We all get it – there’s a pandemic. Most of us are staying safe at home as it slowly, but surely becomes too cold for outdoor activities. Holiday parties are again being substituted with Zoom gatherings and virtual celebrations. Stay equally comfy and stylish for your next video affair in our newest free sewing pattern! The Elderberry Dress is equal parts comfortable and easy to make. You can elevate it with a woven fabric and optional back zipper, or skip the closure altogether and opt for a stretch version! We landed somewhere in the middle with ours, using an incredibly pliable ponte for the underlay and a lace with a decent amount of ease for extra comfort. Adding a zipper to this version made for the perfect fit!
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 1-2 yards Premium Forest Green Stretch Ponte Knit
- 1.5-2.5 yards Thyme Tie Dye Floral Cotton Lace
- MDF222 – The Elderberry Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
First, create your bodice overlay and underlay separately, like below. Begin with the center front, adding your side front panels to either side.
The more angled edge of your side back attaches to the side front at the side seam, while the straighter edge attaches to the center back.
I recommend pressing open your seams if you did a regular stitch, or press them each toward the side seam.
Create each of your straps, folding them along the length with the faces together. Stitch and pull right side out with a loop turner or something similar. Attach to the face of your overlay at the princess seams.
Place your overlay face to face with your lining and pin. Be sure to match up each of the seams and sew along the top edge, sewing the strap into place as you do so. Clip your seam allowance at the curves and at any corners.
Be sure that your seams are pressed, either open or toward the side seams. Pin the overlay to the lining, ensure that each seam is lined up and then stitch along the seam to keep it in place. This also keeps the seam allowance down.
Hem the bottom of your skirt underlay with a single or double folded hem. Pin the overlay to the lining at the waist, both layers face up.
Pin both skirt layers to the bodice at the waist with the faces of each lace layer together. I recommend stitching with an overlock stitch.
If desired, add a zipper at the center back and then sew down the remainder of the center back seam. If not, skip the zipper and sew the center back seam on its own. Hem the skirt overlay and your new garment is ready to wear!
72 comments
Oh I LOVE this! I’ve been looking for a pattern like this for a certain project for so long! Thank you for creating and sharing this!!
What to do if you fall between sizes? My bust is a size 2, waist 14, and hips 16. What size would work best?
Hi Sarah! Start out by cutting the size 16. Mark the size 2 at the bust, and the size 14 at the waist. Blend between the sizes, easing the lines into the different sizes. I suggest making a muslin first, just to ensure you have the best fit!
What an incredible pattern! I used this pattern to make my university graduation dress in honour of my nan who was a seamstress and passed away during my first year of uni. It turned out beautiful and I got so many compliments on it. Thank you so much for this gorgeous dress pattern!
Dear Courtney,
This is a beautiful dress. However, I miss seeing those dresses worn by your beautiful models, and more than one garment I have made because they so convincingly show that chic and fashion fun is for every body. Is it again because of Corona? Will they be back?
Take care
Claudia
Hi, Claudia – and thank you! I miss all my coworkers too! Since March, a lot of us have been working from home to stay safe and to keep our online headquarters as safe as possible while the team continues to ship out orders. Hopefully one day we’ll all be back and able to do photo shoots again! 🙂
Bonjour,
Merci pour votre patron. Cette robe est incroyable . Je l’ai réalisée pour ma fille avec un tissu dentelle noire et une doublure bleu marine et elle est sublime ! Le seul problème que j’ai rencontré était de savoir si les marges de couture étaient comprises dans le patron…. J’ai fait un mélange pour adapter à la morphologie de ma fille.
Bonne et heureuse année 2023 et pleins de réalisations
are seam allowances included
A 1/2″ seam allowance is included! 🙂
Good day,
I stumbled across your page last night and I’m just so excited to start sewing again.
Many thanks
Julia
Hi Everyone! Thanks for the great free patterns! Can the patterns be printed at a copy shop?
Hi, Barbara! Unfortunately, our free patterns are currently only available in PDF-sized patterns.
this would be a beautiful and fun dress to make
Hello!
I’m trying to make this dress for my 18th and I was wondering if I could just use a simple satin for both the lining and the main fabric and use interfacing to stabilise the bodice?
Happy 18th! And yes, I think that should work perfectly. 🙂
Thank you for the free pattern! I will definitely sew it! Love it!
I made this the other day out of a beautiful light rayon as a sundress, but without the lace layer on the skirt, I just did the bottom layer. I added a zip too, as rayon has no stretch and it would not have fit otherwise. It is absolutely gorgeous, very gentle, yet elegant and feminine. I have another lot of fabric that I am going to make another dress out of! However, I quickly became aware of a moderate issue; the front side bodice is a full inch shorter on both top and bottom, which makes it very hard to match up. I ended up adding a half inch to every side, but that made it wider, and when it was all put together, I had fitting issues just underneath my armpits around my bust. However, this was easily rectified by just bringing it in more at the side seams! And now I know for future patterns that, for this to fit me, I have to make these adjustments.
Regardless, this pattern is great. The dress is elegant, and fits me perfectly! I used an 18 inch zipper which was way too long, I’d recommend 12 inches or less, as the zipper on this dress extends quite far down the back of the skirt. I found the straps were too long, but it was so easy to pull them in just a bit, and overall, it’s easy and honestly quite quick, even if you do need to make these adjustments.
Your comment saved me from doing the same mistake!
Hi this is a beautiful pattern! I was wondering if I could add some sort of boning (zip ties and the like) to create almost a corset style top…do you think that it could hold up or not? And if so, should I put the channels in the overlay or the underlay?
Hi, Sarah! Yes, others have added boning and it stayed up well! You can also add some elastic along the top edge to help cinch it as well. If you do add boning channels, I’d add them to the underlay. 🙂
Hi i love this pattern but while I was cutting the fabric i noticed that my computer had scaled the pattern so that was a little issue but I printed it a second time and It worked so thx for the reminder
Thanks for the free pattern! I wanted to give future makers a heads up about the pattern. First of all it is free, yay! Second the side bodice is an inch too short. You will want to adjust it before cutting your fabric. And lastly the finished waist for the 12/14 is 28.5 inches, it won’t fit my 30 inch waist.
Thank you! I was just about to make a comment asking if I messed up because I realized mine don’t line up. I think it’ll be an easy enough fix that I won’t have to reprint and recut the pattern itself, but I’m glad it wasn’t just me lol
Hello Courtney.
Thanks for the beautiful pattern! I wonder these downloaded piles are printed in which size of paper. Is it okay to be printed on A4 size or need to be resized to bigger paper?
Our PDF patterns can be printed on US Letter or A4 paper! 🙂
Does this pattern include the skirt and bodice?
Hi, Sarah! Yes, the pattern is for the dress.
Love this pattern, actually have a bride who wanted a dress almost exactly like this! Super excited to be done with the dress this week! Thank you for providing such a fun and easy pattern!
I just sewed the top edge of the overlay and lining face to face. I am slightly confused on how to turn the whole thing so that the overlay seams are against the right side of the lining.
Hi Natalee! After you stitch the top edge of the overlay to the lining fabric, you should be able to trim the seam, clip corners, and then turn it over so it is right sides out. I suggest pressing after you turn it for a crisp, clean edge. 😀
This is gorgeous! Just wondering, would it be possible to do the overlay in tulle rather than lace?
Hi! Yes, it is possible to do the overlay in tulle rather than lace. 😀
I can’t wait to start making this dress! Quick question- I’d like to add a zipper to it, but I’m not sure what size zipper to use. Any recommendations?
Hi Asche! A 9-12″ zipper should work great for this dress. 😀
Hi, I’m wanting to make this pattern, although I’m hoping to use slightly cheaper fabrics. Could you please help me out with the length of fabric if I use a fabric of a different width? I want to make this dress in a size 10.
Hi Charlotte, if you’re using a smaller width fabric, I’d add on an extra yard. 🙂
Hi! I have a question, I was wondering if I wanted to use charmeuse as the under layer instead, would I need interfacing?
Hi Beatrice, you might want to use interfacing for the bodice!
I was just wondering can we print this pattern cause I find it rlly pretty and I want to print it. If we can, can you show me how ?
Hi Chloe, just fill out the form and the pattern will be sent to you via email. Print at home on US Letter/A4 paper at 100%, and use tape to tile the pieces together. Happy sewing!
Is it possible to use just the bodice from this pattern with another skirt (The Iris Gown)? If so what pages should I print?
Hi Megan, you can totally do that! The bodice is on the pages labeled 6, 12, 18-21, 25-30.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I got a little confused by the skirt pattern. It says to cut one on the fold, but when I put that side on the fold, the grainline on the pattern is perpendicular to the grainline of the fabric and the skirt overlay doesn’t fit on the width of the 59″ fabric. I’m a little confused on how to orient the pattern to make it work
Hi Jamie! You might need to fold the fabric lengthwise instead of crosswise!
Hi! Trying to figure out the seam allowances for this pattern? Thanks in advance
Hi Ari! The seam allowance is 1/2″. 🙂
Is there somewhere to see the finished garment measurements?
Hi Lynda, we don’t currently provide finished garment measurements on our older patterns. However, all of our newer patterns do have them!
Hi, when sticking the pattern together do you have to trim the pages? I’ve worked out you do on the short edge but not sure if you do on the long edge
Hi Sherrie, you can if that’s your preference, but it’s not necessary. As long as you line up the guidelines you should be ok!
Hi! I wanted to use the base layer and add a chiffon overlay instead – would it be doable? Or should I stick to lace?
Hi Ava, yes, that would look beautiful!
Hi! Can we sell anything we make out of this pattern? Or no ?
Hi Sam, thanks for asking us this question! We don’t allow our patterns to be sold as sewing patterns, but you’re free to make a garment to sell! We just ask that you credit MoodFabrics.com or MoodSewciety.com in the product description. 🙂
Hey Elisabeth I mean like selling the stuff online.
Hi Sam, you can sew our garments to sell online, but we ask that you credit us in the product description. Selling the actual sewing patterns is not allowed, as they are free for everyone. 🙂
Hello Elisabeth not online I mean I meant like in real life like selling it to a thrift store when you’re done wearing it?
I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding
That’s ok! If you’re selling something brand new with tags, we still ask that you credit us. If you’re sewing something for yourself, you wear it, and then sell it to a consignment shop, that’s your choice!
Ok thank you for replying so I do i give credits by selling it in the thrift store?
Btw I’m so sorry I’m asking to much
Hi Sam, ultimately we have no control over what you do with your personal garment once you sew and wear it. If you want to donate or sell it used, you are free to do so.
Hi there! Quick question, I’m putting together the bodice part of the dress (in the largest size of that matters) and I’m noticing that the Side Front Bodice panel and the Side Back Bodice panel that are supposed to be sewn together don’t align which makes either the neckline or the hemline not a smooth line at all. Is that on purpose? And if yes, how am I supposed to adjust if so it all matches? Thanks in advance!
Hi Jules, we’re working on updating the error in this pattern. The shorter pieces are missing the seam allowances. Add those, and then match the pieces together at the notches. 🙂
But if you’ve already cut your fabric, just trim the excess. That’s what I did for the Bold in Brocade post!
Thank you so much for answering! Sadly I have already cut and assembled and pretty much finished everything but your answer is still very helpful as I’m planning on making another piece very soon, I’ll just use the first one as a mock-up. It was so easy to put together, and fit my plus size model beautifully. Thank you for being inclusive in your sizing. Your pattern and my skills really made her day
hi there!
I have a question ,I’m trying to put together an Autumn dress by combining three patterns 1:The Cypress Dress Sewing Pattern 2:The Meadow Jumpsuit Sewing Pattern and this pattern .i want to use the first one for the bodice the second for the sleeve and this one for the skirt ,so what I’m trying to ask is this: do the patterns match or am i going to have to alter them and is it going to be too hard?
Hi again ,
I was too unpationt for you to answer me so i made a miniatur model ad it all fits together perfectly so next step is the real thing
Thanks for great patterns
Hi Paris! Comments received over the weekend aren’t seen until the following Monday. I’m so glad you got it figured out! It sounds fantastic. 🙂
how did it come out? i liked the idea and would like to try as well
Hello there 🙂
You have some incredible beautiful patterns here! Thank you so much!
I really love the Elderberry dress, but unfortunately it’s not working with the PDF download.. ive already made the oleander dress and it worked perfectly fine. But this time, something is off 🙁 did I do something wrong? Thanks:)
Hi Candy!
Thank you so much! If you’re still having trouble you can email [email protected] and they’ll send the pattern directly to you!
Is there a layout for cutting the pieces? The bodice isn’t an issue but I can’t quite figure out how to cut the skirt piece
Hi Kim! Because our patterns are free, we aren’t able to provide all the bells and whistles that come with paid patterns. For the skirt, I recommend folding on the weft. If you have a directional print, you may have to cut 2 instead of 1 on the fold.