Simple

Modern
Sewing
8 Basic Patterns to Create
25 Favorite Garments

Shufu To Seikatsu Sha

Pat tern 1

Wraparounds

SIMPLE MODERN SEWING

This stylish design wraps around the body, just like a kimono. It looks tricky, but its easy to make. There are
no buttons or zippers, so its great for a beginning sewer, too. You can wear the dress longall by itselfor
wear it over pants or leggings. You can also make two different blouse styles from the same pattern, using
just the front and back bodice pieces.

Three Garments with One Pattern

1a.

1b.

1c.

Wraparound Dress with

Three-Quarter-Length
Sleeves

French-Sleeved
Baby Doll Top

Cap-Sleeved
Baby Doll Top

Back bodice

Front bodice

Back bodice

Front bodice

Back bodice

Front bodice

Sleeve
Front/Back of skirt

Front/Back of skirt

Sleeve

Front/Back of skirt

This dress is made with the entire

pattern and includes the front and
back bodice, the three-quarterlength sleeve, and full-length skirt.
The skirt is gathered.
Recommended fabric:
Indigo blue linen
!"For instructions, see page 52.

Just by folding the hem of the

full-length skirt piece, you can
make a short, flirty blouse with
a peplum-style flounce below the
waist. To make the short sleeves,
you simply cut strips of fabric
and join them to the body at
the armholes.
Recommended fabric:
Wool gauze
!"For instructions, see page 53.

This blouse is made the same way

as the French-Sleeved Baby Doll
Top (1b), but with a cap sleeve. You
can mix and match sleeve styles
for all three of these garments
maybe try the dress with cap
sleeves and the blouse with threequarter-length sleeves. Experiment
to create your own design.
Recommended fabric:
Quilting cotton
!"For instructions, see page 54.

PAT TERN 1: WRAPAROUNDS

1a.
Wraparound Dress with
Three-Quarter-Length Sleeves
Choose a plain or vertically striped fabric for this designrather than
a printand youll have a versatile addition to your wardrobe. Wear
the dress with a short-sleeve leotard or T-shirt. The body is not tightly
fitted, so you could even wear a thin long-sleeved sweater underneath.
Or wear the dress alonethe neckline is flattering but not too deep.
(See page 52 for instructions.)

SIMPLE MODERN SEWING

Styling and model: Nami Kagiyama

Wrap the dress around your body and tie the two sets of ribbons
inside and outsidefor a comfortable fit.

When tied, the wraparound

dress has feminine style, but
you can also leave it untied for
a more casual look. Wear it with
overalls or with pants and a top
or try it with a short blouse and
skirt.

PATTERN 1: WRAPAROUNDS

1a. Wraparound Dress

with Three-Quarter-Length Sleeves
(shown on model on page 25)

Laying out the Pattern

Fabric: 45 in. (114 cm) x 120
in. (300 cm)

Use the long pattern piece (with the waistline marked A) for front
and back. There is one pattern piece for the skirt. Cut fabric for
front skirt according to pattern. Then fold skirt pattern in half
and place the center line on the fold of the fabric and cut out the
pattern. Cut strips A and B, which have no pattern, according to
the dimensions in the fabric layout diagram below.

Seam allowance: 38 in. (1cm)

unless otherwise noted
Sizes (including ease):
S: Bust 34 12 in. (88 cm)
Waist 33 in. (84 cm)
Dress length 4114 in.
(105 cm)
Sleeve length 16 34 in.
(42.5 cm)

Fold

Front body (2)

Back facing (1)

M: Bust 3614 in. (92 cm)

Waist 3412 (88 cm)
Dress length 4114 in.
(105 cm)
Sleeve length 16 34 in.
(42.5 cm)

Back body (1)

L: Bust 3734 in. (96 cm)

Waist 3614 in. (92 cm)
Dress length 4114 in.
(105 cm)
Sleeve length 16 34 in.
(42.5 cm)

Front facing (2)

Back skirt (1)

138" (3.5 cm)

138" (3.5 cm)

Front overlap

Sleeve (2)
Strip A (2)

Front skirt (2)

1" (2.5 cm)
26 4" (68 cm)
3

Strip B (2)
1014" (26 cm)
Fold

138" (3.5 cm)

2" (5 cm)
114" (3 cm)
6

SIMPLE MODERN SEWING

45" (114 cm)

120" (300 cm)

Construction Steps
Zigzag-stitch at the edge of seam allowance
of shoulder, side of front and back body, front
edge and sides of skirt, lower sleeve edge and
underarms, and lower side of facings.

Strip A

Strip B
Strip A

Make Strips A and B.

Sew darts and press the seam allowances

4" (2 cm)

toward the waist.

114" (3 cm)

Sew together shoulders of front and back

bodies and open the seam allowances.

Sew together shoulders of facings.
Sew together the sides of front and back

Making the Strips

A 58" (1.5 cm), B 38" (1 cm)

Fold in half.

(Wrong side)

bodies and open the seam allowances.

Make sure to sandwich Strip A in left
side seam.
Sew together the sides of front and back

skirts. Open the seam allowances.

Press the strip, placing seams at center.

Fold back and stitch hem and front edges

of skirt.
A 58" (1.5 cm),
B 14" (0.8 cm)

Gather waist of skirt. Sew skirt to body.

Finish neckline with facing.
Make sleeves.

(Right side)
Fold in one end of a strip.

Attach sleeves to body, right sides together.

Finish the edges of the seam allowances with

zigzag stitches.

Sewing and Pressing Darts

Attach Strip B to the inside of the right waist.

Handsew two pieces of thread through seam

allowance and trim tail ends.
Backstitch
Knot
top and
bobbin
threads.
(Wrong
side)

Leave (Wrong
the end side)
long.
Front
(wrong side)
Press the seam allowance toward waist.

FABRIC L AYOUT AND INSTRUCTIONS: PAT TERN 1a.

25

wearable garments from only

simple patterns

Contents
Projec ts
Pat tern 1
Wraparound Dress with
Three-Quarter-Length Sleeves
French-Sleeved Baby Doll Top
Cap-Sleeved Baby Doll Top

Pat tern 2
Short Raglan-Sleeve Top
Button Tunic
Ruffle-Front Jacket

Pat tern 3
Boat-Neck Jumper
Open-Neck Dress
Drawstring Dress

Pat tern 4
Drawstring Pants
Elastic-Waist Crops
Petticoat Flared Pants

Pat tern 5

Make a closetful of comfortable and easy go-to garments

without needing tons of patterns. You need just the 8 included basic
templates, which show you how to fold and cut for each of the 25 unique

Yoked Skirt
Skirt with Box Pleat
Drop-Waist Wrap Skirt

Pat tern 6

simple to sew clothes that are perfect for you. If youre a beginner sewist,

A-Line Skirt
Bias-Cut Skirt
Skirt with Gathered Waist

youll love the basic shapes and stylish results. Once youve mastered the

Bustle-Style Long Skirt

designs. The patterns are easy and adaptable with no-fuss sizing, so its

patterns, you can get creative and make each piece your own by using a
variety of fabrics or by adding fashionable embellishments such as a print
lining or contrast stitching.

Pat tern 7
Ruffled Sleeveless Blouse
Cap-Sleeve Top
Butterfly-Sleeve Blouse

Pat tern 8

Paperback + pattern insert

8 11, 112 pages
ISBN 978-1-59668-352-5
$24.95
Available November 2011

Long-Sleeved Blouse with

Chinese Collar
Tunic with Tie Belt
Shirt Coat with Pockets

S ewing Ins truc tions

Fabric L ayou ts
and Ins truc tion