Everyone wants to look exquisite for prom. It’s a night many high school seniors are looking forward to all year long; and when it finally comes, you need an outfit to match the anticipation. Cue Mood’s newest free sewing pattern: The Iris Ensemble. Featuring a long sleeve body suit and an extra full high-low skirt, The Iris is perfect for those who love to stand out. Follow our lead with a foil knit and brocade combination or throw in some beaded lace or sequins for some extra shine!

Fabrics & materials used:

• 1.5 yards Metallic Silver Textured All-Over Foil Knit
• 7 yards Coral and White Striped Floral Brocade
• Dritz Size 3/0 Nickel Sew On Snaps
• Off-White 9″ Invisible Zipper
• Black Gutermann Thread
• Burgundy Gutermann Thread
• MDF030 – The Iris Ensemble Sewing Pattern (free download below!)

All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated.

The bodysuit is fairly similar to our Felicia Sweater pattern and luckily goes together almost as easily.

A simple zig-zag stitch is perfectly fine if, like myself, you don’t have a serger. However, I do recommend using French seams for this project. This fluid-like knit doesn’t fray, but hiding the seam allowance does give a garment a slightly more finished look.

Begin by attaching the front and back of your bodysuit at the shoulders.

 

 

Next, stitch the back seam of your collar (the one opposite the fold on the pattern piece). Once sewn, fold the entire thing in half along the length, hiding the back seam inside. Attach the collar to the neckline of the suit, matching up the respective notches.

Sew the sleeves onto your suit, matching the center notch with the shoulder seam. Then, sew up the sides of the bodysuit as well as the inseam of the sleeves.

 

The bottom of the bodysuit gets finished with a rolled hem, with elastic rolled up inside of it. While pinning, stretch the elastic just slightly like you see above.

Add three snaps to the crotch of the suit and it’s ready to be worn!

To start on the skirt, pin and sew the pocket panel to the front and back panels of the skirt, like you see above. Sew the wrong sides together first, trim, and sew right sides together second like you see below to create clean French seams.

From the bottom of the pockets, sew down the remainder of the skirt sides.

Attached one edge of your waistband along the top of the skirt before inserting and invisible zipper at the back of the skirt. Be sure to place the zipper halfway down the band so your can fold the band in half inward and slip-stitch.

Lastly, finish off your skirt with a rolled hem and you’re ready for the prom, a gala, or even the red carpet!

I love the room for personal style that comes with this pattern. There are so many ways you can go with this design that could completely change the final look and feel of the outfit. What fabric combinations have you been tossing around in your head? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!