EllaHarp

Work Dress
Pa ern
s- l
Con c ion i ing no e e c

I make this dress in a mid weight linen, but it should work well in most light-heavy weight woven fabrics
depending on the look you’re going for. Cut pattern pieces with a 3/4" -1" seam allowance (you can always take more
off if needed) and make sure to pre-wash/dry or factor in fabric shrinkage before cutting.

The intentionally loose nature of this dress means each size can fit a somewhat wider range of shapes depending
on desired fit. For reference, I am 5’10, 150 lbs and pictured in a size S. This same size would work on an XS that
wanted a very loose dress, or a M that wanted a more fitted dress.

The main factor impacting size/fit on this dress is the sleeves/ sleeve circumference at the body panels. Make sure
to cut extra allowance in these sections (sleeve panels + body panels at the sleeves) if there is any question that
they’ll be wide enough for free movement. On the front panel piece, I recommend cutting the neckline higher than
shown in the pattern and cutting down to desired scoop once the basic body is sewn to ensure proper fit. The front
and back panels, skirt and sleeves can be cut wider, narrower, longer or shorter than the pattern indicates to suit
your style and preferences, so have fun with it!

I sew the shoulder, back panel and sleeve seams with a flat felled seam and the sides with a French seam, but you
could use French seams throughout. Easiest order of attack is:
1. back panel pieces together
2. skirt panels to front and back body panels
3. shoulder seams together
4. sleeve seams to shoulder seams,
5. French seam from sleeve wrist to hem

For the skirt panels, I use my widest zig-zag stitch with a single centered thread to gather, then sew to the body
panels with ~3/4" overlap on the body panel piece. That excess is then folded down over the top of the skirt gathers
and hemmed to ensure clean finish. Finally, the new inside hem is sewn or topstiched down against the body panel
leaving the inside body/skirt panels finished and laying flat.

I am far from a master of necklines so feel free to use a different technique, but the easiest way I’ve found is to do a
regular folded hem, but folding to the outside of the dress (it lays much flatter this way) not to the inside. Around
the shoulder seams and curve of the neck can be finicky, but just pin and sew as best you can. If those curved areas
seem tight, giving the fabric some gentle tugs should loosen it up. Any remaining lumps tend to flatten out quite
nicely after a trip through the washer/dryer but if it still lays strangely after a wash and a few wears, I'll fold the
edge over to the outside one more time, sew it down and call it a day. Not the fanciest finish but it's simple and
fast, this is a work dress after all.

Pin all pockets to desired location and top stitch in place, making sure to sew down the smaller front chest pocket
to the bigger front chest pocket first.

Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram (@ellaharp) if you have any questions, I try to respond to all comments
and DMs. Be sure to tag me in your final photos and use the hashtag #ellaharpworkdress so I can see what you
create <3

Ella Dawn Jenkins 2021

If flat felling the sho lder seams start se ing from the neck side not the slee e side as the sho lder taper is
challenging to properl fold from the opposite direction

Up to o of co rse b t I fold all m hems to the o tside neckline slee es and skirt bottoms Inside folded
hems tend to in ert o t ards gi ing the edge a flared look hile o tside folded hems tend to la flat or in ert
in ard and look less distracting to the shape of the garment It s also easier to topstich o tside folded hems
and the fabric edge isible on the o tside in okes a intage detail

Wash o r finished dress after completion and before ear for best res lts Personall I ash hot on a q ick
c cle and dr hot for min tes on this first ash In m e perience necklines and other finish ork has a
tendenc to look a k ard in linen b t smooths o t bea tif ll times o t of after a q ick trip in the ash
and dr er In addition to setting the seams it also softens the fabric gi es a bea tif l intage sort of look and
pre ents all f t re skrinkage Some folks prefer to hand ash and hang dr linen hich is of co rse p to o
b t the trip thro gh the asher and dr er once after constr ction makes a orld of difference I o ldn t skip
it

C ea i e Di claime
I personall don t design or think in paper patterns b t a m slin block that I e based all m ersions of this dress
from M techniq e is a er precise method I like to call make it h ge and c t it til it fits I had this pattern made
p based on m original design b t m o n process is nstr ct red and case b case Yo are of co rse elcome
to follo the pattern to a T b t I enco rage o to se it as base and adj st as needed as that is the nat re of ho
m designs ere created

Thing ha m be aid
In do nloading this pattern o are free to print and se for personal needs Making items for sale or
distrib tion ploading or do nloading this pattern to an one other than the initial recipient is a iolation of
cop right la s

not er precise at all

Ella Da n Jenkins
ellaharp com
 -Document to tbe printed in letter format.
-At the time of printing this picture should measure 2.5x2.5 cm which equals 1x1 inches
approximately.
-To make the pattern you only need to match the exaggons of the 5 sheets of paper
5 by 5, you can follow the sample image
Legend
Full view of the pattern

Grainline
1 2 3 4 5
Sewing line

T Pattens Doubles

Sleeve

Sleeve
V
Loose-fitting dress
Pocket

Notches
Cut x 2 time in fabric
Loose-fitting dress
Top back
Cut x 2 time in fabric

Loose-fitting dress
Top Front
Fabric doubles
Cut x 1 time in fabric

6 7 8 9 10

Location zipper

Buttonholes
Button
Loose-fitting dress
Sleeve
Cut x 2 time in fabric
Press studs
11 12 13 14 15

Size guide by colour

Size XXS
18 19 20

Loose-fitting dress
Chest pocket #1
Cut x1 on fabric Loose-fitting dress
Chest pocket #2
Cut x1 on fabric

21 22 23
1

Loose-fitting dress
Pocket
Cut x 2 time in fabric
2

Loose-fitting dress
Top back
Cut x 2 time in fabric
 Sleeve
3
4

Loose-fitting dress
Top Front
Cut x 1 time in fabric
 Sleeve
5
6
7
8
9

Loose-fitting dress
Sleeve
Cut x 2 time in fabric
10
11

Loose-fitting dress
Skirt front
Cut x 2 on fabric
12
13
14
15
18
19

Loose-fitting dress
Chest pocket #1
Cut x1 on fabric
20

Loose-fitting dress
Chest pocket #2
Cut x1 on fabric
22
23
21