Download and print the pattern at sewmag.co.uk, then follow the cutting guide. Pin and sew the darts in the front bodice. Press the waist darts towards the side seam and the bust darts downwards. Mark the stitching line for the keyhole neck placket on to the wrong side of fabric with an erasable marker.

Neaten the side and bottom edges of the placket. Position the placket over the front bodice centre and sew along the marked line. Snip the fabric down the centre. Fold the placket towards the inside of the bodice and press along the seam edge. Pin the top of the placket at the neck edge and stitch in place close to the edge. Pin and sew the darts in the back bodice. Press the darts towards the side seam.

Pin the skirt pieces to the front and back bodice, matching the centres and keeping the side edges level. Stitch in place. Trim and neaten the edges, then press towards the skirt. Position the top of the zip at the notch marked on the front bodice left side and pin in position. Sew this side of the zip. Pin the other side of the zip on to the back, making sure the waist seams are level, and the top of the zip is level. Stitch in place.

Sew the side seam above the zip, then the side seam below the zip. Neaten the edges and press. Pin the other side seam on the right of the dress, making sure the waist seams are level and stitch. Neaten the edges and press. Place the front and back right sides together at the shoulder. Pin and sew in place. Neaten the seam edges and press open.

Place each pair of sleeves right sides together, then pin along the bottom edge. Stitch together with a narrow 6mm seam. Clip the curve and fold the sleeve right side out. Join each sleeve at the underarm, keeping the seam at the bottom level. Trim this seam and press open. Press the sleeve edge along the sleeve seam. Insert the sleeve, matching the shoulder and front and back notches. Trim and neaten the seam and press towards the sleeve.

Join the two pieces of the neck tie at the centre back. Trim the seam and press it open. Fold the neck tie in half lengthways and press along the centre. Fold each side towards the centre and press, then press the neck tie in half. Unfold at the bottom raw edge and sew along the bottom using a narrow seam. Refold the neck tie and press the finished bottom edge. Position and pin the folded neck tie around the neck edge, with the seam at the centre back.

Starting at the centre back, stitch in position, keeping close to the edge of the fold to the placket opening. Continue sewing down the length of the tie. Repeat for the other side, making sure that the stitching catches the inside of the folded neck tie on the inside of the dress. Finish the bottom edge of the skirt and turn up the hem and sew in place.