Ruffles galore! One of the hottest runway trends, translated into this gorgeous feminine silhouette. The Yarrow Dress features flounce sleeves, a high ruffled neckline, and a tiered ruffled skirt. This dress is the perfect choice for a wedding, a baptism, or just a gorgeous day out in the park! We used cotton voile to make our version, but this dress can certainly be made out of a variety of fabrics such as crepe de chine, lightweight suiting, linen or any other lightweight woven fabric of your choosing.
Fabrics & materials used:
- 3 yards of Mood Exclusive Wild Lantana Cotton Voile
- 1.5 yards of Fair Orchid Acetate Lining
- 1 spool of 20 White 1000m Gutermann Sew All Thread
- 1 552 Orchid 24″ Invisible Zipper
- 1/2 yard of Off-White Weft Fusible Interfacing
- MDF075 – The Yarrow Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
Once all your pattern pieces are cut out and your notches and darts have been properly marked, begin by closing the darts on your back bodice panels.
Next, using your notches as your guide, make a basting stitch on the top of your front bodice pattern. Create even gathers to close up the neckline a bit, but don’t worry about it being perfect yet, we will re-visit this area when we are attaching the dress collar.
Align the side seams of the front and back panels and sew them together. Do the same for the shoulder seam.
Now let’s work on the collar! Begin by adding fusible interfacing to at least one of the collar pieces for stability.
Next, fold your neck ruffle piece down, then baste the entire bottom length to match the length of the collar. Now, sandwich the gathered ruffle piece in between the collar pieces and pin.
Sew the piece closed.
Now it’s time to attach the collar to the bodice. Starting from the outside corners and working your way in, pin the collar into place. Now you will be able to fine-tune the basting stitch on the front bodice so that it coincides with the size of the collar.
Sew one side of the collar into place.
Leave the collar open for now, we will come back to this when it’s time to attach the lining. Time to work on the skirt! Begin by connecting the Front Top Skirt piece to the back pieces at the side seams to create one long piece. Make a basting stitch across the top of the piece and gather it to match the width of the open bottom of the bodice. Pin, then sew.
Connect the top skirt pieces at the center back but only close it about 5″ inches up from the bottom. Now, connect the 2 Bottom Skirt pieces at the side seams. Baste the top of the bottom skirt and then attach it to the top skirt piece being sure to evenly distribute the fullness. Your dress is almost complete! Let’ move on to the lining.
Close the darts on the front and back pieces then attach the front panel to the back panels at the side seams and the shoulders. Close the center back from the bottom up about 6 inches. Now, slip the lining into the dress so that the raw edges are hidden in between the two layers of fabric.
Match the seams of the lining with the dress seams at the neck, shoulder and side seams. Pin the collar down to conceal the raw edges and sandwich in the neck of the lining into place. Almost done! Now we will connect our sleeve pieces together, baste and gather the lower sleeve and connect it to the upper sleeve using a French seam.
Now again, using a French seam, close the sleeve.
Time to attach the sleeve to the dress! Treat the lining and outside fabric as one piece and connect the sleeve to the dress using a french seam.
Complete your dress by inserting an invisible zipper into the center back, adding hook and eye at the collar and hemming the skirt, lining, and sleeves.
Your dress is now complete. We can’t wait to see how you make this pattern your own! Tell us what fabrics you choose to make yours in the comments below! 
For More Ideas and Pattern Hacks Using the Yarrow Dress, Click the Links Below:
Cute in Chiffon – The Yarrow Dress Redux
27 comments
Hello~ Gorgeous Dress. How much fabric/lining would I need for a size 22?
Thanks
Molly
Hi Molly, for a size 22 I would estimate about 2 yards since the lining is only for the bodice and the skirt.
Sorry, I don’t know if I’m missing anything, but I don’t see any notches for gathering on the front bodice.
Hi Maria – sorry about the inconvenience and thank you for the catch! We’ve updated the pattern; if you re-download it, the notch should be visible on page 27/28. Let me know if you have any further questions!
Hi Maria, I’m so sorry it looks like the notches were left out of the final pattern! The notches should have been on the neckline of the front bodice about 1.5″ to 2″ inches in from the shoulder.
I’m planning on using shirting cotton to make this dress. Do you think I’ll still need the lining?
Hi Sharmenn – it would depend on the exact fabric you’re using, but you can probably skip the lining if it seems opaque enough!
Ive been looking for a pattern like this but for two way stretch velvet. Think I could omit the zipper?
Yes, we’ve done a few versions of this dress with velour and they all worked well without the zipper! You may even want to size down to account for the stretch in the velvet.
Thank you so much for the prompt reply!! Will be sewing this weekend. 🙂
Does this pattern include seam allowances?
Yes, our patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance. 🙂
I have just finished this dress and I was planning on wearing it to a friend wedding in June although I am not sure it will be going ahead now. It is absolutely gorgeous. I found it a little challenging but the finished dress was well worth the effort.
Hello! I just want to ask if challis might work for this pattern? Thank you!
Yes, it would! 🙂
Okay, thank you!
Hi, I would like to try using this pattern. I absolutely loved the design. Can I use stretchy or knit fabric with this pattern. Please I need your advise what other fabric options. Thank you very much. xx
Hi Lynne! A stretchy or knit fabric for this may be tricky due to the ruffles, although we did mash up two of our patterns to make a stretch velour version once. If you’re thinking just the Yarrow though, I’d stick to lightweight wovens such as voile, lawn, chiffon, or georgette. 🙂
Hi! Has anyone tried making this dress but at an ankle-length? I’m wondering if I should keep the length of the bottom piece the same and add all the length to the skirt piece that is attached to the bodice.
Hi Julia! You may want to check out our Heather Dress too – maybe you can take the skirt from that and add it to the Yarrow bodice. 🙂
That’s exactly what I’m doing! Heather skirt, Yarrow bodice. I’m really excited but it’s my first sewing project and it seems so daunting. ♀️ It’s taken me 3 days just to put the patterns together properly (in Italy we use A4 paper), but I finally have the pattern pieces cut out. Wish me luck!
I’m not seeing how much fabric I should buy for the size. What would I need for a size 4?
Hello! For a size 4, we recommend a generous 3.5 yards of the self, and 3 yards of the lining! 🙂
Is the lining attached at the neckline? You say to sandwich the lining in between the collar an the dress, but there are no instructions to actually attach it. It also appears that there is a topstitch along the neckline. Is that the case?
Hello there!
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Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!
Best regards,
The Mood Sewciety Blog Team
Hello! Would this pattern be appropriate for an advanced beginner sewist? I’ve made probably 4-6 simple projects successfully including one dress. Thank you!
I think this is would be a good challenge for an advanced beginner. There are some elements that you might want to practice with first, including sewing an invisible zipper, and gathering fabric. I recommend using a fabric that doesn’t require a lining. This will make things easier!!