Mushroom Dress Instructions
The mushroom dress is a simple, versatile design perfect for patterned chiffon or
silk-type fabrics to allow slouching and gathering. It's not sized according to a
standard sizing system but based on your own measurements and can be cut
directly on the fabric without making an official pattern. Most shaping is done
with 1/8 elastic sewn at the natural waistline and along seams.
Fabric and Notions:
3 yds (45 wide) chiffon or lightweight silk fabric, 1.5 yds of 1/8 wide elastic
Measurements:
A: waist _____ - this will be the length of the elastic you cut
B: shoulder to waist _____ - dimension shown on pattern
C: waist to hemline_____ - dimension shown on pattern
D: neck _____ + 1 - this will be the length of the elastic you cut
E: circumference of shoulder to underarm _____ /2+2 ease  for arm opening
F: end of shoulder to neck _____ - this will be the length of the elastic you cut
Once you have the measurements, you have the key dimensions to your pattern. You can then cut your
dress front and back pieces at once.
Construction:
1. Sew together side seams and shoulder/neck seams. I chose to do French seams on this design to
keep edges finished and neat. You can chose whatever seaming option you like however. Be
sure to keep enough selvage edge so that you can finish your seams. At this point you can fit
dress roughly to make sure it goes over head and to check lengths. It will be very loose.
2. Gather seams to loosely fit along shoulder/neck edge to point at neck where elastic will be
applied. Finish French seams at side and shoulder neck area or seam as desired.
3. Turn under and fold neck edge to line of elastic application. Be sure that it is folded to the
wrong side to keep neck as clean as possible. Attach elastic to this seam at neckline by
stretching elastic while doing zigzag over-stitch.
4. Hem armholes after turning fabric over twice 1/4 and pressing fabric with iron.
5. Attach elastic from the edge of shoulder and neck as shown on pattern by stretching elastic
while doing zigzag over-stitch.
6. Pin waist elastic on natural waist line on wrong side of fabric and zigzag over-stitch.
7. Hem bottom of skirt either by hand or with blind hem stitch on machine.
8. Depending on translucency of fabric, you may want to sew in a full or half slip to your dress.
Finished!