There’s a new summer dress in town! Meet Esma, our jersey dress sewing pattern perfect for knit fabrics. With the ease of a t-shirt dress, Esma has extra details that make her stand out from the crowd.
With a subtle A-line skirt that gathers into a wide waistband, the Esma Dress is gently fitted whilst keeping all the comfort of a t-shirt. By concentrating the gathers in the centre front and back, you will create a feminine touch without adding bulk around the hips. Most importantly, Esma comes with curved slant pockets - because who doesn’t need pockets these days?
We’ve given you three different length options, so you can create an Esma Dress for every occasion: make her short and flirty for summer days, below the knee for everyday wear (which will also look great in the autumn with tights and leggings), or go for the oh-so-flattering midi length that can be easily dressed up for dinner and cocktails. This jersey dress sewing pattern is one you'll want to make again and again.
Narrow bands finish the neckline and sleeves, giving you scope to make these a feature with contrasting fabric, using jersey scraps you have lying around in your fabric stash.
Esma is aimed at confident beginners, so she’s a great pattern to try if you’re new to sewing with knits. If you’re a more experienced sewer, it'll be a breeze to sew and you'll have a finished dress in just a few hours!
Choosing a viscose jersey or bamboo jersey to make the Esma Dress will give you the best drape in the skirt, and you can use a light cotton jersey for a more structured version like our navy/white stripe sample. Have a look below at what our Pattern Insiders sewed up to get an idea of how many different looks you can achieve with this summer dress sewing pattern!
Learning to sew with stretch fabrics is a great skill to have under your belt. Once you've mastered the basics you’ll be able to make simple, comfy garments in no time! If you're new to knit fabrics we have some very useful classes over on Stitch School to help you along your Esma-making journey. Tips for sewing with lightweight jersey is a great place to start if you’ve chosen to use a viscose jersey for your Esma. We also have a technique on using seam tape interfacing to stabilise jersey - useful for holding jersey pockets in place. For a more in-depth look at sewing with knits, try our Intro to sewing with knit fabrics masterclass.
Find out more about the Esma Dress from Lisa in our YouTube vlog and catch up on the LIVE Esma Sewalongs on YouTube.
Get inspired by our Esma Dress board on Pinterest and see what other people have been making on Instagram with the hashtag #soiesmadress. Have you already made an Esma and you’re wondering how to style it? Check out Lisa’s styling tips over on Instagram!
Buy the pattern and get sewing!