Laurens Round Up of Dress Sewing Patterns

Following on from my popular posts featuring all the button down shirt and blouse patterns and woven tops that I’ve made over the years, I wanted to do a similar thing with all the different dress sewing patterns.

There are hundreds, if not a thousand, different dress sewing patterns and this is by no means a full guide. Instead I have grouped together the dresses I have made for myself along with the styles we have featured in Sewing Society kits in the past. I hope that is gives you an idea of what a finished garment can look like compared to a technical drawing and how different fabrics hang and drape when stitched up.

Check out my latest Youtube video to hear me chat through the styles or read on for a summary of each dress featured. Click on the highlighted blue text below to link to the pattern listing either in our shop or directly from the pattern companies website, if it is a pattern that we do not stock.

Closet Core Nicks Dress

Inject a little bohemian glamour into your wardrobe with the Closet Core Nicks Dress And Blouse! In multiple variations with soft gathering and delicate details, it's satisfying to make and a pleasure to wear.

All views feature a loose-fitting V-necked bodice with a gently gathered shoulder and yoke. The slightly puffed sleeve is gathered at the shoulder; choose between a short sleeve, or a long sleeve with wrist pleats for shaping and an elastic gathered cuff. You may also choose between two interchangeable neckline finishes: a simple facing, or a bias-bound neckline with delicate rouleau button loops and buttons. View A is a button-front dress with a comfortable elastic waist, long or short sleeves, and three gathered skirt tiers. View B is a voluminous swing tunic with a gathered hip tier and long or short sleeves. View C is an elegant blouse with a faced neckline and long or short sleeves.

We featured this pattern in our Sewing Society kits alongside our exclusive Bee happy Blooms Viscose fabric and I think it makes a perfect pairing. I sized down 2 sizes for my versions but used a 1cm seam allowance at the back arm hole to allow for a little extra ease across the back yoke. My top tips video for making this pattern is available in this link.

Closet Core Elodie Dress

Elodie is a modern take on a classic wrap dress. Romantic and flowy with multiple skirt and sleeve options, it’s equally appropriate at a park picnic or a special wedding.

Elodie features a softly flowing bodice, with release pleats under the bust and a dolman style sleeve. Choose between a short sleeve or a longer, more formal option that ends at the elbow. The skirt is swishy and voluminous and comes in three lengths, above the knee, midi or maxi, with optional patch pockets.

We featured this pattern in one of our Sewing Society kits along side our exclusive Chicacheetah Viscose print. Unfortunately this particular print is now sold out but it pairs really well with any viscose print or a viscose linen would also be lovely if you fancied a plain fabric. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

Sew Liberated Hinterland Dress

The Sew Liberated Hinterland Dress offers a timeless, comfortable, and elegant silhouette. Featuring three sleeve options, either partial or full button down plackets, customisable length, and inseam pockets, this is a pattern workhorse that spans the seasons. The fit is loose, with side bust darts and a gathered skirt with optional waist ties. Don’t feel like buttons? Cut the front bodice on the fold for a placket-free hack. You might consider lengthening the bodice and hacking it into an adorable cropped top, too!This pattern is suitable for advanced beginners. You will learn how to sew bust darts, bias facings, inseam pockets, button plackets, and inset sleeves.

We featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit and used linen/cotton and linen/viscose fabrics but its a super versatile pattern that would easily pair well with lighter woven viscose fabrics or more structured linens and cottons as well. You can find my top tips video for making this pattern in this link.

Tilly and the Buttons Lyra Dress

The Tilly And The Buttons Lyra Shirt Dress Sewing Pattern is an ultra-cool shirt dress with an oversized, blousy bodice with bust darts, button front opening, two-piece collar and stand, and, of course, side seam pockets. The gathered skirt can be hemmed just above the knee, or add the midi panel for a trendy tiered look.

Choose between short sleeves for easy-breezy summer style or full length billowy sleeves with elasticated cuffs. Wear Lyra loose and floaty, or add an optional narrow tie to cinch you in at the waist. Endlessly versatile, pick a cooling cotton for the heat, cosy needlecord for the winter or a drapey viscose for added swish!

When we featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit we paired it with a viscose and also a light weight denim fabric. The viscose drapes really nicely whereas the denim has a bit more structure but both work really well. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

Chalk and Notch Fringe Dress

The Chalk And Notch Fringe Dress Sewing Pattern is a woven dress and blouse with two views. View A has a button up front, elbow sleeve and sleeve tab. View B has a pull over, notched front with a cuff. Both views include two cup sizes, optional waist ties, and the sleeve/cuffs are interchangeable.

When we featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit we included a woven viscose fabric and this pairs really well with the loose floaty style. It would also look nice in a cotton lawn, or a viscose linen mix. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

Megan Nielsen Sudley Dress

The Megan Nielsen Sudley is a reversible loose fit blouse and gathered waist dress. Pattern features keyhole cut out, ties, a peter pan collar and three sleeve lengths. Can be worn with keyhole in the front or back.

Version 1 is a blouse with above elbow sleeves and a peter pan collar. Version 2 is a cropped blouse with short sleeves. Version 3 is an empire waist dress with gathered skirt and ¾ length sleeves.

When we featured this dress in a Sewing Society kit we choose 3 viscose fabrics that works really well with the fuller looser style. In the my top tips video for making this pattern (available in this link) I show you how to add an elastic cuff and alter the length of the tiers for a different look as well as adding a narrow belt in the same fabric with dainty thread belt loops.

Friday Pattern Company Wilder

The Wilder Gown is a loose, flowy, tiered dress that can be sewn up in a bunch of different ways! It has raglan sleeves and ties up at the neck. It is easy to sew and is perfect for drapey woven fabrics. The Wilder Gown can be made as a top or dress, long or short sleeved, with one skirt tier or two. The design is fairly modular so it is easy to customize to your vision!

When we featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit we included viscose fabrics, which are light weight with lots of drape. I think this type of fabric suits the very loose style of this dress well. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

Tilly and the Buttons Indigo Dress

Cute, comfy and effortlessly stylish, the Tilly and the Buttons Indigo smock dress has no fiddly fastenings so you can throw it on and go. Sew it with classic gathered seams or elevate it to a stand-out piece in your wardrobe with the pretty exposed frill seam.

Indigo has a bodice shaped with bust darts, gently curved empire waistline, and floaty gathered skirt. Make it as a top with dipped hem ending at the low hip, or a knee-length dress with straight hem and pockets (yay!). Choose from three-quarter flounce sleeves or slim-fitting bracelet sleeves. You’ll want to wear one every day of the week.

I've made a few versions of this pattern, one in a Liberty Tana Lawn where I lined the skirt section only. The other version is in a light weight viscose crepe, which drapes and swishes a lot. It is loose in its fit as its designed to taken on and off over the head without zips or any fastenings so I usually wear it with a belt to pull it in at the waist.

Tilly and the Buttons Lotta

Easy to make, with no fiddly bits, The Tilly and the Buttons Lotta Dress is a perfect dressmaking project for beginners, or a satisfyingly speedy sew for more experienced stitchers. It has a blousy bodice and flared skirt, cinched in with a narrow elasticated waistline.

Choose between knee-length or midi-length skirt, with grown-on short sleeves or bracelet-length drop shoulder sleeves, with optional deep patch pockets. To make it even more versatile, you can make this dress in either woven fabric or stretchy jersey.

I've made a few versions of this super simple dress. A longer version in a plain weave viscose that feels really smart and swishy and a shorter version in a viscose twill, that is a slightly heavier fabric, with longer sleeves that feels a bit cosier layered up with tights in the Autumn.

Forget Me Knot Lola Dress

Lola is a loose-fitting blouse and dress pattern with a cut-on sleeve and side bust dart. The back features a yoke with an inverted box pleat. The yoke sports the option of a petite ruffle for a little bit of fun!

The silhouette of the dress is slightly A-line, skimming the hips without lots of fullness. The blouse features side splits and a shirt-style rounded hem at the back. For the dress, you can opt for the loose silhouette, or cinch in the waist with the included tie belt. There are two neckline options; a scoop neck, or a boat neck, each with their own sewing instructions. There are also optional in-seam pockets for the dress.

Lola is a low-fuss pattern, with no need for zips or closures! It also includes three different bust sizes so you can get your best fit.

For my version of this lovely super simple dress I used a viscose fabric and it feels really light weight a cooling to wear for the summer. I made a little belt to go with it as well that I wear when I want to have more shaping at the waist.

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out.

Fibremood Gladys Dress

The Fibremood Gladys Dress is a long, romantic dress will give any winter outfit a playful, feminine twist. Even better, Gladys is the perfect go-to for when you can’t make up your mind about what to wear. This dress is also hack-friendly; make it with or without the ruffled trim, omit the flounce at the bottom, or shorten the whole thing into a smart blouse. Gladys looks brilliant paired with an oversized wool cardigan.

I used a viscose sateen fabric to make a version that was a bit fancier for 2 weddings that I went to last year. I love the details it has!

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out.

Fibremood Marion

Mix a dash of Bohemian with a sturdy dose of romantic and a splash of Western and what do you get? An on-trend prairie dress! Marion features raglan sleeves, a jewel neck, a tiered skirt, elasticised wrists and waist, and a tie for the waistline. Tighten or wear it comfortably loose. Not fond of the ruffles at the wrists? The solution is simple. Just leave off the ruffle strips and finish the sleeve with a double fold hem. For a nifty alternative, you can also turn Marion into a top in no time by leaving off the bottom tier of the skirt.

I also made a version to wear to a wedding in a viscose sateen and I enjoyed wearing it on holiday for dinner (as pictured below). I wasn't sure at first about the proportions of the gathered sections in the skirt but I actually really like it and it feels very glamorous to wear!

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out.

Named Patterns Taika Dress

The Named Clothing Taika Dress Sewing Pattern is a timeless midi-length blouse dress with half sleeves and gathered sleeve openings. This lightly fitted dress features a V-neck and a button closure. The curved waist seam runs below the bust at front, and the gathers at the bust and centre back give volume and shape to the bodice, while the vertical seams of the skirt flatter and contour the body.

I made a version of this dress as part of our window display in the spring using our exclusive Bee Happy Blooms Viscose fabric and it looks fantastic. I made it straight out the packet to my measurements and found that for me, I need to reduced the height of the bodice as the seam that sits under the bust sits too low (I show more of this in the video linked about).

Named Patterns Kerttu Dress

The Named Clothing Kerttu pattern includes two variations: a sun dress with a tie detail at front, and a simple high-waist skirt. Both variations come with a tiered maxi-length hem and an elastic waist. The dress has a deep V-neck, and a keyhole detail at front. The rounded back neck line is gathered with the spaghetti shoulder straps. You can adjust the length of the straps through the opening in the back lining.

I made a version of this in our exclusive Bee Happy Blooms Viscose fabric and I have been so pleased with it. I think the construction is really clever and it feels really summery to wear.

Deer and Doe Magnolia Dress

The Deer and Doe Magnolia is an elegant Mock-wrap dress with a tie back detail and invisible side zipper. Version A has a plunging neckline, maxi skirt with a slit, and long sleeves. Version B has a regular neckline, short skirt, and butterfly sleeves.

We featured this pattern in one of our first Sewing Society kits and included a beautiful Liberty Viscose fabric that drapes and pairs perfectly with this pattern. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out.

Closet Core Ebony Dress - Designed for Knits

An elegant basic featuring a fluidly draped silhouette, the Closet Core Ebony Tee is a versatile wardrobe staple you’ll want to wear every day.

Make a swingy knit dress or modern cropped top, with your choice of scoop or jewel neckline, and long or 3/4 sleeves. For the ultimate leggings companions, make an Ebony tunic, with a cascading hem and short raglan sleeves. All necklines are finished with a knit band.

This is a super comfy dress that I made in a viscose Liberty jersey years ago. I wear it a lot in the winter paired up with tights. I've also made loads of the top version over the years too.

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out.

Sew Liberated Stasia - Designed for knits

The Stasias' secret is a subtle 'V' shaped front bodice at the waistline, which provides plenty of room below for beautiful bellies. You'll feel free to move around in comfort and ease while swishing around in the fullness of the skirt.With various sleeve options (sleeveless, long, 3/4 and cap sleeve) two neckline options, two length options as well as a t-shirt and dress option - you can customise this versatile pattern to your preferences - it even has pockets! Yay!

We featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit and used a modal jersey fabric that drapes beautifully in the fuller style of the skirt. It's so comfy to wear!

The pattern is available as a PDF directly from the pattern companies website in this link and you can make use of our A0 pattern printing service to get it printed out. My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.

Cashmerette Appleton Wrap Dress - Designed for knits

The Cashmerette Appleton is a classic wrap dress is designed to play up your curves with a crossover front, a built-in waist tie, and a deep V-neck. Designed by and for curvy women, the Appleton’s innovative neckband construction prevents gaping across your bust. Do a celebratory shimmy, because this bodice has you well covered!

We featured this pattern in a Sewing Society kit and used a modal jersey fabric that drapes beautifully in the fuller style of the skirt. It's so comfy to wear! My top tips video for making this pattern can be found in this link.