Wardrobe by Me Freedom Dress

This is a well-drafted pattern for a floaty, loose-fitting dress with two or three tiers. The sleeve options include a short bishop sleeve gathered with elastic or a longer loose style that can be rolled up with a button flap. The bodice has a placket and is fastened with four buttons. The neckline options are for a collar band or a tie-neck.
The design needs a relatively lightweight drapey fabric, viscose/rayon being ideal. Cotton lawn would work well too.
On sizing, only the bust measurement is important because the first gathered tier starts above the natural waist, and the tiers make the fit loose with plenty of ease over the hips. My bust measurement put me between a size 8 and 10, but looking at the finished garment measurements I sized down to an 8 and was pleased with the fit.
The pattern is drafted for a height of 5’ 8”, and I’m 5’ 4”. That meant I wanted to lose 4” equally split above and below the waist. I shortened the bodice using the lengthen/shorten lines by 2” and decided to try on the tiers as I went along to decide on the final length. The bust darts were in the right place for me without any adjustment, so if you’re taller, it would be worth trying out the dart position in case they are a bit high.
For the length, ultimately I decided to lose the bottom narrow tier and instead cut two tiers the same length as tier one (using the tier two pattern piece to get the correct width). The dress finishes at midi length on me, and I don’t feel swamped by it. The instructions are clear and well-illustrated, though not of the hand-holding kind. The pattern is described as being suitable for an ‘adventurous beginner’, but because of the amount of gathering, the placket and set-in sleeves, I feel this is more of an intermediate make. It is straightforward though and I found it all went together very well.
A great pattern for a tiered summer dress and I will certainly use it again.