This is not your typical dress. It may look simple but it has a lot of really nice details that make it stand out. The first and most distinguishing feature that I love about this dress is the ruffles around the neckline. It really was easy to create this look and the end result is beautiful. It gives just that little bit of different texture to really stand out. Also, the neckline can easily be pulled down so that it can be worn off the shoulders. I love having that option.
The other really cool detail on this dress is the handcut hem instead of the usual finished hemline. It has a jagged look which makes it really unique and organic. No two dresses will ever look exactly alike.
I did the short version of the dress, but if you wish to do the long version, you can still follow along with us as there are many similarities between the two dresses so our tutorial may still help if you're stuck.
This dress is part of the Simplicity 1773 Medieval Dress series. If you wish to create the other part of this dress, check our tutorial the overdress.
Just as a tip, when you put in the zipper, first, just baste it in and then have your daughter try it on. I’ve heard from a few people that the top of the dress seems to run big for them. That way if the dress is big for your daughter, you can go ahead and take in more at this back seam/zipper area, instead of waiting till after the dress is complete and then you have to worry about the ruffles. I agree that this dress can definitely work in a non-Halloween context. 🙂
I love this pattern, and the tutorial is super awesome.. I am about to start making this for my daughter as a regular outfit dress not a Halloween costume. However my size for the pattern and my daughters measurements do not match.. le sigh.. So now I have to learn really quick about increasing a commercial pattern to fit her. I also plan to hem the bottoms of the dress so it can be worn for any purpose not just Halloween. We are also not putting on the sleeves on the overdress.
After reading Brittany’s comment about satin and fraying I made sure to use fray check on all the edges of the ruffle pieces before gathering. It worked very well. The satin did darken a little where the fray check is, but it is not noticeable. I also used it on the dress hem which I cut with pinking shears.
Hi Denise,
I’m glad you found our tutorial helpful. As far as your issue with the dress, I think the designer may have created this dress this way, so that it would be able to be worn off the shoulders. Of course, if you wear it up, it does seem to be a little big around the neckline area. I heard from another person who had this same issue as you and, unfortunately, the only solution seems to be to take in the back seam at the zipper, which is what you’ve already predicted. I wish there was an easier way to remedy this as I understand you not wanting to deal with satin again. I would definitely not remove all the ruffle, just undo the few inches that you need to take in. I’d love to see a picture of the dress when you complete it. I’m sure your daughter will look lovely in it.