Creating clothes at home is an art that combines creativity with practicality, offering the satisfaction of personal expression through style.
If you’ve always dreamed of designing and sewing your own dresses but didn’t know where to start, this article is for you.
Here you will find easy dress patterns with step-by-step instructions, starting from the bodice that will serve as the foundation for your own unique dresses.
Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in sewing, creating these patterns will give you the confidence to proceed with making impressive and stylish garments.
Let’s begin our creative journey!
Measurements needed (for making a small size):
Refer to the size charts here.
Chest 88 cm
Neck – Waist 40 cm
Waist – Hips 20,6 cm
Armhole 21 cm
Neck size 37 cm
Shoulder 12.25 cm
Back 34.4 cm
Chest dart 7 cm
Sternum 32.4 cm
Initial lines:
Draw a straight line downwards from point 0 and another horizontally across the pattern.
0-1: 1,5 cm.
1-2: armhole plus 2.5 cm. Draw a horizontal line.
2-3: half of the chest plus 7 cm. (for example, if the chest is 88 cm, 88/2 = 44 + 7 = 51 cm). Draw one vertical and one horizontal line. Mark this line as the center front.
3-4: = 0-2 (add 0.3 cm for each size above 48 according to Greek industrial standards). Draw a straight line along the length of 4.
1-5: neck – waist Draw a horizontal line up to 6.
5-7: waist – hip. Draw a straight line up to point 8.
Back Side:
0-9: one fifth of the neck size minus 0.2 cm. Draw the back curve of the neckline, from point 1 to point 9.
1-10: one fifth of the armhole minus 1 cm. Draw a line to the center of the pattern.
9-11: shoulder length plus 1 cm. (0.5 cm allowance and additional length of 0.5 cm). Draw the back shoulder line to intersect the line from point 10.
2-12: half of the back width plus 1 cm. allowance. Draw a line up to point 13.
12-14: half of the line 12-13.
Front Side:
4-15: one fifth of the neck size minus 0.7 cm.
4-16: one fifth of the neck size minus 0.2 cm. Draw the front curve of the neckline from point 15 to point 16.
15-17: half of the chest dart opening.
3-18: half of the sternum plus 1 cm, plus half of the line 15-17. Draw a straight line upwards.
18-19: half of the line 3-16 minus 2 cm.
3-20: half of the line 3-18. Connect points 15-20 and 17-20 to form the dart.
11-21: 1.5 cm. Draw a horizontal line approximately 15 cm long. up to point 22.
17-23: draw a line from point 17, shoulder measurement plus 0.5 cm, intersecting line 21-22.
18-24: half of the line 12-18. Draw a line to point 25 for the waist and to point 26 for the hip line.
Draw the armhole at points 11, 14, 24, 19, 23.
Measure the curves:
Sizes 42-48: from point 12, 2.5 cm. and from point 18, 2.25 cm.
Μεγέθη 46-52: from point 12, 3 cm. and from point 18, 2.75 cm.
Μεγέθη 54-60: from point 12, 3.5 cm. and from point 18, 3.25 cm.
Pattern without dart:
The pattern without dart is used in designs with a very loose fit, where the dart would disrupt the design. This pattern is not suitable for women with a very large bust.
Design the loose-fit pattern with the following changes:
3-18: half of the sternum plus 1 cm. Draw a line upwards.
11-21: 0,75 cm. Draw a horizontal line 15 cm long. up to point 22.
15-23: Draw a line from point 15, shoulder length plus 0.5 cm, intersecting with the line 21 – 22.
To create this pattern for a loose, one-piece dress, you simply extend the pattern described earlier to the desired length.
The result will vary depending on the type of fabric used.
If you wish, you can leave the sides open from the knee down or even open the hem into an “A-line” shape.
You can also adjust the waist according to your proportions by measuring along the waistline.
Learn here how to flare out your pattern into an A-line shape.
Trace the outline of the basic pattern for a loose fit, as described above, down to the hips.
Draw the waistline.
Mark points 1, 2, 3, 4.
Extend straight lines from points 1 to 5 and from point 4 to 6, respectively.
Point 7 is the midpoint of line 5-6.
Extend with a straight line up to point 8.
Connect points 3-8 and 2-8 with curved lines.
Extend the front and back darts by 13 centimeters.
Trace the outline of the loose-fit pattern described above.
Lower the front waistline by 1 centimeter.
Draw the waistline with a side seam. (See basic skirt pattern here).
Mark points 1, 2, 3, 4.
Extend straight lines downward from points 1 and 4.
1-5: 5 cm. Extend with a horizontal straight line up to point 6.
5-9: Desired finish. Extend in a straight line up to point 10.
Point 11 is the midpoint of line 9-10.
Extend straight upwards to point 12.
Points 13 and 14 are located below points 2 and 3 by 1.25 cm. above the line 5-6.
The patterns presented in this article serve as the foundation for creating your own unique dresses. With a bit of imagination and creativity, you can customize the design as you wish. Whether you prefer a deep neckline or an elegant V-neck, or if you want to create dresses with straight, A-line, or pencil silhouettes, the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust the patterns to fit your own preferences and needs. Remember, sewing is an art form that allows you to express your personal style and create something truly unique. Best of luck and enjoy your creative journey in fashion!
And get a pattern and instructions on how to sew this famous "Japanese Knot Bag"
