MAXI DRESS + SKIRT
The MAXI DRESS + SKIRT is a Fun + Quick + Easy Summer sewing project
The top is made in a knit fabric and the skirt is made in a light-weight woven or medium-light weight woven fabric
MAXI DRESS + SKIRT
Our Fun+ Quick + Easy Summer sewing project in a knit fabric and a light woven fabric from nani IRO in a cotton-silk blend
/from Fabric & Cloth COPENHAGEN
STEP 1: Choose and Cut fabric for the Top
Cut a knit/rib fabric with natural stretch or added elastane. For example one of our knitted fabrics.
The stretch top should have enough stretch to snug you nicely and stay up by itself.
If you use a stretch fabric with less stretch, make an elastic casing at the top edge. You will likely not be able to make the skirt variation with the top folded in half, but you need to decide on one option (dress) or the other (skirt/empire dress).
Single layer top: Hight, 22-33 cm
A Cover stitch machine is recommended
Double layer top: Hight 44-66 cm
Both versions:
Decide height dependent on where you want the skirt to begin, at the natural waist or on the low waist
Width, Your circumference at the waist minus stretch
Example: 80 cm waist – 6 cm (for stretch) + 2 cm seam allowance = 76 cm fabric
STEP 2: Choose and Cut fabric for the
Skirt
Cut 2 meters of a beautiful woven fabric with drape. Both a light weight woven fabric and a medium-light weight woven fabric is suitable for Summer.
You get lots of drape if you choose a silk blend or many of our viscose fabrics.
Here we show nani IRO New Morning I fabric in Navy
It is the fabric characteristics that 100% makes this design as these solely determine the dress silhouette and movement !
You are welcome to contact us for guidance on choice of fabric. We are happy to help!
You will sew the skirt on the orthogonal:
The circumference of your skirt will be 2 meter
Minimize waste by choosing a fabric with a width that is as close to the desired length of the skirt as possible: 90-120 cm width
STEP 3:
Make + Gather dress
Sewing the dress
Sew top into a tube (that fits your waist)
Sew skirt into a tube (2m circumference)
Gather skirt to fit the top
Sew skirt to top
You can choose to add a bit of character to the hem by either leaving hem as is (works perfect for nani IRO fabrics) or make hem extraordinary high (10 cm or more)
Double layer and single layer top variations
If your top is a double layer top, there is no need to do anything to the top edge
If your top is a single layer top, you need to finish the top at the top edge. This is where a cover stitch machine comes in handy
STEP 4:
Skirt and Empire dress variation
SKIRT & EMPIRE WAIST DRESS VARIATIONS
If you fold the top to ½ height you have a skirt.
If you make a low waist version (which has a rather long top) then you might also be able to fold the top and change the dress to an Empire waist dress
How to fold the top
If your top is a double layer top, simply fold the top over with the inside out. If your top is a single layer top, fold the top to the inside to not show the finished edges from the wrong side
You find our version of the dress on fabricandclothcopenhagen on Instagram
Who has Copyright
nani IRO New Morning I fabric in navy images are © by Naomi Ito from ATELIER to nani IRO & KOKKA co., ltd
The MAXI Dress + Skirt guide text and illustrations are © Fabric & Cloth COPENHAGEN.
You find our version of the dress in this blog post and on fabricandclothcopenhagen on Instagram
