Make a dress with help from this easy-to-follow sewing pattern. Françoise is a chic and easy-to-wear mini dress, inspired by sixties fashion yet always in style. The design features striking French darts and raglan seams. Choose from two-piece three-quarter length sleeves or a sleeveless version, with optional collar and waist tab.
With its simple flat sleeve construction method and jargon-busting instructions, this pattern makes a great first dress project for beginner sewists. More experienced stitchers can add the optional collar and play around with design variations - how about adding piping to the raglan seam lines?.
SKILL LEVEL - Confident beginners
FABRIC SUGGESTIONS - Medium weight cotton, sateen or light twill, preferably with a bit of stretch; double crepe; linen; double knit. The sleeveless version would also be great in gabardine, quilting weight cotton, light wool or brocade.
SUPPLIES
- Fabric - 1.8m x 150cm wide (2 yards x 60in) OR 2.4m x 115cm wide (2 5/8 yards x 45in) (less for sleeveless version)
- Matching thread
- 56cm / 22in invisible zip
- Iron-on interfacing (about 30cm / 12in, similar weight to your fabric)
- Optional: 2 x 2.5cm / 1in buttons for the tab
- Optional: 1.2m x 35mm bias binding for sleeveless version (or you can make your own)
- Sewing machine and basic tools, incl invisible zip foot
SIZES (BODY MEASUREMENTS)
| PATTERN SIZE | BUST | WAIST | HIP |
| 1 (UK 6 / US 2 / EUR 34) | 76cm (30in) | 61cm (24in) | 84cm (33in) |
| 2 (UK 8 / US 4 / EUR 36) | 81cm (32in) | 66cm (26in) | 89cm (35in) |
| 3 (UK 10 / US 6 / EUR 38) | 86.5cm (34in) | 71cm (28in) | 94cm (37in) |
| 4 (UK 12 / US 8 / EUR 40) | 91.5cm (36in) | 76cm (30in) | 99cm (39in) |
| 5 (UK 14 / US 10 / EUR 42) | 96.5cm (38in) | 81cm (32in) | 104cm (41in) |
| 6 (UK 16 / US 12 / EUR 44) | 101.5cm (40in) | 86.5cm (34in) | 109cm (43in) |
| 7 (UK 18 / US 14 / EUR 46) | 106.5cm (42in) | 91.5cm (36in) | 114cm (45in) |
| 8 (UK 20 / US 16 / EUR 48) | 112cm (44in) | 96.5cm (38in) | 119.5cm (47in) |
