Free Dress Pattern Download for Mendocino Fabrics!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 01:32PM 
This is my most favorite summer dress: simple, chic, comfy, lovely. I have had students (at Purl Patchwork) of every shape and size make and wear this dress, it truly works on everybody. The bodice features super stretchy elasticized smocking, a trick anyone with a home-sewing machine and elastic thread (first thing to know: you put the elastic thread in your bobbin, NOT your needle thread!) can master. My instructions include a few pointers, and you can also find useful tips here. The skirt is nice and full and can be hemmed at a variety of lengths, and features two hidden on-seam pockets.
I am thrilled to offer the pattern for this fun little dress as a free download for a limited time, while my newest line of printed fabrics, Mendocino, makes it's debut. You will find that the buttery-soft Mendocino prints (as well as my West Hill Collection) will work perfectly for this style.
You will need to download both the pattern instructions and the pattern sheet. The pattern sheet can be emailed to your nearest Kinkos store, where it can be printed for about $5, or printed on your home printer on several sheets of paper which will then need to be taped together. If using this option, be sure to download the latest version of adobe acrobat and select the "tile" option in the page layout section of your printer's settings menu.
and when you decide that you are completely hooked on sewing with elastic thread in your bobbin, you can buy an enormous cone of it here.
Download the pattern sheet here
Download the Instructions here
Reader Comments (77)
Kinko's report: it was quick and painless to e-mail it to my local Kinko's and only cost $5.68 to print. (Based on the sales tax for Austin, Texas.) I plan to make this dress a lot for me and my daughter, so it was well worth it. Thanks, Heather, for the free patern and the great instructions. Woo hoo!
Meredith
Thanks so much for offering this pattern. I loved the sample on the Purl Bee last spring but live much to far away to take the class. I can't wait to make one :)
Can't wait to try! Thanks.
Hey!
I can't wait to try this dress out! Unfortunately Epson printers won't tile automatically: you have to tell hem how many pages the document covers. I don't suppose you know how many A$ page it will be? I tried 4x4 but it missed off the top part.
Thanks,
Chloe.
Printing tip: If your printer doesn't have a "tiling" option, but you have Microsoft Publisher (part of the Office Suite), you can follow these steps to print a tiled version of this pattern after you've saved the PDF to your machine:
1. Open Publisher
2. Create "New Blank Print Publication"
3. File > Page Setup > Custom > 22" x 42" > OK
4. Insert > Object > Create from file > Browse for your saved PDF > OK
(Your PDF pattern piece will be centered on the screen now)
5. Print > Choose printer (turn off duplex printing if nec.) > OK
This will result in multiple pages printing pieces (tiles) of the pattern which can then be taped together to form the full size pattern piece.
Enjoy.
You are life saver!!! I love this dress and this was just the style I needed. I just had a baby and have been looking for an easy access dress for feeding and this is perfect! Thank you so much! I made two in one day and am loving them!
P.S. I love your fabrics!
That Publisher tip worked: thank you so much! I can't wait to get started on this lovely dress :)
Chloe.
Wow...thanks for the pattern, the dress is so lovely!
My size is bigger than what the pattern is for. It looks like I should just be able to add a bit to make the pattern plus sized. (I'm an 18) Do you have tips for this, or should I just experiment on an old sheet?
Thank you so much, I just bought some elastic thread the other day to try this! :)
my bobin and thread keeps jamming or breaking!? help! what tension and lenght stich do I have to use?
Hi... I used the "poster" function on my printer menus under page layout. I used the 4X4 size and I think it will work out. I am wondering about seam allowance... 1/4 or 1/2?? I will give it a try and see what happens... :) Thanks Heather for the great pattern and that you are so willing to share it. Can't wait to try it on!
Unfortunately I live in a small town in Canada and there is no Kinko's nearby. I cannot find tiling in my Page Setup and I don't have Microsoft Publisher. Does anyone have another suggestion so I can print out the pattern. My daughter loves these type of dresses and I would love to make one for her. Thanks for your help.
If you don't have publisher, you can try copying the file and pasting it into Excel. I used the Publisher trick and also did it through excel. Size/dimensions seem comparable.
I love love love this dress! My sister is having her wedding in a few weeks and I'm going to make a yellow sundress for it. I'm going to fold the bottom of the dress though (about a foot inward) and stuff it to make it poof out. It's sooo cute! Thank you so much! This is great for the beach too :)
The link for the sundress instructions is not working, will you please email the instructions to me.
Thanks
Is it possible to do this dress in a knit fabric?
yes! Test the elastic thread by sewing a few rows across a scrap.
Yay! Thanks for the quick response, I love Weekend Sewing and am making a Trapeze Sundress with your Bicycle Print fabric :) I've got to whip up a dress for my sisters graduation next week!
I made the dress and it is so cute--I love it. I sent the pattern to Kinkos and they printed it without a hitch!! I tried to print on my computer, but could not tile the pattern. Thank you Heather. I also found a fabric store with the fabrics. I love the new line and plan to make another dress using the double gauze material. It is yummy feeling.
Heather -- thank you for posting the pattern. I'm off to sew some new summer fun dresses with fabric i've been hoarding for the perfect project :)
any sizing tips for making it in a girls' size 6 and 8/10?
Help!!!
I too am having trouble with the elastic thread in my bobbin. I'm half way done and now its not catching, what have I done to my machine???
TIA
Heather thanks for this wonderful pattern..your generosity is greatly appreciated, love Weekend sewing too:)
Very nice :) I`ev bought recently a sewing-machine, so just what I want, the very thing I want:) Sorry for my english, I live in Moscow, Russia:)
Someone please help me get some material....I keep calling Diane in customer service and she is of no help...gave me a number of a rep in the area (Southern Ca) and the number is no longer working and Diane again , several times has been no use. I even left an email to Heather Ross. I need help! as you can see, I've been trying for a while...
how cute !!! how generous. thanks for sharing