Everyone has a classic white button-up shirt in their wardrobe, and with the popularity of the shirt dress rising, it’s likely you have one of those as well. Our free Lunaria Dress sewing pattern can be updated in a few ways, from shorter sleeves to different collars to pattern blocking! Grab your favorite poplin or shirting, and learn how you can alter this pattern to perfectly fit your style.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- MDF038 – The Lunaria Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Classic White:
Contrast Option:
- 1.5 yards Premium Black and White Checkered Wrinkle Resistant Dobby Cotton Shirting
- 2 yards Premium White Checkered Cotton Dobby Shirting
- 9 Ivory Plastic 2-Hole Button – 20L/12.5mm
Checkered Option:
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 22.
The checkered version of our Lunaria Dress featured no alterations; we followed the original instructions to the letter and the outcome is adorable. There’s something to be said for a classic solid shirt dress, but I love the way prints work with this pattern!
Playing with contrasting prints or colorblocking is huge in fashion right now, and I absolutely love when it’s done in plain black and white. This version of our Lunaria pattern was switched up a little bit; I skipped the sleeve flounce and folded the regular sleeve up a bit instead, and I added the collar from our Melia Blouse!
Tip: If you do this contrast option, be sure to mirror your pattern cuts so you don’t accidentally end up with two panels for the same side!
You can’t go wrong with a plain white shirt! This last version of the Lunaria also got a collar update, this time from the Shirley Dress. I also sewed snaps to the inside of the button placket before stitching the placket down. This hides the closures for an even cleaner look!
Will you be giving any of these pattern tweaks a try?Let me know some other pattern hacks that you’ve successfully sewn in the comments below!
8 comments
I love your pattern and I and a out to cut it out it says 1 inch seam allowance is that included or I must add
Hi there! A 1/2″ seam allowance is included in the pattern.
Me encanta este vestido. Me lo coseré seguro! Gracias.
THANK YOU
Soooooo pretty !! I’d make a long skirt version of it for some additional wow effect haha
Love this pattern! I sewed a 4 true to my size but the sleeves did not work – extremely tight.. Would the Nyssa dress sleeves work as a hack? I have menopause “bingo” arms 🙂
Hi Renee – I think the Nyssa sleeves would look stunning with this! I’d measure the armscye of the shirt vs. the upper edge of the sleeve to be sure you cut the Nyssa sleeve to the correct size to be set into the armscye. Or! You could also cut a larger size sleeve and gather it at the shoulder to fit it in. I hope that all makes sense – let me know if you have additional questions! 🙂
Thank you for your guidance! I will tag y’all on instagram if I get this right 🙂