Felicity Zero Waste Dress Pattern

This pattern is for a beautiful, long sleeve dress that can be enjoyed every day or worn for special occasions. If you follow the instructions you will create a beautiful garment utilising 100% of your fabric. Yes! You will have no fabric scraps left after you’ve completed this project!

You will create a skirt and a top that can be worn together or separately. The belt is used to fix the top at the waist if it is worn separately.

Furthermore, I challenge you to finish this project with no even sewing rubbish left! This Dress Pattern document set includes instructions on how to incorporate all the tiny threads and fabric scraps left after any sewing project and create a work of art! I will show you how to create two small Temari balls to use as belt embellishment or earrings!

Have you ever heard of Temari Balls?

Once a children’s plaything, Japanese Temari balls have become a carefully crafted item of beauty, charming many with their elaborate woven designs. With a history of well over a thousand years, the colourful balls of geometric thread designs have remained an icon of childhood, femininity and luck, and are still enjoyed by collectors and craftspeople alike. The name is believed to have come from kemari, a kick ball, brought over from China in the Yamato period, over 1300 years ago. Unlike the leather kemari, the softer, more feminine Temari was originally made from silk scraps and was played with inside like a hacky-sack using one’s hands and elbows. The development of cotton thread production in Japan at this time resulted in the spread of popularity of Temari. Also named ito-mari (糸鞠, thread balls), these soft balls wrapped in intricate geometric designs of cotton and silk threads lifted the position of Temari from a mere toy to a work of art. Traditionally Temari balls were gifted to children on New Year’s day to wish for children's happiness. In modern Japan, Temari are a symbol of both New Year and young femininity.

SIZE CHART

FABRIC RECOMMENDATION: You need light to medium weight fabrics that drape well. Viscose or rayon is generally really good one to use for this project (or any viscose branded names like tensel). Silk sateen, satin or crepe is also a great option although it will be trickier to work with – choose silk only if you feel confident.

I used 100% natural hemp jersey from https://www.seaofsilks.com – a company that specialises in sourcing natural sustainable fabrics which are ethically made.