Fabric choice/yardage
Crepe, twill, challis, in silk, viscose, polyester, cotton, linen, tencel… but also light denim etc. Pretty much all woven fabrics.
You will need
50cm interfacing for the collar and cuffs. A 50cm zipper (about 19.6 inch), 4 small buttons (3.5 to 4.3 inch – 9 to 11mm) for cuffs, thread matching your fabric, a machine needle that fits your fabric type, a marking pen, scissors and pins.
Sewing level
Intermediate (3/5). Technical aspects include sewing bust darts, making gathers, sewing a set-in sleeve, sewing sleeve cuffs and a back zipper. You will be guided throughout the process with a 20 pages fully illustrated booklet and a step by step video tutorial (see below on this page).
Required fabric length
International sizes | XS to M | L to XL |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 |
Required length in 140cm wide fabric | 2.3m | 2.8m |
Required length in 110cm wide fabric | 3m | 3.8m |
International sizes | XS to M | L to XL |
French Poetry sizes (size guide) | 2 to 8 | 10 to 16 |
Required length in 55” wide fabric | 2.5 yards | 3 yards |
Required length in 43” wide fabric | 3.3 yards | 4.2 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. For this dress, the most important measurement is the bust. If your waist and hips are slightly larger than the standard size, you may not need to adjust as there are lots of ease in the skirt. Please find below the finished garment measurements.
International size | XS | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Bust | 86 | 90 | 94 | 98 | 102 | 106 | 110 | 114 |
Waist | 114 | 123 | 132 | 140 | 149 | 157 | 166 | 175 |
Hips | 114 | 123 | 132 | 140 | 149 | 157 | 166 | 175 |
Length | 87 | 87.5 | 88 | 88.5 | 89 | 89.5 | 90 | 90.5 |
International size | XS | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL |
French Poetry size (size guide) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
Bust | 34 | 35.5 | 37 | 39 | 40 | 42 | 43 | 45 |
Waist | 45 | 48.5 | 52 | 55 | 58.5 | 62 | 65.5 | 69 |
Hips | 45 | 48.5 | 52 | 55 | 58.5 | 62 | 65.5 | 69 |
Length | 34 | 34.5 | 34.5 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
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. For this dress, the most important measurement is the bust. If your waist and hips are slightly larger than the standard size, you may not need to adjust as there are lots of ease in the skirt. Please find below the finished garment measurements.
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
XS | 2 | 86 | 114 | 114 | 87 |
S | 4 | 90 | 123 | 123 | 87.5 |
M | 6 | 94 | 132 | 132 | 88 |
M | 8 | 98 | 140 | 140 | 88.5 |
L | 10 | 102 | 149 | 149 | 89 |
L | 12 | 106 | 157 | 157 | 89.5 |
L | 14 | 110 | 166 | 166 | 90 |
XL | 16 | 114 | 175 | 175 | 90.5 |
Intl size | French Poetry size (size guide) | Bust | Waist | Hips | Length |
XS | 2 | 34 | 45 | 45 | 34 |
S | 4 | 35.5 | 48.5 | 48.5 | 34.5 |
M | 6 | 37 | 52 | 52 | 34.5 |
M | 8 | 39 | 55 | 55 | 35 |
L | 10 | 40 | 58.5 | 58.5 | 35 |
L | 12 | 42 | 62 | 62 | 35 |
L | 14 | 43 | 65.5 | 65.5 | 35.5 |
XL | 16 | 45 | 69 | 69 | 35.5 |
Video tutorial
You will find here 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 5/8” (1.5cm) seam allowance is included.
Need more explanations on how to gather fabric, insert a zipper? Many other video tutorials are available on the tutorials page.
Your makes on Instagram
Tag your makes with #FPLeo or #FPLeodress hashtag to share them with other sewists 🙂
margaretta.hag (verified owner) –
I rarely see this one on Instagram but I don’t know why. This is one of my favorite patterns, last year I made a summer version in a very light cotton voile and a winter version in a chambray. I received lots of compliments.
Anne (verified owner) –
Great pattern, as expected! Thanks 🙂
This review was posted on our Etsy shop.