One of our most popular sewing patterns, appreciated for its simplicity and easy, beginner-friendly design. The Clara dress is inspired from Victorian chemise dresses with a modern twist. Clara features 3/4 length dramatic puff sleeves with elastic cuffs. The sleeves are designed to be worn on the shoulders, but also look pretty off the shoulder (breast-feeding friendly!). The bodice has two channels of elastic at your underbust and waist. The skirt is A-line shaped and has hidden side seam pockets. Clara is reversible, one neckline is higher than the other, wear the lower neckline in the front or in the back. Clara was my best selling ready-to-wear design during the S/S2021 and S/S2022 collections.Sewing difficultyThe pattern is beginner friendly. There is no zipper as the dress uses elastic ribbon to go over your head. You should be able to sew casings for the elastic. The pockets are optional.Fabric suggestionsChoose a middle weight fabric with structure such as cotton, linen, cotton, linen/viscose blend, linen/cotton blend, cotton/viscose blend. A softer and drapery fabric will give you less volume.Fabric usageThe layout is designed for fabric 130 cm (51”) wide. The pieces are arranged efficiently to minimize waste, but we recommend buying a little extra fabric to account for shrinkage, print alignment, or cutting adjustments. Metric EU34 - EU50:Dress: 3.35 m - 3.67 mImperial US2/4 - US20:Dress: 3.66 yd - 4 ydNotions and tools• Firm elastic, 7 mm wide (1/4”).• Ready-made single fold bias tape, 1 cm width (3/8 inch), or make your own.• Sewing thread.• Sharp fabric scissors or rotary cutter, along with pins, fabric marking pen and a seam ripper. Good-to-have tools (optional)• A clear plastic ruler, a French curve and tracing paper (for any pattern alterations).What's included• 22 page detailed and easy to follow instructions booklet in English• A4/US Letter layered print-at-home PDF• A0 layered copy-shop PDFBy purchasing this pattern you agree to the terms and conditions. This pattern is available for personal use only. You may not copy, sell, or distribute the pattern or any of the pieces, or sell the finished garment. You may also not use any of the pattern pieces as base for drafting your own pattern, unless it's strictly personal.Please note that the PDF files are read-only.Browse the pattern testing galleryClara Dress galleryFind more inspiration on Instagram@silversagapatterns Hashtags for the Clara Dress#SilversagaPatterns #ClaraDressPatternPattern tester feedbackMel: "I absolutely love my new Clara dress. It fits so well and looks as good as (if not better than) the dresses I've seen in stores lately. This is the first pattern I have sewn from Silversaga and found the instructions straight forward. There were a few new techniques I learnt from sewing this dress, but I believe it would suit beginners. I made it in one day and can't wait to make another! Thank you for such a beautiful pattern."Marta: "I love my Clara dress. It is so comfortable to wear, effortless and romantic. Another beautiful, well-drafted pattern by the talented designer behind Silversaga."Alexis: "Well written for both a beginner and advanced seamstress. The end result is a gorgeous dress that can be dressed up or down depending on your vibe!"Cayden: "This sewing pattern comes together quick and easy and the end result is so beautiful! There are many ways to use this pattern to create different looks so you’re getting multiple patterns in one!"Jessa: "This dress was such a pleasure to sew and came together so quickly. It was very satisfying to watch the fabric gather with every stitch of the elastic. It's a romantic silhouette that can be dressed down or up. A huge plus that it's so comfortable to wear!"Katie: "Another dream design from Jessica. The Clara dress is fun to sew, easy to make and results in the most beautiful garment! It could be made in a day, or two afternoons. There is so much scope for customization. I sewed mine as per the pattern this time but I already have plans for a sleeveless version with drawstrings and elastic casing. The dress itself is effortlessly lovely and incredibly photogenic. My floral version is my new favorite dress!"Emily: "I loved sewing this gorgeous dress. With only 4 pattern pieces, and thorough instructions, it was a quick and intuitive sew. The final product is an elegant modern silhouette that feels wonderful to wear!"Caitlin: "A beautiful, romantic dress pattern. As a relatively new sewist I found it straight forward and a pleasure to sew! The perfect simple pattern that makes you feel amazing."Alex: "The Clara dress is a pleasure to sew! It’s a simple beginner-friendly pattern that is a really exciting design / silhouette. I can’t wait to make more variations using this pattern!"Mai: "The pattern is a beautifully designed dress; I’m happy to have the opportunity to test the pattern; I have plans to make more dresses in different colors; I love how there are only 4 pieces of pattern to cut, and the instructions and graphics are easy to follow; I recommend this pattern for anyone."Suna: "This is such a beautiful dress which comes together so quickly and is a great project for beginners. There's only four pattern pieces which makes the cutting out very quick. The instructions are very clear and include useful tips along the way to make sure you get the best finish and fit. I absolutely love wearing it - it's so romantic and flowy. I also like how you can wear it both ways depending on whether you want a lower neckline or not."Fena: "What a easy and breezy dress to make! It’s quick to complete and incredibly satisfying once you’re done. And it comes with pockets!"
