Jade Dress

Designed by Posner and Posner, this soft-as-butter jersey dress works just as well as a slip-on beach cover-up, as it does a simple daywear look when paired with sandals. In just six steps, this triplethreat pattern will give you the opportunity to master the overlocker, crack inserting sleeves, and sewing in-seam pockets.

Essentials

Fabric, 2m (145cm)
Fusible interfacing, 25cm

Suggested fabrics

Knit fabrics with 5% stretch, such as French terry or cotton jersey

Sizes

8-24

Cutting guide

Front: cut one on the fold
Back: cut one on the fold
Sleeve: cut two
Pocket: cut four
Neckband: cut one

5mm seam allowance used throughout, unless otherwise stated.

Download the pattern, then print and follow the cutting guide. With right sides together, pin the front to the back at the shoulder and stitch with a 1.5cm seam. Neaten the seam allowance by using an overlocker, or by trimming and using a zig zag stitch. Press the seam towards the back.
Fold the neckband in half lengthways and press. Insert a strip of fusible interfacing into the neckband up to the fold and press. Pin and stitch the ends of the neckband, right sides together, with a 1.5cm seam. Trim the seam and press the seam open, then press the neckband again along the folded edge.
With right sides together, pin the folded neckband around the neckline of the dress; the seam of the neckband should be at the centre back. Distribute the neckband evenly around the neckline by stretching the band to fit, and not by stretching the neckline of the dress. Neaten the edge of the neckline and press the seam downwards and the band upwards. Topstitch around the neckline close to the seam.
Pin the sleeves in place, right sides together and matching notches, keeping the centre notch level with the shoulder seam. Stitch in place. Neaten the seam and press towards the sleeve. With right sides together, position the pocket pieces at the marked place on the front and back side edges. Pin and sew in place from the top of the pocket. Neaten the seam and press away from the dress towards the pocket.
With right sides together, pin the front and back together at the side seams, all round the pocket pieces and along the sleeve seam, then stitch. At the pockets, stitch down past the pocket top for 2.5cm, then reverse to the top of the pocket. Pivot and stitch around the pocket. At the bottom of the pocket, reverse stitch level with the side seam for 2.5cm and continue to the end of the side seam. Neaten the edge and press the seam towards the front.
Neaten the edges of the hem and the sleeve hem using an overlocker or zig zag stitch. Turn up a 2cm hem at the end of the sleeve. Insert a 1.5cm wide strip of fusible interfacing into the fold of the hem and press. Stitch the sleeve hem in place, then turn up a 4cm hem at the bottom of the dress. Secure a 3.5cm wide strip of fusible interfacing into the fold of the hem and press. Sew the hem in place.