The Flutter Dress

I was inspired by the fabric for this dress. I won a sample of a lightweight Missoni cotton knit from Elliott Berman Fabrics. The fabric was so wonderful that I dreamed up this dress to showcase it. I needed to order another couple of yards but it was worth it. The dress has a sleeveless tank-style bodice with buttons up the back and a straight skirt with large triangular draped pieces at the sides. The drapes fall to the knee at the sides of the dress. The dress is lined to the knee. I wanted to have the look of a maxi dress with the freedom of a shorter skirt length.

The skirt is made with french seams and I used a picot edge along the drape. You could also do a rolled hem. The back buttons are functional and drafted as such. However, I find that I actually never use them, so the bodice could be created without a back seam as the dress will still slip on over your head due to the loose skirt construction. As always, I used the burrito method to finish the neckline and armholes. The bodice lining is stitched to the garment seam but the skirt lining hangs free to the knee.

The construction is a bit more complicated and the pattern is not suitable for beginners. Omitting the back button closure will simplify construction. The dress is extremely comfortable and perfect for hot summer weather.