Sergent Pepper A Line Dress

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fiskars®.

How to make a Beatles inspired A Line Dress

For 50 years Fiskars® has been aiding our creativity in studios worldwide. Whether it is in your sewing studio, craft room, classroom, garden or more – the iconic orange handled scissors have been there every step of the way.

Fiskars ironworks was founded in 1649 in Fiskars, Finland, where they manufactured cast iron and other forged products. From iron to copper ore, the village eventually stopped production in 1802. In 1822 the company and village changed ownership, and reopened to produce cutlery and also helped manufacture the world’s first steam engine! It wasn’t until after the stock market crash and great depression that Fiskars decided to focus on mass production. In 1967, Fiskars invented the world’s first plastic handled scissors. They were orange.

1967 also happens to be the same year that the Beatles released their Sgt. Pepper album, which is often referred to as the milestone of 60s rock music. It was rock ‘n’ roll, as art. With influences like Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Mick Jagger, Twiggy and more, 1967 women’s fashion was changing faster then ever before. We were shedding our Mad Men picture perfect image to embrace our core beliefs. We wanted love, freedom, peace, and rock ‘n’ roll.

50 years of Fiskars, 50 years of fashion. Same orange handle.

You can read the history of Fiskars HERE.

Sgt. Pepper A-Line Dress

A Beatles inspired A-line dress sewing tutorial

How to make a Beatles inspired A-Line Dress

Skill level: Advanced beginner to Intermediate
Time needed: 5 – 7 hours

MATERIALS:

Basic bodice sloper
2.5 yards velvet fabric
Fiskars® fabric scissors
Gold woven braid trim
Gold buttons
Gold thread
Black thread
Universal regular point sewing needle 100/16
Measuring tape / ruler
Pins
Tracing paper
*optional – 2 Blazer epaulets

*Almost all products listed above can be linked to on Amazon (not affiliate links). The only affiliate link listed is the Fiskars scissors.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place your bodice sloper on top of some tracing paper. Determine your desired dress length and add 1.5″ seam allowance. Extend the length at the front center fold. Arc out the side seams to your desired length. Repeat for Front and Back. Cut 1 on the fold for both Front and Back.
Cut (2) 1.5″ wide strips of fabric on the bias, approximately 18″ long.
Cut a front and back facing using your new pattern as a guideline. The front facing should extend beyond the center neckline by 10″. (Illustrated above as the gray shaded pattern pieces.) Furthermore, measure half of your front neckline, from the center fold up to the shoulder. Draft a mandarin collar using the same neckline measurement and slope x 2″ height, curving the collar at the front, cut (2) front mirror image collars for both the left and right. Measure your entire back neckline and draft a mandarin back collar using the back neckline measurement and slope x 2″ height. Cut (2) mirror image back collars pattern pieces. (For a simplified mandarin collar tutorial, click HERE.)
Gather your supplies as needed.
Sew side darts.
Determine the front center of your dress and mark the center with a ruler. Starting at the center mark, pin the gold rope in your desired shape. When you get to the sides, flatten the rope in place with pins, and bring it back around to the other side of the dress, and back around again stopping at the center. Sew the rope in place using gold thread and a large zig zag stitch. Repeat down the front center of your dress, stopping at about 7″ from the top of the neckline.
Place your mandarin collar right sides together at the side seams. Pin and sew. Repeat for exterior and lining. Press seams open. Place lining and exterior right sides together. Pin and sew the upper edge. Clip seams and turn right sides out. Press. Baste stitch the bottom raw edge together 1/8″ away from the edge to keep the fabric from slipping.
Place the front and back facing pattern pieces right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seam. Press seam open. Finish all outer raw edges with a serger, pinking shears or zig zag stitch.
Place front and back of dress right sides together and match up shoulder seams. Pin and sew shoulder seams. Finish seam with a serger, pinking shears, or zigzag stitch.
Place raw edge of mandarin collar neckline right sides together with the dress neckline, matching up the front of the collar with the front center of your dress. Pin and sew using a 1/8″ seam allowance.
Pin and sew bias tape right sides together to armsyce. Fold the outer raw edge of bias tape 1/2″ to wrong side and press. Fold bias tape towards inside of dress along the seam. Pin and sew to finish.
Pin facing to neckline, matching up all seams. Sew around using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Determine the center of your front neckline, and measure 6″ down with a straight line. Sew a deep ‘V’ to this point, using a 1/2″ gap along the top neckline center. Be careful when sewing, as the gold rope is bulky. Hold the fabric in place so that it does not shift, and sew slowly so as not to break your needle.
Carefully use your Fiskars® fabric scissors to cut a line down the front center of your dress until you reach the V point. Do not cut through your thread! Clip all neckline seam allowances. Under stitch the neckline seam to the facing and turn right sides out.
Place front and back dress right sides together. Pin and sew side seams. Finish seam and press. Sew down the side seam at the armsyce, by sewing a small straight stitch back and forth to secure the side seam in place.
Hem the dress by turning the bottom raw edge 1/2″ towards the wrong side and pressing. Fold again 1″, enclosing the raw edge and press. Sew to secure.