Helens Closet

Helen's Closet March Top and Dress

Regular price £13.00 GBP
Sale price £13.00 GBP Regular price £13.00
Copyshop

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 printed A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day.

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Buy the March Top and Dress sewing pattern from Helen’s Closet. The March Top and Dress is a fun retro-style pattern featuring voluminous sleeves in two lengths and a gathered skirt (View A), gathered peplum (View B), or a straight peplum (View C). This whimsical design is comfortable, easy to style, and fun to wear! The interfaced front and back bodice panels add visual interest and provide a great place for a featured fabric or embellishment like embroidery. Views A and B are finished with a neck tie that you can tie in the front or leave to hang open. View C has a clean neckline finish with no tie. The neck tie can be added or removed from any of the views. The dress view features extra deep in-seam pockets that are secured into the waistband seam.

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). What is Copy Shop?

Suggested fabrics: Light to medium-weight woven fabrics with no stretch. Linen, cotton (lawn, poplin, voile, seersucker, shirting, double gauze), Tencel twill, and rayon/viscose challis or poplin will work well. Structured fabric like crisp cotton lawn will have more dramatic volume and drapier fabrics like rayon challis will have more fluid movement.

Fabric requirements: 

View A (dress): 57" (145 cm) wide fabric: 3.2 - 3.9 yd (2.9 - 3.6 m) // 45" (115 cm) wide fabric (sizes 0-20 only): 3.9 - 4.2 yd (3.6 - 3.9 m).

View B (gathered peplum top): 57" (145 cm) wide fabric: 2 - 2.5 yd (1.8 - 2.3 m) // 45" (115 cm) wide fabric (sizes 0-22 only): 2.5 - 2.7 yd (2.3 - 2.5 m).

View C (straight peplum top): 57" (145 cm) wide fabric: 1.7 - 2.3 yd (1.5 - 2.1 m) // 45" (115 cm) wide fabric: 2.3 - 3 yd (2.1 - 2.7 m).

Sizing: US 0 – 30 (approx. UK 6 – 30). Please check the size chart and finished garment measurements. This pattern has been drafted for a 5'6" (168 cm) tall person.

Notions: Thread; lightweight fusible interfacing, 19" (48 cm) x 38" (97 cm).

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; US letter/A4 print-at-home pattern (40 pages); A0 copy shop pattern (2 sheets).

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Customer Reviews

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sewslowsarah
Fab pattern, some poor sewist decisions

I've made this pattern three times, and this was my first attempt. The instructions, as always with Helen's Closet, are really clear and thorough, and there are some lovely details. I love the floaty style that kind of feels a bit shirt-dress, and it's so comfy to wear. I had this fabric ready when the pattern was released and thought it'd be the perfect match, but it didn't quite work out as expected.

The selvedges were very wide on the fabric so I didn't have enough for the pockets or to do the full length skirt, and I used white interfacing on the bib which showed through the lace pattern on the broderie anglaise. Unfortunately I don't wear this too much, but it's not down to the pattern, just unavoidable issues and decisions I made. It didn't deter me through, and I've made quite a few now. More details on my blog: http://sewslowsarah.com/2022/10/15/helens-closet-march-dress/

R
Rodentia
Also delightful in May!

I really liked the casual look of this dress but after my disappoint with me and dresses not going together, I decided to make the top. I made a size 6 which worked well for me - the sizes are more akin to US sizing so recommend to really check the size chart before snipping.

I really appreciated the instructions for printing which allows one to only print the sheets needed for the option you choose.

i made this in a cotton/linen mix from Merchant and Mills and just managed to eek it out of 1.5 metres of 145 cm wide fabric. The pieces are supposed to be be cut on a single layer of fabric which seemed rather laborious but I managed to cut out on the fold using creative cutting as the instructions suggest one can! The construction is very well described with a lot if tips and explanations of why something is a good idea!

The panels mean there is a double layer of fabric back and front which is good for sheer fabrics. I did some stitching by hand, i.e., cuffs and collar and made the hem of the frilled peplum as small as possible.

I cut out on Sunday p.m. and made it all on Monday and am very pleased with the result.

I think this will get a lot of wear!