
I have the perfect fabric for this in my stash!
did you… just give me my dream pattern??? 🙀😻😽
I just fell over and died Gertie!! My Grey Gardens fantasy of the early days of the Edies in high society! LOVE!!!!!!
Wow I like this so much!
I am literally obsessed
Can’t wait to make this for the summer! I noticed last year that all I wanted to wear in hot weather were jersey knit dresses, so this is perfect!
I am obsessed with this design! Now I have a project for the 5m of wine stretch velvet in my stash. I love the new theme and I'm so excited to see everything that is to come this year.
That is stunning! I love it!
Wow it's wonderful 😍
This is wonderful! I happen to have some black lurex knit in my stash!
I love it. I’m not usually a fan of stretch fabric, but for this beauty I will make an exception ❤️❤️❤️
Power mesh or power net? There’s a big difference.
The one we used is very structured, like power net. But the source we order it from calls it power mesh, so we use that term.
Oh wow this is so beautiful! I can't wait!!!
Very excited for this. ❤️
LOVE
Wow!! That is amazing. .. I've got an old dress from Bravissimo, that UK-based lingerie brand, that I love and wondered if I should rip apart for a pattern. And then, today, you give me exactly that! What a joy... What a motivation for getting my bachelor thesis done
OMG FRIKKIN SLAYYYYYYY!!!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
💕love it.
I literally drew this dress last week!! 😍 thank you!
I'm OBSESSED!!
This is so stunning. I love it so much.
I LOVE THIS 😍 What a start to the new year!
Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous. A perfect dress to start the new theme. Love it so much, can’t wait to make it! 💕
This is so lovely!
YESSSSS!!! I have a wedding to go to in two weeks and this is PERFECT!
I love this! I bought some stretch velvet last month and was wondering what to do with it, now I know!! This is perfect! :)
I love it! Gorgeous! ❤️❤️ I've literally been researching ideas for a velvety dress. This is perfect!
😍
I was literally just sketching out a design of a 40s version of the Peggy…would have taken some pattern hacks but then Gertie goes and drops this for me! She knows what the people want!!!
flipping out over this dress! and even more in love to find out its knit <3
I’m screaming I love it so much!!
I’ve been saving images of a similar silhouetted dress hoping I could figure out a pattern hack to make and now I have one I’m so thrilled
Amazing! Love it!
I have *just* been searching for a dress like this, but without the hood! I might just start this one right now
I am so excited about this one!
The hood is everything! LOVE THIS!
A hooded gown!!!! What is not to love! and those bishop sleeves - and I usually don't do sleeves! love love love love love!
Squealing with delight over here!! Gorgeous Gertie and Suzy!
Oh I absolutely love this!!!
I am over the moon excited for this year!!!!
Love love love!!! 💕 💗 💕 OMG I have so many lightweight knits in my stash that I can make different versions of these! 🥳 Including a green and pink velour I’d planned to make a Christmas dress with but got 😷 I love both the sleeves and that hood! 🤩 Love the 40s style shorter skirt too - plus will be able to get it out of <3M which I’ve a few of in my stash. 😊
Wow, this is absolutely amazing 😍 I can't wait to start 😍
OMG OMG OMG ❤️❤️❤️
I found some stretch velvet in my stash weeks ago and had no clue what to use it for. This is perfect for it!
😍absolutely love EVERYTHING about this pattern!
I absolutely adore this dress, the theme of the year - and did I mention the dress? 🥰🥂🍾
..... I have some french blue stretch velvet in my stash PERFECT for this design.
Wowza, need this! <3 <3 <3
Holy moly! :-o Whilst this is printing out, I'm raiding the large stretch velvet stash I have ;-)
I love it! You guys hit it out of the park again, yearly theme included.
Wwwwwow. That is all.
Love, love, LOVE this! ❤️❤️❤️ Exactly what I was hoping for from the hint!
My goodness, I love this so much! ❤️
!!!!!!!
😍😍😍😍😍 I need to move this stunning pattern to the top of my list... I adore it, absolutely adore it
THIS is what I’ve been waiting for - the shining glamour of the 1940s. I do believe this is the best pattern you have designed to date. Thank you so much!
Oh my giddy aunt, 😍 this is off to the printers immediately!
Beautiful! Love the name of this dress too.
The red floral is perfect for work!!! I'm in love!
Literally the dress of my dreams I just save a dress similar to this on my Pinterest Gertie YOUR THE BEST I’ll always be a Patreon supporter can’t wait to make this 😍😍😍
I love this <3
Woowowowow! Love it!
I LOVEEE 😍
Perfect! I love this so much!
This dress is beyond my wildest dreams!!! 😍😍😍
Love it
This is amazing! Love the 1940s look and the HOOD!!!!!
Obsessed! 🤩
HELLLLL YESSS! As Willam says, full fantasy, everytime!!! :)
Well this is très amazing!!!
Oh My! Dream dress alert 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Sew pretty! I love it. 💕💕💕
This dress is to die for, this year is so promising!!!!
Love the options and the hood! This is very elegant.
Wow, just wow
OMFG THERE IS A HOOD!!!! 😍😍😍
WOW! Beautiful that is getting made as soon as possible! 😍💅🔮
What a stunner!
ooooooommmmmmmgggggggg! Soooooooo happy
This is absolutely gorgeous! 😍😍😍
Omg!!! I love this!!!!
Oh my! I need to print this right now! 😍😍😍
This is a DREAM 😭
Oooh, I love this 💙💙💙
This is beautiful!!! I’m so excited the first project is knit too!
Just joined…looking forward to creating-& thx for sleeves!
These sleeves are everything!!! 💖💖💖
Oh, I LOVE THIS!!! I have a wedding to go to this spring!!!
This is exquisite, holy moly
The glamour 😍😍😍
GERTIE! This is my dream dress! 😍😍😍
Ahhhh, I love it!!! Simple, classic and modest!!!
Oh yeah!!!
You’re not playing this year 😍 DREAM DRESS 👗
Love it!