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Stella shirt dress pattern in a light cotton with circle skirt option
Stella dress shown here in view 2 in a light viscose
This is the technical drawing of French Poetry Stella dress sewing pattern. It shows both views: circle skirt and godets skirt, and the drawstring belt.
This is the back of the Stella dress option 1 (circle skirt) shown here in a light embroidered cotton.
This is the back of the Stella dress option 2 (godets skirt) shown here in a light viscose.
This is the back of the Stella dress option 2 (godets skirt) shown here in a light embroidered cotton.
The Stella dress is shown here in a tightly-woven viscose (viscose poplin) with a tropical print.

Stella dress

12.50€ – 15.00€

Now available in our extended size range, the Stella dress is a shirt dress pattern reinvented to reveal your femininity : a dreamy princess skirt contrasts with a boyish collar and hidden tie belt, giving casual, contemporary, and classy all at once. It has been designed to fit most body shapes and to mold to your daily life: get up, get dressed, laugh, twirl around, have a good dinner, drop or put on a few pounds—and all the while, don’t worry for a second about your favorite dress not fitting you anymore.

Are you a beginner sewist? The circle skirt is for you. Are you a seasoned sewist with a knack for donning details? We’d recommend the godets skirt with its extra flounce and pronounced flair.

  • Format:layered A0, A4 and US letter PDF (one layer per size).
  • Pattern pieces do not overlap.
  • A 5/8” (1.5cm) seam allowance is included.
  • A fully illustrated, 26 pages booklet is provided with the pattern, with highly detailed illustrations.
  • This pattern and its instructions are in English. You can purchase French version here.
  • A step by step video tutorial is available below.
  • Sizing, fabric choice, notions: see below.
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Fabric choice

Any kind of light fabric for view 1: viscose, tencel, rayon, polyester, cotton… The result will be different depending on fabric drape, giving you many options. For view 2 you must choose a tightly woven fabric that won’t easily stretch out of shape, to ensure godets are sturdy enough (to prevent tearing at the tip).

You will need

A half yard/half meter interfacing for placket, collar, collar stand and cuffs. 15 small buttons (about 0.39 inches or 9 to 11mm), matching thread for your fabric, a machine needle matching your fabric type, a marking pen, scissors and pins. A 25/64’’ (1cm) wide ribbon for tie belt, if you don’t plan on cutting it from the same fabric as the dress. This piece is included in the pattern (piece 9) but it is very long: for the plus size range, it is not shown in cutting layouts as it would cause too much fabric waste. For smaller sizes, it is sometimes shown cut in two parts. You will need: 2 yards / 2m for sizes 2 to 16, and 2 yards to 3 yards (2m to 2.5m) from sizes 16 to 34.

Sewing level

Option 1: intermediate (3/5). If you have already sewn a whole garment, you will do great! There is nothing particularly difficult, only several different sewing techniques (shirt collar, bound slit, buttons and buttonholes…) but you will be guided through the process in video.

Option 2: advanced (4/5). Godets take a lot more time and are a little more difficult to sew. You will love them if you like a little challenge!

Required fabric length

Length in meters

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 (circle skirt) 2.75m 3m 3.5 4m*
View 2 (godets skirt) 3.8m 4.2m 5m* 5m*

*Length calculated without tie belt in these sizes (to be replaced with ribbon)

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 (circle skirt) 3.7m 4.8m 5.5m 5.7m
View 2 (godets skirt) 6m 6.4m 7m 7m

Length in yards

55” 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 (circle skirt) 3.2 yards 3 yards 4 yards 4.5 yards*
View 2 (godets skirt) 4 yards 4.5 yards 5.5 yards* 5.5 yards*

*Length calculated without tie belt in these sizes (to be replaced with ribbon)

43” 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 (circle skirt) 4 yards 5.2 yards 6 yards 6.2 yards
View 2 (godets skirt) 6.6 yards 7 yards 7.7 yards 7.7 yards

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. Keep in mind that the bodice has a loose cut without bust darts, and the waist is gathered with a tie belt. The ease indicated below at hips is for godets skirt (circle skirt has of course a lot more ease).

Measurements in centimeters - size range XS to XL (2 to 16)

International size XS S M M L L L XL
French Poetry size (size guide) 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Bust 95 99 103 107 111 115 119 123
Waist 95 99 103 107 111 115 119 123
Hips 95 99 103 107 111 115 119 123
Length 89.4 89.7 90 90.3 90.6 90.9 91.2 91.5

Measurements in centimeters - size range XL to +6X (16 to 34)

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 119 124 139 134 139 144 149 154 159 164
Hips 119 124 139 134 139 144 149 154 159 164
Length 99 99.5 100 100.7 101.4 102 102.6 103.2 103.9 104.5

Measurements in inches - size range XS to XL (2 to 16)

International size XS S M M L L L XL
French Poetry size (size guide) 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Bust 37.4 39 40.6 42 43.7 45.3 47 48.4
Waist 37.4 39 40.6 42 43.7 45.3 47 48.4
Hips 37.4 39 40.6 42 43.7 45.3 47 48.4
Length 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 35.8 35.9

Measurements in inches - size range XL to +6X (16 to 34)

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 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 60.5 62.5 64.5
Hips 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 60.5 62.5 64.5
Length 39 39 39.5 39.5 40 40 41 41 41.5 41.5

Finished garment measurements

You can find your French Poetry size using the Size guide. Please find below the finished garment measurements. Keep in mind that the bodice has a loose cut without bust darts, and the waist is gathered with a tie belt. The ease indicated below at hips is for godets skirt (circle skirt has of course a lot more ease).

Measurements in centimeters - size range XS to XL (2 to 16)

Intl size French Poetry size (size guide) Bust Waist Hips Length
XS 2 95 95 95 89.4
S 4 99 99 99 89.7
M 6 103 103 103 90
M 8 107 107 107 90.3
L 10 111 111 111 90.6
L 12 115 115 115 90.9
L 14 119 119 119 91.2
XL 16 123 123 123 91.5

Measurements in centimeters - size range XL to +6X (16 to 34)

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 16 117 119 119 99
1X/XL 18 122 124 124 99.5
2X/XXL 20 127 129 129 100
3X 22 132 134 134 100.7
3X 24 137 139 139 101.4
4X 26 142 144 144 102
4X 28 147 149 149 102.6
5X 30 152 154 154 103.2
5X 32 157 159 159 103.9
6X 34 162 164 164 104.5

Measurements in inches - size range XS to XL (2 to 16)

Intl size French Poetry size (size guide) Bust Waist Hips Length
XS 2 37.4 37.4 37.4 35
S 4 39 39 39 35
M 6 40.6 40.6 40.6 35.5
M 8 42 42 42 35.5
L 10 43.7 43.7 43.7 36
L 12 45.3 45.3 45.3 36
L 14 47 47 47 36.5
XL 16 48.4 48.4 48.4 36.5

Measurements in inches - size range XL to +6X (16 to 34)

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 47 47 39
1X/XL 18 48 49 49 39
2X/XXL 20 50 51 51 39.5
3X 22 52 53 53 39.5
3X 24 54 55 55 40
4X 26 56 57 57 40
4X 28 58 59 59 40.5
5X 30 60 60.5 60.5 40.5
5X 32 62 62.5 62.5 41
6X 34 64 64.5 64.5 41

Sewing instructions

Here is a video tutorial to guide you through all the steps in making this dress (hit play then click on the symbol in the bottom right corner to display the video in full screen). A booklet is included as well to illustrate PDF tiling and pattern cutting.
Need more explanations on how to gather fabric, insert a zipper? Many other video tutorials are available on my tutorials page.

Your makes on Instagram

Tag your makes with #FPstella hashtag to share them with other sewists 🙂

SEE MORE ON INSTAGRAM
Stella shirt dress pattern in a blue double gauze
Stella shirt dress pattern with circle skirt
Stella shirt dress pattern in a pink broderie anglaise