Japanese sewing patterns

This Japanese sewing pattern for a sweet, peter pan collar floral dress is available for free download from the Japanese craft brand,
Clover. They make sewing, knitting and other craft supplies. The Clover website has many tutorials and projects you can try.

This dress has a coordinating version available for little girls. The free sewing pattern for girls will be translated very soon!

Please visit Clover Japan and DOWNLOAD THE FREE SEWING PATTERN.

The following is an English translation of the original Japanese version.

Materials

• Floral Fabric^ - 110 cm x 250cm or 43 x 98.5 inches
• Plain Fabric - 110 cm x 40cm or 43 x 16 inches
• Fusible Interfacing - 50cm x 40cm or 20 x 16 inches

^ I used plain fabric for the collar only, whereas the pattern makes the collar, waist cord and the bias tape for sleeves, all in plain fabric. I also shortened the length of my dress by about 5 inches so it sits at my knees.

Fabric Suggestions: cotton, rayon

Size

Japanese ladies size M, which fits about a US 4 or UK 8.

Printing and Drafting the Pattern

The free dress sewing pattern needs to be printed without scaling on A4 or Legal Size paper.

Draft the sewing pattern for the main section of the dress by following the measurements on Page 2 of the printed pattern. ALL MEASUREMENTS ARE IN MILLIMETRES (MM).

Trace the sewing pattern for the collar, front yoke and back yoke from Page 3 of the printed pattern.

The sewing pattern DOES NOT include a seam allowance. Make sure you add the correct seam alowance before cutting out your fabric. Unless specified in the diagram below, all seam allowance is 1cm (0.4 in). For example, the BACK piece has a seam allowance of 1cm on all edges except for the hem, which requires a 4cm (1.6 in) seam allowance.

Method

Download sewing pattern from the Clover website. The sewing pattern includes good, detailed diagrams for each step. Please follow the diagrams with these English translations.

1. Press interfacing on collars. Right sides together, stitch each collar along the curved outer edge. Turn over to right side and stitch closely along the edge.

2. Zig-zag stitch along the sides of all 3 front pieces. Right sides facing, stitch pieces together, leaving a gap for the waist cord. Press seams open. Stitch a rectangule around the waist cord gaps.

   

3. Gather the neckline of the CENTRE FRONT to match the collar. Baste collar into place to check placement.

   

4. Right sides facing, stitch the BACK and FRONT shoulder seams together. Ensure the collar is inserted in between the shoulder seams before stitching.

   

5. Press interfacing on front and back yokes. Stitch yokes together and zig-zag stitch along the outer edge. Attach yoke to neckline.

   

6. Stitch yoke into place by sewing closely along the neckline. Lift collars up to stitch along the neckline below the collars.

7. Make 18mm wide (0.75 in) bias tape. Gather sleeve to 9cm (3.5 in) and finish edge with bias tape.

8. Stitch side seams together. Using the bias tape made in Step 7, stitch on dress to create cord casing. Zig-zag stitch, fold and stitch the hem.

9. Make the cord by pressing the edges of the fabric and folding in half lenghtways. Stitch along the length of the cord. Insert into cord casing of the dress. Finished!

   

10. Thread the ribbon through the button holes. Finished!