Introducing the Porter Dress and Banks Jumpsuit!

Feel like sewing something special? We have two new patterns this month that will help you do that! So dig into your stash for some fabric you’ve been saving, or go shopping at your favorite fabric store for some new yardage.

Let’s meet the new patterns.

Meet the Porter Dress

This shirtdress won’t ever go out of style! Porter is a midi-length shirtdress with a straight fit. It has fun to sew details, like a 2-piece collar with a stand, a placket, and a waist tie secured with thread chains. For shaping, the dress has bust darts and curved faced hems at the sleeve and hemline. This gives you a sleek, classic silhouette you can layer or wear on its own. And yes, it has pockets! They’re topstitched at the side seams.

Kayla is wearing a size 12 from the 00-18 size range. We moved the dart down 1/2" (12 mm), reduced neck circumference, added 2" (5.1 cm) to hip ease, and made a full bicep adjustment. Her measurements are 40” (101.6 cm), 33” (83.8 cm) , 44 3/4” (113.6 cm), and she is 5’10” (1.78 m) tall.

This fabric is Scribble Flora Rayon Slub from Blackbird Fabrics.

Morgan is wearing a size 20 Porter dress. Her measurements are 48” (121.92 cm), 41” (104.14 cm), 52" (132.08 cm), and she is 5'9” (1.75 m) tall.

This fabric is Cotton and Linen Jacquard in Mulberry from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics.

The member bonus for the Porter dress adds a gusseted belt pocket—which you might just want to add to everything else in your wardrobe!

The bonus fabrics are 5 oz. Sandwashed Cotton in Petrol from Blackbird Fabric and Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Dusty Blue.

Fabric & Fit

Fabrics to shop: Lightweight or medium-weight woven fabrics such as linen, chambray, batiste, lawn, voile, rayon challis, cupro, and Tencel.

Fabrics to avoid: This pattern is pretty forgiving regarding fabric, so you can go lightweight with lawn or pick something heavier like Tencel. Lightweight denim is also an option, but avoid anything too heavy.

Tips for sewing: You’ll need some buttons or snaps for this dress. If you need help installing snaps, read this guide. If you choose buttons, here’s an article with the best way to quickly sew buttons by hand or machine.

Fit: Pay the most attention to your bust and hip measurements with this dress and blend sizes as needed. Here are tutorials for small and full bust adjustments.

Meet the Banks Jumpsuit

Make a statement with this jumpsuit. Banks is a dramatic dolman sleeve jumpsuit with full-length wide legs. It has a powerful silhouette that is so fun to sew, featuring a surplice bodice with princess seams and lined center and front back panels. This jumpsuit is designed for wovens, and it goes on with an invisible zipper and keyhole closure at the back. It also has a shaped waist tie sewn directly into the jumpsuit, so it never falls off. There are darts at the back waist and curved in-seam pockets.

Kayla is wearing a size 12 blended to a size 14 for the pants from the 00-18 size range. We removed 1/2” (12 mm) from the bodice height and added 3/4” (19 mm) to the hip and thigh. Her measurements are 40” (101.6 cm), 33” (83.8 cm) , 44 3/4” (113.6 cm), and she is 5’10” (1.78 m) tall.

This fabric is Telio Tencel Twill in Cedarwood.

Morgan is wearing a size 20. Her measurements are 48” (121.92 cm), 41” (104.14 cm), 52" (132.08 cm), and she is 5'9” (1.75 m) tall.

This fabric is Viscose Cotton Linen Jacquard in Paisley Floral Navy from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics.

Fabric & Fit

Fabrics to shop: Lightweight or medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton, linen, linen blends, twill, denim, rayon challis, rayon suiting, silk noil, and rayon crepe.

Fabrics to avoid: This jumpsuit looks best in fabric that has some drape, so avoid anything too crisp or stiff. There’s also a lot of yardage in this pattern, so avoid anything too heavy.

Tips for sewing: If you need help installing an invisible zipper, here’s a tutorial.

Fit: Pay most attention to your bust and hip measurements with this dress and blend sizes as needed. Here are tutorials for small and full bust adjustments.