Pleiades 1 dress

The French Poetry Pleiades 1 dress is flattering for all body shapes with its gathered empire waist. Thanks to the V-shaped cut (much like its sister the Pleiades 2 dress or our already famous Lune dress), it does not add any bulk (and won’t create that dreaded fake tummy effect) but just flows around the body! The V-shaped cut also adds a touch of uniqueness. The Pleiades1  dress pattern will follow you all year round: you can choose long or short sleeves, and mix and match bodices and skirts to follow your imagination. Check the Instagram feed below to get inspiration from other sewists! Also, check out the Pleiades 2 dress (another evolution of the much loved Pleiades pattern).

Pleiades 1 is a short dress (above knee) with V neckline, gathers on shoulders and slightly puffy sleeves. Several options available: long or short sleeves, short tied sleeves, ‘lantern’ sleeves, gathered skirt with or without frill in the bottom. Optional decorative buttons can be added under the front V neckline. Zipper closure in the back.

Available sizes:

2 to 16

Difficulty:

3/5 – average. You need to be familiar with reading a sewing pattern, to know how to make gathers, insert a zipper, set in sleeves… Tutorials available here.

Fabric choice:

Double gauze (ideal), cotton crepe, poplin, viscose or polyester crepe… Soft fabrics with a bit of thickness. Be sure to order enough fabric for print matching if necessary. You will need 3 meters for the long sleeve dress with bottom ruffle, and 2.5 meters will be enough for versions without the ruffle.

Fabric length:

For 60inch wide fabrics, you will need 2.5 meters for options without the frill in the bottom of the skirt, and 3 meters for options with the frill. With 44inch wide fabrics, you will need 3 meters for options without the frill, and 4 meters for options with the frill.

You will need:

A 21inch zipper, interfacing in the right weight for your fabric, 5 buttons if you chose to add them. Matching thread for your fabric, scissors, pins, a marking pen, a machine needle that fits your fabric type. You will also need some strips of interfacing or organza to stabilize seams that are on the bias, to prevent any stretching. Make sure to wash and let your fabric dry in the same conditions and temperature you will use for your future garment, to ensure it won’t shrink too much afterwards. Then iron your fabric and fold it in half lengthwise to cut the pattern pieces. 

Sizing:

This pattern is offered in sizes 2 to 16 according to the body measurements below.

Format: 

The French Poetry Pleiades 1 pattern is sold in PDF and can be downloaded right after purchase in US letter or A4 (print at home) or A0 (copy shop). Number of pages: 2 in A0, 40 in A4, 40 in US letter. Illustrated sewing instructions are also provided in PDF to guide you in tiling the A4 PDF pieces, cutting the fabric and sewing the pattern. A 0.59” (1.5cm) seam allowance is included. This pattern and its sewing directions are in English. For the French version, please buy from the French website.