Today we are kicking off our fall/winter collection of sewing projects perfect for the season and it starts with this beautiful Peter Pan Collar Dress.

With its simple design, straight fit, long sleeves and a cute little collar, this dress is a loose, comfortable and entirely effortless piece of clothing that will very likely become your wardrobe bestie all year long. Plus, it is made of our uber soft linen in a stunning yarn-dyed pale gray that gives the dress a weightless drape and beautiful movement.

Follow this basic tutorial to create a new and versatile addition to your wardrobe in as little as a few hours.

Materials

2 yards of IL042 900 – FS Premier Finish – 100% Medium Weight Linen

Matching sewing thread, fusible interfacing, one button

Tools

Pattern paper, pen, chalk, scissors, measuring tape, ruler, pins, seam ripper, fabric marker, sewing machine

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

3-4 hours

Pattern

You can access the dress pattern by following this link HERE and the printable Peter Pan collar template can be found HERE. Remember to add seam allowances as indicated in the pattern.

Note that you’ll also need to cut a strip of fabric on bias (1,5″ wide and to the length of your entire neckline and 30″ large) for the neckline binding. For detailed instructions on how to cut and make your bias tape please follow this tutorial.

The diagram shows the pattern for US size 6-8 (UK size 10-12). If you need help grading your pattern, please follow this tutorial. If you need help adjusting the pattern for a fuller bust, we have a great Full Bust Adjustment tutorial HERE.

Steps

Note: Prewash your fabric and tumble dry it until it is still slightly moist, dry in room temperature. Iron the fabric so it is easier to work with.

1. Before assembling the front and the back together, you need to sew the back keyhole opening and the button loop closure. The process is very similar to sewing a back slit, which we explained in one of our previous tutorials. The only difference is in shaping. With the keyhole opening, you stitch a rounded shape (we recommend to transfer it to the interfacing first with a fabric marker) and clip around the curve to release the tension. The rest of the steps are the same.

2. Once you’ve finished sewing the keyhole opening and attached a button loop (do not attach the button yet), you can assemble the front and the back of the dress right sides together by pinning the two pieces at the shoulders.

3. Sew the shoulder seams right sides together at 3/8″ (1 cm) seam allowance, remember to backstitch.

4. Trim the seam allowance down to 1/4″ (6 mm) and serge or zigzag the raw edges together to prevent the fabric from fraying. Press the seams flat folding the serged/zigzagged edges towards the back of your dress.

5. Attach the Peter Pan collar to your neckline following this step-by-step tutorial.

6. Now is a good time to sew the button on using your needle.

Now that we’ve finished with the neckline, we can attach the sleeves.

7. Pin the sleeves to the armholes right sides together.

8. Sew at a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance.

9. Serge or zigzag the raw edges together to prevent the fabric from fraying. Press the serged/zigzagged seam allowances up towards the sleeves.

10. Sew the sleeves and the side seams right sides together at a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance. Finish the raw edges with a serger or a zigzag stitch and press the seams flat folding the serged/zigzagged edges towards the back of your dress.

11. Finish the sleeve openings with a rolled hem. Fold the fabric twice towards the wrong side, 3/8″ to 1/2 inch, press, pin, and stitch.

12. Finish the bottom hem the same way you finished the sleeves: fold the fabric twice towards the wrong side, 3/8″ to 1/2 inch. Press, pin, and stitch.

Give it a good press and your new dress-up-or-down, chic, versatile dress is finally done!

Check out our selection of linen and see which of our fabrics inspire you for this project. This dress will look great in any color!