A crushed velvet dress is all the rage this fall. This style usually means dressing in layers. Stockings, light coats, long vests, short dresses worn as tops –the possibilities are endless. The short dress for autumn is an essential piece of clothing that can take us from morning to night time. It is easy to add to if the temperature drops and easy to wear during the warm hours of the day.
Autumn and spring really are when northern and southern hemispheres actually have similar temperatures, so this design should work for everyone. This particular dress is one of my favorites because of the flexibility that it provides –worn with high boots, stockings, and ankle boots, over skinny jeans, leggings, or just a scarf. It is the perfect piece of clothing for your wardrobe. Layer it any way you want and you'll have a super outfit.
This dress is incredibly easy to make. I hope it will make a great addition to your fall or spring wardrobe.
Key Features:
- Easy to make
- Can be worn as a top or mini dress
- Comfortable yet elegant style
- Stand-up bow collar
- Ideal for women with small shoulders and wide hips
Materials:
- Crushed Velvet or Panne Velour, 60″ wide, 1-2 yards depending on size
- Soft satin fabric (silk or polyester), 1 yard
- Fusible tricot interfacing
Tools
- Ball point needle
- Serger or zigzag stitch
- Loop turner
About Crushed Velvet
Crushed velvet or sometimes known as crushed panne velour is one of 16 types of velvet. Normally made out of polyester, it is possible to find velvet made from silk if your budget allows. Velvet is a type of tufted woven fabric with evenly distributed cut threads giving the fabric a dense short pile and a luxurious and distinctive feel. The fabric is actually woven as two layers which are then cut apart thus creating the pile. This is a pretty complex and expensive process, or at least it used to be, so this type of fabric used to be reserved only for royalty. It's only been the invention of polyester and the development of modern manufacturing techniques that this type of fabric is now affordable to almost everyone.
Notoriously difficult to handle, but certainly worth the effort, it is imperative to find the grain of the velvet and cut all pieces strictly on it. Use a ball point needle when sewing. If you do not have a serger, use a small zigzag when hemming if you want to preserve the stretchability of the fabric. However, in this pattern, a plain stitch is also possible.
Recommended Fabrics
Finished Garment Sizes
Pattern Layout
Pattern Download
You can download the pattern for this Crushed Velvet Dress from our account at Payhip.
For help downloading and printing PDF patterns, please CLICK HERE.
Step One: Cutting the fabric
The fabric must be laid on a flat surface and let it rest overnight. Fold the fabric on the grain line and cut the pieces one at a time. Apply fusible tricot interfacing to the sleeves and hem. Mark the center of the back and the front of the dress. You will need this to make the pleats latter.
Step Two: Sewing the shoulder seams
Wrong sides together, pin the shoulders and sew at 3/8″. Serge or use a zigzag stitch.
Step Three: Sewin the sides
Pin the sides, start to sew from the bottom to the sleeves.
Serge or zigzag the sides.
Step Four: Making the pleats
There are two pleats one in the front and one in the back of the dress. Find the center of the dress and fold to the right 1 1/2″ from the center. Fold another 1 1/2″ to the left and pin in place. Zigzag the edges of the neckline to set the pleats.
Step Five: Making the neckline with a sash
Cut a bias strip 54 to 60″ in length and 3 1/2″ wide. Fold the strip right sides together and sew at 3/8″.
Use a loop turner to turn the sash inside out. Find the middle of the sash and pin it to the middle of back of the dress.
Pin one side from the back to the front, stopping at the center of the front pleat. Then pin the other side from the back to the front stopping at center of the pleat. Sew the sash at 3/8″.
Top stitch the sash so it will look like a stand-up collar.
Step Six: Hemming the crushed velvet dress
Apply fusible tricot interfacing to the hem. Cut a strip of interfacing long enough to go around the hem and 1″ wide. Using an iron on nylon setting to fuse it to the hem. Fold the hem 1/2″.
Stitch using a small zigzag or a straight stitch. Test on a piece of fabric to see what look suits you best.
Dressing up in autumn is always fun. The days are warm and cooler nights mean we can be a little more creative with our clothing by dressing in layers. Be sure to stay tuned for our next style of autumn dresses.
Thanks for such a lovely dress pattern! Just some clarification on the shoulder seams. Step 2 says to sew wrong sides together at the shoulder seams – is that right?
Your model is adorable!! 😊
We have hardly started Summer aren’t you rushing it a bit with fall.
Well, some readers like to have plenty of time to work on their projects.
Hello, would this work from a sequin fabric that is has a fine sheer net backing? They’re very big dangly sequins. I’d be wearing a jersey slip underneath. As I’d be rollerskating, as one does, I’d probably remove the pleat and pleat allowance on the back and maybe deepen the neckline?. Does that sound feasible to you? Is this my festival roller disco dress? I like the slight drape off the bust line.
Would it work for fabric that is 44″ wide? Thank you :o)
Yes it would but you need to trace the other side of the pattern both front and back. Then lay the fabric on the table and cut the pattern without folding the fabric.
Perfect, thank you!
Is there a guide on yardage needed (like, size 6-8=1 yd, 10-12=1.5 yds)? It only states it’s 1-2 yds, depending on size…help!
Te variations are too many it would take me literally 4 hours to come up with all the amount for the sizes. Print the size you need and lay it over a table and work out the amount you need.
Got it! Thank you – it’s a beautiful dress.
Love your Crushed Velvet dress. It does give a lot of possibilities.
I love the dress pattern for myself, would like to know does this pattern come in girls sizes for ages 8, 10, 11 years old ?
NO sorry Diana, I have very few girls patterns, but I am about to change that with my new pattern making classes on YouTube.
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Would I be able to use this pattern with 50% stretch knit fabric instead of crushed velvet fabric?
Yes you can, make sure the fabric has a soft drape and it is not transparent otherwise it will not work, it will make the dress look cheap.
great thank you!
Gracias por compartir un patrón gratis y sobre todo fácil de hacer y mucho más fácil como.lo.muestras gracias
Can’t wait to make this. Will make one for each of my nieces too. Thanks for your kindness and merry christmas.
I just want to say thank you for sharing a free pattern!! Some people forget their manners sometimes. Your instructions are easy enough for me to follow and I’m certainly no expert. Thanks
Hi there,
I am excited to make this dress. I am a beginner so hopefully it won’t be too difficult for me. I just have one question. I want to lengthen this pattern so that it sits just below my knee. I have been researching how to do this and evidently some patterns have a line to use as a guide for lengthening and shortening. Where should I add in this line to this pattern?
Thanks,
Bernice
Hi Bernice, you can lengthen the dress below the hips. Make a horizontal line and cut the pattern on this line. Tape the top part to a big sheet of paper, separate the pattern by the amount you want to lengthen it. Tape the lower part and retrace the sides. If you need an example on how to do this follow the steps on this top. Lengthening and shortening are done always the same way.
[…] really lovely pattern in my email back in the Autumn and never got round to making it. Its a free So Sew Easy pattern. I have collected loads of these free patterns from Deb and Mayra at So Sew Easy but never, until […]
hope you dont mind my using this space to ask a general question I have a lovely piece of (i guess its) Stretch velvet and my daughter wants a straight, spaghetti strap minidress Im just not sure which way to cut it out I guess this needs to be made on the bias Thanks I apreciate any assistance
Carrie R
Not a t all Carrie, happy to help you. because it is stretch velvet it does not need to be cut on a bias. Do mind the nap, run your hand through the pile and see what way it becomes darker and lighter, make sure the nap pile runs lighter to the hem. any other question do not hesitate to contact me via email mayra@so-sew-easy.com
Your directions say, “Apply fusible tricot interfacing to the sleeves and hem”. ?? These directions are vague. You state this is an easy project yet your directions are not descriptive. Do I apply the tricot and hem the sleeve or do I apply the tricot to the sleeve and the hem? How do I apply the tricot? In strips? If so, how thick? You have not provided a picture for this step. Now I have a few hours of research on tricot and it applications to do before I can work on the dress. Frustrating.
I just realized there is a picture. I thought that picture was the shoulders sewn together. I still would have liked clearer directions.
Hi Cindy, thanks for the back, what part you found difficult to understand? I am still learning how to write tutorials, english is not my first language and tend to assume people know what I am talking about. I try very hard to make it as clear as possible, so I would really love to know where the instruction were not good, let me know. Kind Regards, Mayra
(Apply fusible tricot interfacing to the hem. Cut a strip of interfacing long enough to go around the hem and 1″ wide. Using an iron on nylon setting to fuse it to the hem. Fold the hem 1/2″) I would love your help on how to make the instructions clearer. How would you write this instructions better? Kind Regards, Mayra
I love t dress and have already downloaded the pattern. However, I do not see a chart telling me how much fabric to purchase. Help.
Please read the article it is all there, with step by steps instructions on how to do it.
Could I extend the sleeve to a little past the elbow or even to the wrist maybe a bell sleeve? How would I do this?
Yes of course Kimberly, just make sure the stretch of the fabric is horizontally and the fabric drapes well. Do not use a bulky fabric.
Gorgeous! You are making my wardrobe planning for fall so sew easy! Thanks again for another great pattern and tutorial!
[…] Find the full pattern Here. […]
I will definitely make this pattern.Thank you so much for your generosity.I have some black cotton velvet in my stash from years ago. Also thank you for making it available to all the sizes you have. I love the ribbon and the tuck in the back.