Introducing the Chantelle Dress and Darcy Skirt!

When Haley designed these two patterns, she had a change of seasons in mind.

Around August, some of us might start thinking about a change of seasons or a shift in weather. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we're shifting to fall. But both of these patterns are ideal as the weather starts to shift from cool to warm or from warm to cool.

Here's a close look at the Chantelle dress and Darcy skirt!

Meet the Chantelle Dress

Chantelle is a body-skimming shirt dress with princess seams. It buttons up the center front, which is finished with a facing. This pattern also features short sleeves, a notched collar, and side seam pockets. Depending on your fabric choice, you could sew a modern denim dress, bring some color-blocked vibes from the '60s, or choose a ditzy floral print to go full '90s.

Sophia is wearing a size 2 with a broad shoulder adjustment. We also added 1/2” (12 mm) to the sleeve length, 1 1/2” (3.8 cm) to dress length, and increased the hip 1/2” (12 mm). Her measurements are 34” (86.4 cm), 25 1/2” (64.8 cm), 37” (94 cm), and she is 5’8” (1.72 m) tall.

She’s wearing a micro gingham from Blackbird Fabrics, and the bonus dress is a Cairo Washed Linen from Bolt Fabrics.

Morgan is wearing a size 20 with no adjustments. Her measurements are 48” (121.92 cm), 41” (104.14 cm), 52” (132.08 cm), and she is 5’9” (1.75 m) tall.

She’s wearing a Rayon Linen Slub from Bolt Fabrics, and the bonus is a Lady McElroy Rayon Challis in Pansy Pop from Stonemountain & Daughter.

Get the Chantelle Dress

Members-only Bonus Dress

Did you know that Seamwork members get access to a bonus version of one of the new patterns each month?

You can see all of the bonus patterns available here.

The Chantelle bonus dress features a lace-up back and cap sleeves. You can use lace, ribbon, or self fabric for the ties and it will give your dress a little extra cinch.

Sophia is wearing a Cairo Washed Linen from Bolt Fabrics.

Morgan is wearing a Lady McElroy Rayon Challis in Pansy Pop from Stonemountain & Daughter.

Fabric & Fit

Fabrics to shop: Look for medium-weight woven fabrics such as linen, denim, chambray, batiste, lawn, rayon challis, cupro, and Tencel.

Fabrics to avoid: Avoid very lightweight or heavyweight fabrics. You want your fabric to have enough body to support the princess seams, collar, and buttons, but you don’t want it to be too stiff to have a body-skimming silhouette.

Fitting: This dress is semi-fitted, so pay attention to your essential measurements—your bust, waist, and hips. Check the finished garment measurements and consider the ease at each of those points. Understanding ease will help you pick the right size or sizes. This tutorial will teach you all about design and wearing ease.

Follow this tutorial to lengthen and shorten a sewing pattern

If you need to adjust the armhole depth, use this tutorial.

If you want to blend between sizes, use this video tutorial.

To adjust the shoulder slope, follow this tutorial.

Here are tutorials for small bust adjustments and full bust adjustments.

If you prefer videos, there are bust adjustment videos in the Hansie sewalong here.

Meet the Darcy Skirt

Darcy is a wrap skirt with a special detail at the waist. This skirt pattern features three radiating pleats at a lined tie closure for a soft drape that draws your eye to the whole garment. It has a semi-fitted, straight cut with a curved, faced hemline, and darts create additional shaping at the back of the waist.

The wrap is secured with a hidden twill tape tie inside, and the lined tie on the outside is sandwiched within the facing. This means you can move comfortably all day without worrying about the wrap flying open.

Sophia is wearing a size 2 Darcy skirt. We graded to a 4 at the hip. We also removed 1/2” (12 mm) at the waist and reduced the crotch depth by 1” (2.5 cm). She’s wearing Lady McElroy Cruise Washed Linen from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics.

Morgan is wearing a size 20 with no adjustments. Her measurements are 48” (121.92 cm), 41” (104.14 cm), 52” (132.08 cm), and she is 5’9” (1.75 m) tall. She’s wearing a textured Tencel from Blackbird Fabrics.

Get the Darcy Skirt

Fabric & Fit

Fabrics to shop: Medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton twill, linen, linen blends, denim, chambray, and rayon twill.

Fabrics to avoid: Avoid heavyweight denim or canvas. It will be too stiff for the pleats.

Fitting: This skirt is semi-fitted with a straight cut. Pay the most attention to your waist and hip measurements, and blend between sizes as necessary. Check the finished garment measurements and consider the ease at each of those points. Understanding ease will help you pick the right size or sizes. This tutorial will teach you all about design and wearing ease.