Folkwear 266 Greek Island Dress

Buy the 266 Greek Island Dress sewing pattern from Folkwear. The early years of the 20th century witnessed many avant-garde innovations, as people freed themselves from the constraints of late 19th-century Victorian society. Isadora Duncan (1878-1927) revolutionised dance with her free-form interpretive movements and scandalised audiences by wearing non-restrictive, flowing robes that she adapted from images on Classical Greek vases.

The Greek Island Dress pays homage to this unforgettable woman. The dress is a loose-fitting sheath with a back zipper and narrow shoulder straps. The front and back yoke can be plain or embellished as desired. The jacket has a centre back godet that adds flare without adding fullness, a single button-and-loop closure at the front, and a dramatic collar that extends over the sleeves like a filmy canopy. Optional braid or trim can suggest Classical Greece, or any other era. The tunic is a breeze to sew with its front and back sailor collar and floating sleeve panels that can hang freely or be attached along the top of the arm. Braid trim, ball fringe, or other optional embellishment make this ensemble perfect for any creative visionary.

This sewing pattern is available to buy in the following formats:

– PDF (available to download immediately after purchase). What is a PDF?

– PDF pattern + Printed A0 copy shop (We print out the A0 pattern sheets, but you’ll need to download the digital instructions, as we don’t print these. The PDF files will be emailed immediately after purchase, and the A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day). You will receive all seven A0 sheets. What is Copy Shop?

Note if purchasing copy shop printing: Some of the pattern pieces are divided across two A0 sheets. The A0 sheets will need to be joined with no overlap. 

Suggested fabrics:

Dress: Silk or polyester crepe de chine or charmeuse. The dress can also be made as a sundress in lightweight cotton or linen.

Tunic and Jacket: Soft, filmy fabrics such as chiffon, georgette, gauze, voile, novelty cut velvet. The jacket can also be made with fabrics with a bit more structure, such as linen or crepe.

Fabric requirements: 

Note: A napped fabric or directional print is not recommended for the jacket collar.

Dress: 45″ (115 cm) wide fabric: 3 - 3 1/2 yd (2.8 - 3.2 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 1 7/8 - 3 1/4 yd (1.7 - 2.9 m).

Jacket: 45″ (115 cm) wide fabric: 2 1/4 - 2 5/8 yd (2 - 2.4 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 1 3/4 - 2 1/8 yd (1.6 - 1.9 m).

Tunic: 45″ (115 cm) wide fabric: 5 - 5 1/2 yd (4.5 - 5 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 4 3/8 - 4 1/2 yd (4 - 4.1 m).

Sizing: XS – 2XL (approx. UK 4/6 – 24/26, based on our standardised size chart). Please also check the designer’s size chart and finished garment measurements.

Notions: Thread // Dress: interfacing (25"/65 cm wide), 5/8 yd (0.6 m); 12" (30.5 cm) zipper; optional decorative braid or trim for yoke // Jacket: one decorative button; optional decorative trim or braid // Tunic: buttons, beads, or decorative fasteners to connect sleeve panels.

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; US letter/A4 print-at-home pattern (30 pages for dress, 35 pages for jacket, 40 pages for tunic); 36″ wide copy shop pattern (2 sheets); A0 copy shop pattern (7 sheets).

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