Lingerie as ready to wear garments has been a huge trend the past few seasons, from charmeuse gowns to slinky slip dresses to bralette crop tops. The Terra Dress jumps on this trend with vast versatility. While it lends itself well to non-stretch option with a side zip, it can easily be transformed into comfy loungewear with your favorite knit, velour, or stretch charmeuse. Which direction will you be taking this new free pattern in?
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 4-5 yards Oil Green Silk Charmeuse
- 1 yard Metallic White Fancy Lace Trim
- 9″ Invisible Zipper
- MDF196 – The Terra Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
Step 1
First, add your darts to the front bodice of your dress, following the guidelines on your pattern. Lightly press the darts down.
Step 2
Follow suit with your back bodice piece.
Step 3
Attach the front and back bodice pieces at the sides using French seams.
Note: If using a zipper, just baste one of the sides in order to add a zipper later.
Step 4
Create each of your dress straps and pull them right side out using a loop turner or something similar. Lightly press each strap.
Step 5
Form your bodice facing by attach the front and back pieces at the sides. Hem the bottom of the facing with a small 1/4″ rolled hem and then pin face to face long the top of your bodice. Pin the straps in between the bodice and facing at the front and back and sew. Turn right side out and press
Step 6
To start on the skirt, sew your pocket into the side seams and then sew down the remainder of the sides using a French seam to connect two side skirt panels. For tips on inserting a side seam pocket, check out this post!
Note: If using a zipper, baste one of the pockets onto the back side skirt that coincides with the bodice side that you previously basted.
Step 7
Finish the skirt by inserting the center front panels in between each of the side skirt panels using French seams. Your skirt front and skirt back should each be made up of two side skirts on either side of the center skirt panel, for six panels total.
Step 8
Pin your pockets toward the front and pin the skirt to the bodice, lining up your side seams, and sew. To avoid bulk, you could do a regular seam bound by bias here instead of a French seam.
Step 9
If using a zipper, seam rip your basted side seam and insert an invisible zipper at this point.
Step 10
Lastly hem your skirt with a 1/4″ rolled hem, and add some lace trim if desired!
Will you be giving the Terra Dress a try? Let me know in the comments below!
This dress is so beautiful! One comment though – there are nowhere near enough photos of how to for the pattern instructions. I’m still just a newbie and i would’ve really appreciated more explanations for the how to. I’ve figured the majority of it out on my own (which I suppose is the whole motivation behind leaving less instructions) but not without drawing a *lot* of my own diagrams. This is such a lovely dress though and it hasn’t stopped me from making it (btw a twin sheet set is enough to make one) 😉
Do you know how delighted I am to read about someone else making garments out of spare sheets? It’s very. I’m very delighted.
I also make stuff using old sheets! I get them from goodwill! It’s so much cheaper than buying a lot of fabric! I’m an experienced sewer and I still use cheap fabric
Haha.. I do that as well. I use curtains as well all from Value Village haha
I just picked up a queen sheet from Value Village that I am Elsa’sgoing to use to make elsa’s coronation dress with this pattern!
Wow! Sounds like a great creative project.
bonjour,
A quoi sert les page 49 a 87 ?
We’re so sorry, that seems to be a mistake on our end! We are working on correcting it. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. 🙂
I gave my name and email but have not received the pattern in my email. Is this not available anymore? Thanks!
Hi! The download should be working, but if you’re still having trouble accessing it, email info@moodfabrics.com and they’ll send it over to you!
Hi! I need help. I’m also a newbie and want to figure out how to cut my fabric when it comes to the skirt. The pattern gives me two skirt panels. One of them says FRONT & BACK SIDE SKIRT – CUT 4 IN FABRIC (two pair cut face to face). The other one says FRONT & BACK CENTER SKIRT – CUT 2 IN FABRIC.
From the pictures of the dress, I understand that there are 4 panels for all the skirt?
So if one printed panel tells me to cut 4 panels (two pairs) what is the other one for? I’m a little confused 🙁
Hi Claudia! There are six skirt panels: 2 at the center front and back (cut on the fold) and 4 at the sides (2 at the front sides and 2 at the back sides). There are side seams in order to put in a side zip as well as side pockets.
Could I make this dress out of viscose and linen twill? I’m just wondering about the texture. I love the pattern by the way!! Thanks for posting it <3
Hi Emma, I think that would be gorgeous!
Hi, i love the design! This is the first time I’m following a pattern and I’m wondering why there’s 2 perpendicular grainlines on the front and back center skirt. Do I have to use a fabric that stretches 4 way or do I only follow one line?
Hi, Flo! The front and back center skirt can be placed on either the grain or the crossgrain, so you only need to follow one line. 🙂
Oh I have been looking EVERYWHERE for a skirt pattern that looks like this! Time to test out my pattern hacking skills!
hello, are seam allowances included in the pattern or do i have to add half an ich when i cut the fabric? thank you
The 1/2″ seam allowance is already included! 🙂
Good day.
Is the seam allowance also included for the straps?
Thank you
Yes, seam allowance is included! 🙂
Such a beautiful color. Reminds me of those beautiful gowns from the old movies. Stunning.
Would I need to select a size smaller for a knit dress?
Hi, Amory! Yes, I’d size down at least once for a knit version. 🙂
Hi! Thank you so much for the pattern. I have one doubt. In the front bodice, do i have to cut the pizza dart in my fabric? or the pizza lines are just indicativefor sewing? thanks a lot!
Hi, Margarita! If you’re using a thin fabric that won’t cause extra bulk, you don’t necessarily have to cut the dart out. 🙂
hi there! im new to the website and I absolutely LOVE this dress! however, I cant seem to find the download link for the pattern, could anyone help me out please?
Good afternoon! You just need to enter your name and email in the form up top above the size chart. 🙂
I used the bodice portion of this pattern and drafted my own peplum pattern to create a spaghetti strap peplum blouse out of army green knit. Works as a good modification if you have limited fabric.
I’m planning on making this with a sheer voile and lining it with a lining fabric, as a bridesmaid dress for my sister! So excited!
hi i had a question this is the kind of dress im looking for its only to long for my liking could i alter the pattern to make it shorter
Hi Rose! Yes, that is totally possible. Either shorten each skirt pattern piece to your desired length before sewing, or alternatively, cut the dress a little longer than the desired length after you sew it, and then hem. 🙂
BONJOUR
Il y a un probleme avec le pdf, je n’arrive plus a l’ouvrir.
Bonjour! Email info@moodfabrics.com pour le modèle 🙂
Hi, I absolutely love this dress. The only thing is that I prefer to have an empire waist on my dresses, could I change the top part to be with a higher waist? Could I even change the top part completely to be more covering? Maybe even add sleeves from the Rue dress, that would be a fun idea.
Hi Katariina, 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 could make this dress with all the mentioned alterations, we just recommend making a muslin first!
nous ne parvenons pas à télécharger le patron
Bonjour, veuillez envoyer un e-mail à info@moodfabrics.com si vous rencontrez des problèmes pour télécharger des modèles.