SAPPHIRE
a dress and top sewing pattern
ABOUT THE SAPPHIRE PATTERN
Sapphire is a button-front top and dress with gathered sleeves and skirt designed for woven fabrics. The dress view features a maxi-length skirt that includes inseam pockets and side vents at the hem. Choose a shorter sleeve or longer sleeve with elasticated cuff. The facings can optionally be attached on the outside of the garment for a fun pop of contrast. Two front bodice pattern pieces are provided - for fuller and smaller chests - to provide fit flexibility for different busts.
Make Sapphire as a top to wear with shorts and sandals in warmer weather, or as a comfortable maxi dress with big dramatic sleeves and a fun flowy skirt you’ll want to dance around in all year round. I love wearing my Sapphires for everything — from running errands to fancy evenings out!
SKILL LEVEL: ADvanceD
Share your beautiful makes online with the tag #MBRsapphire and be sure to tag me @madebyrae!
YARDAGE & MATERIALS
Woven fabric - see yardage chart for amounts
Elastic for waistband and cuffs (1/2“ [13 mm] wide - 1-2.5 yard [0.8 - 2.2 m] total - see elastic chart below for exact lengths needed)
Buttons - 1/2 - 9/16 inch [12-14 mm] wide (10 buttons for dress, 6 buttons for top)
Lightweight fusible garment interfacing - 1/2 yard [0.5 m]
coordinating thread
hook and eye closure (optional: substitute a small metal snap)
RECOMMENDED FABRICS
Woven light to medium weight fabrics such as linen, cotton lawn, voile, double gauze, poplin, shirting, shot cotton, rayon challis and other rayon/viscose blends, silk noil.
a note on sizing
Two front bodices are available for all fourteen sizes - one with a larger chest and one with a smaller chest. Use your upper chest and full chest measurements to select your size from the body measurements chart below as follows:
Select your base size using your upper chest measurement, then select “full chest -smaller” or “full chest - larger” depending on which full chest measurement is closestto yours; this will determine which FRONT BODICE pattern piece to use. If necessary, switch to a different size based on full chest. Note that if you fall into more than one size, you may get the best fit by blending two or more sizes. Hip and waist measurements are provided for reference.
Use the finished measurement chart to determine how much ease you will have through the chest and hip for the size selected by subtracting your measurements from the finished measurements for that size. At least 2 inches [5 cm] for chest and 4 inches [10 cm] for hip is recommended. To achieve the desired amount of ease for your body, go up/down a size, trace between sizes, or blend sizes when your tracing pattern pieces, if necessary.
