Fabric choice
Double gauze, crepe, twill, challis, in silk, viscose, polyester, cotton, linen, tencel… but also light velvet, denim etc. Pretty much all woven fabrics. See below the required yardage/length of fabric needed.
You will need
11 small buttons (11mm or so) for view 1, a 21inch (55cm) zipper for view 2 only, 1, 2 small buttons for shoulder straps (optional). Interfacing in the right weight for your fabric, matching thread for your fabric, scissors, pins, a marking pen, a machine needle that fits your fabric type (use a new needle or make sure it is in good condition, to avoid scratching your fabric).
Sewing level
Intermediate (3/5). If you have already sewn a whole garment, you will do great! You will be guided throughout the process with a 41 pages fully illustrated booklet. View 1 only requires to know how to make a buttonhole and sew a button (not explained as it varies according to your sewing machine). View 2 requires to install a zipper (explained in video, as well as other technical aspects, in the help & tutorials part on this website).
Required fabric length
140CM wide fabric
International sizes | XS to M | L to XL | XL to 3X | 3X to 6X |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 24 | 26 to 34 |
View 1 | 2.7m | 2.9m | 4.3m | 4.7m |
View 2 | 2.7m | 2.9m | 4.3m | 4.7m |
For frill skirt, add: | 35cm | 35cm | 92cm | 92cm |
For pussy bow collar (view 1), add: | 15cm | 15cm | 15cm | 15cm |
110cm wide fabric
International sizes | XS to M | L to XL | XL to 3X | 3X to 6X |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 24 | 26 to 34 |
View 1 | 2.7m | 3.2m | 4.7m | 4.7m |
View 2 | 2.7m | 3.2m | 4.7m | 4.7m |
For frill skirt, add: | 92cm | 92cm | 1.15m | 1.15m |
For pussy bow collar (view 1), add: | 15cm | 15cm | 15cm | 15cm |
55” wide fabric
International sizes | XS to M | M to XL | XL to 3X | 3X to 6X |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 24 | 26 to 34 |
View 1 | 2.7 yards | 2.9 yards | 4.7 yards | 5.2 yards |
View 2 | 2.7 yards | 2.9 yards | 4.7 yards | 5.2 yards |
For frill skirt, add: | 14” | 14” | 1 yard | 1 yard |
For pussy bow collar (view 1), add: | 6” | 6” | 6” | 6” |
43” wide fabric
International sizes | XS to M | M to XL | XL to 3X | 3X to 6X |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 24 | 26 to 34 |
View 1 | 3 yards | 3.5 yards | 5.2 yards | 5.2 yards |
View 2 | 3 yards | 3.5 yards | 5.2 yards | 5.2 yards |
For frill skirt, add: | 1 yard | 1 yard | 1.3 yard | 1.3 yard |
For pussy bow collar (view 1), add: | 6” | 6” | 6” | 6” |
Finished garment measurements
You can find your French Poetry size based on your measurements or ready-to-wear size (US, EU, UK, AU, international) using the Size guide. Please find below the finished garment measurements. If in doubt, consider that for this dress the most important measurement is the bust: there are lots of ease at waist and hips.
International size | XS | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Bust | 87 | 91 | 95 | 99 | 103 | 107 | 111 | 115 |
Waist | 70 | 74 | 78 | 82 | 86 | 90 | 94 | 98 |
Hips | 125 | 129 | 133 | 137 | 141 | 145 | 149 | 153 |
Length | 90.5 | 91 | 91.5 | 92 | 92.5 | 93 | 93.5 | 94 |
The pattern was entirely re-done for these sizes: it was not just graded in bigger sizes, it was conceived specifically for this size range to offer a flattering cut, and tested out on live models.
International size | 1X/XL | 1X/XL | 2X/XXL | 3X | 3X | 4X | 4X | 5X | 5X | 6X |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
Bust | 117 | 122 | 127 | 132 | 137 | 142 | 147 | 152 | 157 | 162 |
Waist | 167 | 172 | 177 | 182 | 187 | 192 | 197 | 202 | 207 | 212 |
Hips | 183.5 | 188.5 | 193.5 | 198.5 | 203.5 | 208.5 | 213.5 | 218.5 | 223.5 | 228.5 |
Length | 104 | 104.5 | 105 | 106 | 106.5 | 107 | 108 | 108.5 | 109 | 109.5 |
International size | XS | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Bust | 34 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 40.5 | 42 | 44 | 45 |
Waist | 27.5 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 38.5 |
Hips | 49 | 51 | 52.5 | 54 | 55.5 | 57 | 59 | 60 |
Length | 35.5 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36.5 | 36.5 | 37 | 37 |
The pattern was entirely re-done for these sizes: it was not just graded in bigger sizes, it was conceived specifically for this size range to offer a flattering cut, and tested out on live models.
International size | 1X/XL | 1X/XL | 2X/XXL | 3X | 3X | 4X | 4X | 5X | 5X | 6X |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
Bust | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 62 | 64 |
Waist | 65.6 | 67.6 | 69.6 | 71.6 | 73.6 | 75.6 | 77.6 | 79.6 | 81.6 | 83.6 |
Hips | 72 | 74 | 76 | 78 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 90 |
Length | 41 | 41 | 40 | 41.5 | 41.5 | 42 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43 |
Finished garment measurements
You can find your French Poetry size based on your measurements or ready-to-wear size (US, EU, UK, AU, international) using the Size guide. Please find below the finished garment measurements. If in doubt, consider that for this dress the most important measurement is the bust: there are lots of ease at waist and hips.
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
XS | 2 | 87 | 70 | 125 | 90.5 |
S | 4 | 91 | 74 | 129 | 91 |
M | 6 | 95 | 78 | 133 | 91.5 |
M | 8 | 99 | 82 | 137 | 92 |
L | 10 | 103 | 86 | 141 | 92.5 |
L | 12 | 107 | 90 | 145 | 93 |
L | 14 | 111 | 94 | 149 | 93.5 |
XL | 16 | 115 | 98 | 153 | 94 |
The pattern was entirely re-done for these sizes: it was not just graded in bigger sizes, it was conceived specifically for this size range to offer a flattering cut, and tested out on live models.
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
1X/XL | 16 | 117 | 167 | 183.5 | 104 |
1X/XL | 18 | 122 | 172 | 188.5 | 104.5 |
2X/XXL | 20 | 127 | 177 | 193.5 | 105 |
3X | 22 | 132 | 182 | 198.5 | 106 |
3X | 24 | 137 | 187 | 203.5 | 106.5 |
4X | 26 | 142 | 192 | 208.5 | 107 |
4X | 28 | 147 | 197 | 213.5 | 108 |
5X | 30 | 152 | 202 | 218.5 | 108.5 |
5X | 32 | 157 | 207 | 223.5 | 109 |
6X | 34 | 162 | 212 | 228.5 | 109.5 |
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
XS | 2 | 34 | 27.5 | 49 | 35.5 |
S | 4 | 36 | 29 | 51 | 36 |
M | 6 | 37 | 31 | 52.5 | 36 |
M | 8 | 39 | 32 | 54 | 36 |
L | 10 | 40.5 | 33 | 55.5 | 36.5 |
L | 12 | 42 | 35 | 57 | 36.5 |
L | 14 | 44 | 37 | 59 | 37 |
XL | 16 | 45 | 38.5 | 60 | 37 |
The pattern was entirely re-done for these sizes: it was not just graded in bigger sizes, it was conceived specifically for this size range to offer a flattering cut, and tested out on live models.
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
1X/XL | 16 | 46 | 65.6 | 72 | 41 |
1X/XL | 18 | 48 | 67.6 | 74 | 41 |
2X/XXL | 20 | 50 | 69.6 | 76 | 41.5 |
3X | 22 | 52 | 71.6 | 78 | 41.5 |
3X | 24 | 54 | 73.6 | 80 | 42 |
4X | 26 | 56 | 75.6 | 82 | 42 |
4X | 28 | 58 | 77.6 | 84 | 42.5 |
5X | 30 | 60 | 79.6 | 86 | 42.5 |
5X | 32 | 62 | 81.6 | 88 | 43 |
6X | 34 | 64 | 83.6 | 90 | 43 |
karina.wang (verified owner) –
I love the new version (released last Fall). I also had the previous version (I received the update for free, French Poetry does this most of the time, just make sure to be subscribed to the newsletter/pattern updates to allow them to contact you).
I liked the previous version and used it a lot, but the fit on the new one is really great.
Medeina (verified owner) –
Awesome sewing pattern, great value for money. Thank you so much!
This review comes from our Etsy shop.
nuclearfirefly (verified owner) –
Cute dress. Easy pattern. Pay attention to the layout before cutting. I’ll be making this again!
This review comes from our Etsy shop.
ashley.mercer (verified owner) –
I love the many options on this pattern. Instructions are very clear.