Malia dress - Free sewing patterns

Twist and shout in our Malia Dress Shake it up baby, and make a grand entrance in this wrap-around jersey dress by Posner and Posner. The simple cross-over front, three-quarter sleeves and flared skirt guarantee a head-turning silhouette for every body shape this party season. Designed with stretch knits in mind, this supersoft style also means you’ll be comfortable the whole night through. Choose a solid colour, like this beautiful bordeaux we’ve chosen, or make a rather lovely frock in a print.

Essentials

Fabric, 2.5m (150cm)
Fusible interfacing for knit fabric, 25cm

Suggested fabrics

Knit fabrics with up to 25% stretch, such as jersey or French terry

Cutting guide

Skirt front and back: cut two on the fold
Back bodice: cut two on the fold – one back bodice and one back bodice lining
Front bodice: cut four – two will form the front bodice lining
Sleeve: cut two

1.5cm seam allowance used throughout, unless otherwise stated.

Download and print the pattern at sewmag.co.uk, follow the cutting guide and transfer the pattern markings. Cut strips of fusible interfacing, 1.5cm wide, and apply to the neck edge of the front and back bodice, and the front and back bodice lining to stabilise. With right sides together, pin the front bodice sections to the back bodice at the shoulder, then stitch. Repeat for the front and back bodice lining. Press the seams open.
With right sides together, matching the notches and centre-backs, and keeping the shoulder seams level, pin the bodice to the bodice lining around the neck edge and stitch. Trim the seam allowance and understitch around the neck edge. Turn the bodice right side outwards, with the lining towards the inside. Press along the neck edge.
Wrap the front bodice right over left so that the centrefront is level and the edges of the front meet the side seams. Pin in place. With right sides together, pin and sew the side seams of the bodice and the bodice lining. Press the seams open and turn the bodice to the right side out and the lining on the inside. Pin the bodice and bodice lining together at the waist edge, with the side seams and centre-fronts and backs level. Stitch close to the edge to keep the lining in place when sewing to the skirt later on.
Pin the bodice and bodice lining together around the armhole, matching the notches and keeping the shoulder seams level. Sew close to the edge to keep the lining in place when inserting the sleeves. With right sides together, pin the sleeve underam seam and stitch. Neaten the edge of the seam allowance by using an overlocker or trim the seam and zig zag. Press the seam towards the back sleeve. Neaten the wrist edge of the sleeve using an overlocker or zig zag stitch.
With right sides together, and matching the notches, side and underarm seams, pin the sleeves in place, easing where necessary. Sew the sleeve seam and neaten using an overlocker or by trimming the seam allowance and using zig zag stitch. Press the seam towards the sleeve.
Pin the front and back skirts together at the side seams, right sides together, matching the notches. Sew the side seams and neaten using an overlocker or zig zag stitch. Press the seam towards the back skirt. With right sides together, pin the skirt to the bodice, matching the side seams and the centre-fronts and backs. Sew the waist seam and neaten using an overlocker or zig zag stitch. Press the seam down towards the skirt.
Neaten the hem edge of the skirt using an overlocker or zig zag stitch. Turn up a 2cm hem and press. Insert 2cm strips of fusible interfacing into the hem allowance and press in place. Sew around the hem. Turn up the required hem on the sleeve, press and stitch in place.