Our newest Draft-at-home dress pattern is now available!
This download has been archived.
This pattern is currently ONLY available to our Textile Wrangler and Fabric Whisperer tier patrons!
This is a digital draft-at-home pattern for a stylish French shirtwaist dress. The bodice is a simple but elegant button-down design with a slightly pointed collar and optional cuffed sleeves. The skirt has the unique option of being cut with or without pleats so that you can decide on the fullness and shape you prefer.
Fabrics: The original source material suggested Tobacco-colored matte crepe fabric but light to medium-weight non-stretch fabrics such as cotton, rayon crepe, satin, charmeuse, linen, etc. will all work well.
Fabric: this pattern requires approximately 4.5 meters (about 5 yards) 100 cm wide (40 inches wide).
Fabric requirements given are for a 98 cm bust average. More or less may be required depending on the size you choose to draft.
Year: circa 1949.
SIZING: ANY SIZE.
This is a pattern from a French pattern drafting system fairly similar to the Lutterloh golden rule patterns. You will be able to draft a pattern to your exact size from the miniature pattern template and specially designed rulers. To draft any of these special patterns to doll, children, and adult sizes is easy. Rulers are available to draft the pattern as small as a 5 1/2" bust/hip to as large as a 60" bust/hip and the pattern will be scaled perfectly every time.
But that’s not all! Want to make a pattern LARGER than a 60 inch chest? Use a measuring band HALF the desired size and DOUBLE each number that you draft from your miniature template.
Example: to draft a pattern for an 82 inch chest (208 cm) chose the 104 CM measuring band and when the pattern tells you to mark at 30, you mark at 60 instead.
ALL RULERS ARE INCLUDED AS PRINTABLES WITH THESE PATTERNS.
Don't have a printer? Not a problem! We offer a printing service Add-on for these patterns.
Simply add the printing service to your cart along with this pdf pattern. (You will still need to draft your pattern using the printed tools - we do not offer a drafting service at this time.)
The pattern includes basic markings and notches that show you how they fit together, and indications such as dotted lines for cutting on the fold. I have included several pages of drafting instructions that I have translated from the original French personally. The illustrated instructions show you how to easily draw your pattern pieces from the miniature pattern template using your special ruler.
These patterns were marketed originally to both home seamstresses and professionals alike and assume that you have a basic understanding of clothing construction. The original patterns DO NOT include any sewing instructions or facings. To sew these, you should have a basic understanding of how pattern pieces should fit together. The pattern pieces are illustrated in such a way that you can see how they are supposed to be sewn to each other.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: These patterns might be a bit difficult for the beginner but an intermediate level home seamstress will most likely have little trouble.
For a complete tutorial on drafting your pattern including photos, check out this blog post.
QUESTIONS? Check out our draft-at-home patterns FAQ page which included video tutorials!
What you will need:
Paper (I use large tracing paper but butcher paper, muslin fabric, wrapping paper etc all work great!)
Pencil
It's that simple! No special tools are required!
Included measuring band type: Class B
If French is your first language and you would prefer a copy of the instructions in French, you can find them here.