I remember showing a glimpse of what would become the Ibi dress pattern on Instagram back in March, 9 months ago. I asked if I should make a pattern from this dress I designed and you were a lot to express interest. So I started working on it and just like a baby, it’s finally here after 9 long months!
Working on the pattern, I couldn’t make up my mind on details and at the end, decided to add them all to the pattern so you would be able to make so many different versions of the dress. That’s how the Ibi dress was born.
Let’s start the presentation: the Ibi dress is a long, flowy dress, with ruffles, lots of gathers and 6 different views that can be combined to create a unique garment. The general shape is loose, with raglan sleeves and a raised bodice at the front, making the skirt slightly higher at the front hem as well. There are inseam pockets in all views but e.
View A is the most romantic version in my mind: the waist and the sleeves can be gathered with self-fabric ties and it has a 3 tiers skirt, very full and dramatic. The buttons on the back are fully funcional but if you don’t want to unbutton them, you can pull the dress on very easily as well.
Perfect for the summer, view B has double crossed straps and a 2 tiers skirt. The bodice is fully lined.
View C is the first version of the dress I designed back in March. Some classic shirt dress elements with a twist: a nice and topstitched shirt collar, a hidden button placket, long sleeves gathered into cuffs with buttons and a super full 3 tiers skirt. It’s a dress made for big impact, I just love how the sharp shirt details look with the big, twirly skirt.
The Ibi dress also includes a wrap version with a simpler skirt… but full volume sleeves! The waistband is loose and ties at the side (with a button and a thread loop inside to keep it close). For view d, the 3/4 sleeves are gathered.
For view e, I wanted to keep the volume to a minimum so lengthened the bodice and added just 1 gathered tier at the bottom. But it’s still full of lovely details: a button placket at the back and ruched sleeves gathered with self-fabric ties.
And finally, view f has a faux-wrap neckline, long sleeves with volume and a 2 tiers skirt. The neckline is finished with self-fabric bias binding.
This pattern is very versatile: with as many as 6 different views, you can create so many unique garments. All the options combined with each other: choose the neckline of one view, the sleeves of another one, add skirt tiers or change the length… There’s no end to your creativity! The loose shape is also perfect to wear all year round and accesorize with belts or different types of jackets. For example, I’ve been wearing the samples all the time since March, first breast-feeding and then pregnant (I can still wear my normal size at 8 months pregnant, it’s comfortable and I feel put together).
The Ibi dress pattern is available as printed copy and PDF download on the shop. Remember that when you buy the printed copy, you also receive the PDF automatically (so don’t worry about cutting into the pattern sheet!).
I’m coming back soon with some style and fabric inspiration but in the meantime, here’s the fabrics I used for the samples, all available at the shop:
View a: swiss dot in argyle
View b: cotton lawn – multicolour flowers
View c: printed viella (cotton twill)
View d: linen/cotton in sand
View e: needlecord in brick
View f: printed viscose – blue flowers