If you’ve got a stash of stretchy fabric at home but don’t think you’ve got the skills to create the ideal pattern for it, this project is made for you. Using just a few simple techniques and a dress you already have hanging in your wardrobe, you can create your own complete pattern from scratch… so, what are you waiting for?
Shift Dress
Smooth out your chosen fabric and fold it in half, right sides outwards. Place your dress in the centre, making sure that there is enough fabric left around it to draw an extra 1.5cm for the seams (this is essential on every edge except the bottom, where you can allow as much as you like to account for your chosen length, including hemline).
Draw around the dress with tailor’s chalk, leaving 1.5cm seam allowance as explained above, and cut out. Pin the shoulders and side seams together, with right sides facing.
To create the front neckline; measure the difference between the