
The perfect start to summer is a sweet, effortless sundress. For this summer, we’ve definitely fallen in love with the cutout trend! Now, who’s ready to be their most fabulous selves in Mood’s newest pattern, The Perth Dress?! Not only is this dress on trend, it’s easy to sew and can be made using multiple fabrics, like double cotton gauze, linen, and chambray, among others.



Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 3-4 yards Talamanca Sangria Double Cotton Gauze
- 1 spool 318 Fuchsia 100m Gutermann Sew All Thread
- 1/2 yard 1/4″ White Elastic
- MDF308 – The Perth Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:

Note: All seams are sewn with a French seam.
Step 1
Print, tape, and cut pattern.
Step 2
Pin and cut out of fabric.
Step 3
Make bias tape by marking on paper 1 ½’’ wide, then cutting from your fabric.
Step 4
Mark notches, as well as darts.
Step 5
Sew darts and press darts down.
Step 6
Pin and fold the raw edge of the back bodice ½’’ then ¾’’ and edge stitch. Leave ½’’ on both ends unstitched; you will be folding the seam up in a later step.

Step 7
Using a French seam, pin front and back skirt together at side seams and stitch.

Step 8
Fold the top edge of your back skirt ½’’, then ¾’’. and edge stitch, leaving the ends open for the elastic.

Step 9
Measure the middle of your back waist, and cut the elastic to that size. Once cut, thread elastic through and place a pin on both ends to hold the elastic.
Step 10
Pin front and back bodice together at shoulder and side seams.

Step 11
Adjust the front skirt and gather evenly, pinning and matching side seams. For the back, pin to the notch that is on your pattern.

Step 12
With the remainder of the back bodice, fold up the exposed seam and topstitch. Once that is topstitched, go back over the edge for the strap to go through.

Step 13
On the back of the skirt, stitch both ends shut and secure the elastic in place.
Step 14
Pin and stitch the bias tape on the neckline and armholes. Stitch at ⅜’’, and press seam allowance towards the outside. Once pressed, understitch around the neckline and armholes.

Step 15
Fold the bias tape over the seam allowance and pin. Topstitch at ⅜’’.

Step 16
With the longest piece of bias tape, fold it in half and pin, leaving an opening in the middle to flip right side out. Sew a ¼’’ seam. Once the string is right side out, hand sew the opening shut.

Step 17
Fold the hem up ½’’ then ¾’’ and edge stitch.
Step 18
Lastly, thread string through the back bodice channel, pull to your liking and tie.
So my bust is 42D, hips 57.5, with the finished garment would I start with size 16 for the bust and size 0 for the hips or just use size 16 for the overall dress? Thank you in advance!
Hi, Shelley! Keep in mind that the skirt is meant to be gathered so you want the skirt’s finished size to be much larger than your hip measurement. I’d cut the size you need for your bust and waist and the skirt to match.
It’s very nice tanks
So I made two; one based on size 22 and one with size 18 for top and size 8 for skirt. The first one had a full skirt (will add pockets to make up the space) but cute, second one was spot on w/o pockets and still plenty of room. Might make just one more with a print (other two were sold yellow linen and one eyelet). Thanks for suggestions!
Lo q necesitaba. Muchas gracias
So, I’m getting married and I found the perfect wedding dress at a thrift store and I making it fit more of my style. I wanted to add a little more support to it and some more coverage because of my bust size. I’ve been looking and looking for ideas and patterns and I found this pattern. I believe it will work perfectly for want I am wanting to do. Thank you so much for making this pattern! I am so happy.
Hi Elizabeth, congratulations! That sounds like a great project. I love the idea of thrifting a wedding dress and making it into your own custom piece. We’d love to see pictures of how it turns out! Best of luck and happy sewing! 🙂
Love the pattern. I’m making this after seeing it featured on instagram sew frugal challenge and loving the back detail. I am a little unsure how to measure the elastic? Thanks
Hi Janey! The length is up to you. Once your skirt is gathered and sewn together, measure it at the waist. Decide how much ease you want and cut the elastic accordingly. If you don’t want the back waist to dip as much as pictured, I suggest cutting the elastic so that the circumference of the dress’s waist matches yours (plus SA), when the elastic is sewn in. The more of a dip you want, the greater the length of the elastic will be. Does that make sense?
Hello,
I had purchased SKU 427583 Blue, Pink, and Yellow Floral Cotton and Rayon Jersey from Mood Fabrics and I am wondering if this pattern, Perth Dress, is suitable for this fabric?
Hi Verna, Hi Nora, we’re sorry for the delay in responding to your question! We get dozens of comments and questions each day, and so many questions get buried and, unfortunately, unanswered. We are now focusing user support on patterns 2 years and newer. We hope this will prevent questions on our more current patterns from going unanswered. Although this is late, we wanted to respond in case anyone else has the same question: you can make this dress using Rayon Jersey!