Pattern and Instructions: The Study Hall Dress
You’ll be a star pupil in this 1960s-inspired Study Hall Dress. With two dress lengths (including a very short mod skirt!), two sleeve lengths, and an optional collar, this will be the perfect dress to transition into warmer spring weather.
The unique princess lines carry into the full front pockets, perfect for stashing treats and secret notes to pass to friends. Plus the design allows you to play with color blocking or fabric on the bias for added interest—and this makes a nice sewing challenge, too!
The plaid wool version I'm wearing is perfect for winter, with three-quarter length sleeves. Susie is adorable year-round in a Chanel-inspired boucle tweed (with sparkles!), and the Pucci-print inspired dress is my nod to the mod 1960s look.
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 or PDFPlotting.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 watch the companion tutorial video and then share your makes with the hashtags #charmpatterns and #studyhalldress!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (92)
Great dress - and Susie, as always, looks amazing - but is anyone struggling with lining up the pockets? The Pocket Bag piece is wider than the dress side front in the F/G cup, size 18. It’s wider by about an inch and a half. Looking at the photos, it does look like the pockets pouf out a bit, so maybe that’s intentional?
Oh, duh, never mind. I get it. It’s the main dress front you sew the pocket bags to first. The pattern, like all of Gertie’s patterns, is coming together beautifully.
I have to work out how to remove the pockets and it will be perfect for the office
Susie looks BANGIN' in that dress with that hair, me-WOW!
This one with a pencil skirt and the Rainbow Prada Fabric 😍 this will be my next Project 🥰
perfect for this summer!
I love this pattern! I really hope that you create more 60’s/mod style patterns 💗💗
CUTE!
OMG! I NEED a dress in that pink boucle Susie's got. She is adorable!
Susie looks so incredibly stunning here! That bob is soooo gorg
Is that Pucci print dress cotton sateen? Where is it from, I want to make exactly that dress - or maybe in a yellow/orange colourway 🧡
Ohhhhh 😱 you have given me EXACTLY what I was starting to look for… princess lines, fitted, shaped, 60s 💗💗💗
This would look gorgeous with Bishop sleeves from Night & Day dress. Is there a tutorial how to adjust the bust point at a princess seam?
I see this, and I want to see how to do color-blocking for it! (Maybe combo with Pride flag colors)
Love how the different fabrics give it such a different look! She’s versatile!
I’m loving this so much
As the 60's is not really my thing, I think I'd still wear a belt with this. Maybe a self fabric or to match the collar. Hmmmmmm............
You can add a bit length and spread the skirt for more flare.
Yesss! I’m so excited 🥰
I KNEW IT!!!!! For those that aren’t Australian, I don’t know how much press it received overseas, but the white shift dress Jean wore it to the Melbourne Cup with no hat, gloves, or pantyhose. It made big news in the papers here, people were shocked, and mum remembers it well.
I remember that. I was just a kid, but I remember the big fuss and horror in the newspapers. By the standards of a couple of years later it wasn't even that short!
I love how princess seams lead into the big pockets! I was dreading a plain shift but this is cute.🧵🪡💖
Love this SO MUCH!!!! I can see myself making a heap of these. Thanks Gertie and team. 💜
Was nervous about a shift, but the fitting of this one is lovely! Looking forward to making a mini with some color blocking on the side fronts <3
LOVE this, how flipping cute!!!
Love! Love! Love this! And the pockets….more love!!!
Oh hell yes!! 😍 I have been waiting for a little mod dress, I feel so heard!! AND it's better than I imagined- oh those pockets! Happy dance!!
Totes adorbs
Oh such a wonderful dress!!! I just want to run to my favourite fabric shop!
This is such a wonderful dress!!! I just want to run to my favourite fabric shop!
Yes, it’s cute. But I don’t need any more dresses. Gonna see if I can swing a blouse out of this one.
Can the pockets be optional ?
Absolutely lovely 🥰 thank you!!
I'm not usually a big 60s fashions fan, but I love a good princess seam dress, especially sans waist seam. I'm onboard for this one! (And Susie looks crazy stylish here, between the bob, the barrette, and the boucle!)
YES!!!! It’s EXACTLY what I was hoping for!!! Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’m so happy I could cry!!
Ok - I can't wait to see what others make of this! I love this dress and I've always wanted to wear/have dresses like this. But worry that it TOTALLY doesn't work with my shape. quick! someone prove me wrong! (it's wont be the first time!)
What shape are you?
Stop it!! This is just so stinking cute! I almost never want to do two views in any pattern but I love these both!!
GERTIE!!! ANOTHER TRIUMPH!!!
I’m excited about this one. I have a small brown and cream houndstooth linen that should be perfect!
i was thinking it would be a shift with a collar option, but i love the pockets and great color blocking option! i would totally be making a hundred of these if i still wore short skirts! can’t wait to see everyone’s makes.
So cuuute! I was certain a sixties inspired dress would be awesome, and you all have certainly delivered!! Love the pockets and the seaming details. Thank you!
This is so cute! I have an April wedding to go to & I have a lovely vintage red roses print fabric that would look so great! I may even add a lace bishop sleeve to fancy it up some
Ooh, I had a favorite yellow dress in a similar style that I can't wear anymore. I can see me making a new one with this pattern!
Oooh, I have at least 2 fabrics in my stash that would be perfect for this 😍
OMG yes! Love love love! Gertie must be on the same wave length as I am because this is the second year I've gotten the pattern I mentioned on my year end survey! 😍 Can't wait to make this one!
Wow! I’m not normally a fan of shift dresses on me but this is going to look amazing! 💖 Do you think if it’s lengthened to just below the knee it’ll lose the vintage vibe? 🤔
I made dresses similar to this in the 60s, but this is Gertified. Our patterns back then tended not to have pockets, and not pockets into the princess seams. This fit looks better too. We have the vintage style with Gertie's improvements.
I love this. I'm not typically a fan of exposed zippers, but the red one on plaid really looks great! I'll try that. I'm not too sure about the fitting of the dress back, though. Perhaps it's just the way you have to pose that makes it bunch up a bit? Thank you for jumping into the 60s and really broadening your decade range of patterns!!!
Look closer, it is not the zipper
Oh. My. Gosh. LOVE THIS 😍😍😍
I want to line this! Would I draft a lining piece by just overlaying the dress front and pocket overtop each other and trace that?
Yaaaaas ive wanted this for so long
I’ve had a dress like this on my list for 3 years. Team Charm strikes again. I love that you keep releasing my dream wardrobe.
Love love love this.
I was just searching for a similar pattern last night! I cannot wait to make one!
I love it! I have to make a gown for a ball first, but then I'll be making one of these!
Susie has the best legs! This is such an adorable dress! Love it.
Oooh I can't wait to try this in two tone
OMG This Is So Cute!!!!!!
LOVE IT. Not my usual style, but I'm job hunting right now, which means I have to switch out my sweatpants and PJ's WFH wardrobe for office-appropriate attire. This is perfect!
Now I have a reason for the gold Esska boots ❤️🩷🧡😝
LOVE this. Not my usual style, but I think it is about to be!❤️
And Susie looks AMAZING!!!
Nice! Looks easy to make!
I wouldn’t have pictured myself in this but omg now I want to!
OMG this is so versatile! I'm so excited to wear these with platforms
This is so groovy! I’m excited. This looks so fun.
I love this! Such a perfect spring dress!
Love love love this!
This is cute cute CUTE!!! Can't wait to sew one up for meeee! 😻
Yay! So fun! As always...looking forward to this sew! Thanks Gertie and Team! :)
Amazing! Thank you so much! Can't wait to sew it!
I love that it's not a true shift style, but has shaping. I was worried about that!
Amazing! This dress is curve enhancing and so flattering! Seriously love the princess seams. THANK YOU! 💖🤗
Super cute!
I have the perfect fabric for this! Yay 🥰
Cute. Love it
MISS SUSIE LOOKING LIKE A DREAM 😍 The little collar and tie?!?! Adorable!!! 🥰
Adorable!
Wow! I love it!!! This is me 💜❤️💜
Omg I love it! ❤️ Those pockets!! 😍
LOVE it Gertie. Love, love, love it.
Hello tailored-fit cobbler. Leave it to the team to always figure out a pocket. 😻
I love this I am so combining this with a gathered skirt
Omfgggggggg i love this!!! I think this may be my favorite so far of everything.
P.S. I have shoes that have been waiting for this dress. ;)
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
LOVE!!!!!!!!
Oh, my gosh!!!! I love it SO MUCH
I love this!!
Love love love!!!! 😍❤️❤️❤️😍