Farrow Dress Sew-Along

Create your Farrow Dress with our step-by-step sewing tutorials! This elegant A-line design features distinctive diagonal seaming and versatile styling options. We'll guide you through mastering inseam pockets, setting sleeves, and achieving a polished finish. Choose between sleeveless View A or bracelet-length sleeved View B to create your ideal dress for any season.

Lesson 1

Ready-to-Wear Inspiration

Woman in black sleeveless A-line dress and woman in white geometric print dress showing Farrow Dress silhouette and styling options.

Start your Farrow Dress journey with ready-to-wear inspiration! We explore styling possibilities from classic black and white sophistication to playful pastel prints, plus fabric weight options ranging from structured wool to flowing silk that transform the A-line silhouette.

Get Inspired

Lesson 2

Selecting Your Fabrics

Discover the perfect fabric for your Farrow Dress! This versatile pattern works beautifully in everything from crisp linen to flowing silk, and the different fabric choices completely transform the silhouette. We share solid staples, playful stripes, bold prints, and elegant formal options, plus real-world inspiration from the sewing community.

Two Farrow Dresses in different prints: leopard print with layered turtleneck and bold black and white floral pattern showing fabric versatility.

Solid Fabrics

Solid fabrics are great staples for the Farrow, ranging from linen and rayon to cotton and silk. When using solid colors, consider choosing fabrics with some texture to add visual interest. Tencel is particularly lovely for the Farrow because it drapes beautifully and feels very luxurious against the skin.

Stripes & Plaids

If you want to branch out from solid colors but find busy prints intimidating, stripes and plaids are perfect starting points! With the Farrow's seaming you can play with the direction of stripes or even mix striped fabric with coordinating solids for creative color blocking.

Prints

The Farrow's silhouette pairs beautifully with prints of all kinds, sizes, and scales. Though the seaming has potential to get lost in busy prints, the hidden pockets become an extra exciting surprise! Double-sided prints offer fun opportunities to utilize both fabric sides with the dress's piecing.

Fancy Fabrics

The very first iteration of the Farrow was Jen's wedding dress in beautiful 4-ply silk crepe! The Farrow can be easily elevated for formal occasions by choosing finer fabrics like silks, fancy brocades, or comfortable linen woven with metallic thread.

Lesson 3

Farrow Supply List

The first step to a successful project is making sure you have everything you need from start to finish. From pattern and fabric to interfacing and notions, this comprehensive list ensures you're ready before you start sewing. Being prepared makes the whole process more enjoyable.

Flat lay of Farrow Dress sewing supplies including pattern envelope, fabric swatches, scissors, thread, interfacing, hooks and eyes, and measuring tape.

1. Farrow Dress Pattern

The first thing you'll need is the Farrow Dress pattern. You can purchase it in paper or PDF in both size ranges here.

2. Main Fabric

I'm using a rayon from Cotton & Steel for the sleeved version of the Farrow and a Robert Kaufman Essex linen for the sleeveless version. If you're on the fence about what to use for your dress, our previous post about fabric choices can be found here.

3. All-purpose Thread

I prefer to use standard poly thread for my garments. I like poly because I pre-treat my fabrics and I know that poly won't shrink when laundered, keeping my seams nice and neat. Try to use high quality thread as it's kinder to your machine.

4. Fusible Interfacing

You'll want either a woven or tricot fusible interfacing in approximately the same weight as the fabric you're using. Avoid bonded interfacings as they lack the drape necessary to produce a professional looking garment you'll want to wear.

Gather Your Supplies

Lesson 4

Choose a Size

Dress form showing bust, waist, and hip measurement locations alongside Farrow Dress size chart with body and finished garment measurements.

Learn how to select the perfect size for your Farrow Dress using three key measurements. We cover taking accurate bust, waist, and hip measurements, navigating the size chart, and handling falling between sizes for the best possible fit.

Find Your Size

Grab the Farrow Dress Pattern

Lesson 5

Common Pattern Adjustments

Need to customize your Farrow Dress pattern? This post covers three key adjustment techniques: blending between sizes, lengthening or shortening the pattern, and full bust adjustments. Learn the proper order for making multiple adjustments and get step-by-step guidance for each technique.

Farrow Dress pattern pieces showing lengthen/shorten lines and pocket stitching placement for making pattern adjustments without affecting pockets.

Blending Between Sizes

When your measurements fall into different sizes, you can blend between them for a better fit. We show you how to gradually transition from one size to another across the pattern pieces. If you need to blend between sizes and do other adjustments, we recommend that you blend first.

Lengthening and Shortening

Due to the Farrow's unique pocket construction, you'll want to make sure to use the lengthen/shorten lines marked on the pattern. We show you how to adjust from the top of the dress where there's more room to work, and if needed, how to adjust the lower portion without affecting the pocket placement.

Full Bust Adjustments

The Farrow is drafted for a B cup in the 0-18 size range and a D cup in the 14-32 size range. If your cup size differs from your range's draft, you may need a bust adjustment. This detailed tutorial shows you how to determine your adjustment amount, slash and spread the pattern pieces, maintain the angled seam alignment, and adjust both the upper and lower front pieces to match.

Perfect Your Fit

Lesson 6

Cutting Your Fabric

Farrow Dress pattern pieces layout showing bodice front, skirt front, bodice back, skirt back, sleeve, and facing pieces with cutting instructions.

Ready to cut your Farrow Dress? This post breaks down the cutting requirements for both views with detailed illustrations. We cover important cutting notes, explain the construction benefits of the center front and back seams, and share helpful tips for accurate cutting.

Start Cutting

Lesson 7

Assembling the Back

Serged edge of center back seam on blue floral rayon Farrow Dress fabric showing seam finishing technique on angled diagonal seam.

Construction begins with the Farrow back! Learn to sew the angled seams that join the bodice to the skirt, complete the center back seam, and discover a helpful stabilizing trick for working with slippery fabrics on bias edges.

Start Sewing

Lesson 8

Sewing the 14-32 Darts

Diagram comparing standard dart construction to dart with takeup removed, showing stitching lines and dart point placement for 14-32 size range.

This post is for everyone making the 14-32 size range! Learn to sew the unique darts that provide proper bust fit while maintaining the A-line silhouette. We explain why these darts look different and show the complete sewing and finishing process.

Sew Your Darts

Lesson 9

Assembling the Front

Blue floral Farrow Dress front showing completed inseam pocket construction with diagonal seam and pocket opening between bodice and skirt.

Time to construct the Farrow front with its distinctive inseam pockets! Learn to sew the angled seams, create precise pocket openings, and complete the center front seam. Includes stabilizing techniques for bias fabrics.

Create the Front

Lesson 10

Shoulders and Side Seams

Blue floral Farrow Dress bodice showing completed shoulder and side seams with serged edges joining front and back pieces together.

This is a straightforward step! Learn to sew the shoulder and side seams that bring your Farrow front and back together. We cover proper alignment, seam finishing options, and pressing techniques for clean, professional results.

Join Front & Back

Lesson 11

View A Armhole Facings

Circular armhole facings shown flat and attached to sleeveless Farrow Dress armhole with understitching for View A finishing.

Time to finish the armholes for sleeveless View A! Learn to construct circular armhole facings, attach them with proper grading and clipping techniques, and create professional understitching for a polished finish that rolls to the inside.

Finish the Armholes

Lesson 12

View B Sleeves

Farrow Dress sleeve with gathering threads for easing into armhole and completed View B with bracelet-length sleeves in blue floral rayon fabric.

Time to set sleeves for View B! Learn to gather the sleeve cap for smooth easing, insert sleeves with proper alignment techniques, and create professional sleeve facings with understitching for a polished bracelet-length finish.

Set the Sleeves

Lesson 13

Attaching the Neckline Facing

Neckline facing pinned to Farrow Dress neckline showing proper alignment at center back opening on navy and light blue floral fabrics.

Learn to construct and attach the neckline facing for a professional finish. This post covers assembling the facing pieces, proper alignment at the center back opening, and understitching techniques for a clean neckline that lies flat.

Finish the Neckline

Lesson 14

Hemming and Finishing

Hook and eye being hand-stitched to back neckline of completed Farrow Dress in navy and light blue floral rayon fabrics showing final closure attachment.

The final day! Learn to create a clean double-fold hem, secure neckline and armhole facings with proper hand-stitching techniques, and attach the hook and eye closure for a professional finish. Your completed Farrow Dress awaits!

Finish Your Farrow

Extras

  • Gray linen Farrow Dress sleeve turned inside out showing positioning technique for sewing narrow bracelet-length sleeve facing or hem at machine.

    Finishing Narrow Sleeves

    The Farrow's narrow sleeves can be tricky to maneuver at the sewing machine. This helpful video tutorial shows you how to position narrow sleeves for easier sewing when attaching facings or hemming. A simple technique for smoother construction.

    Master Narrow Sleeves 
  • Hands demonstrating slip stitch technique with thimble and needle on pink and orange fabric showing invisible hand-sewing method for hems and facings

    How to Slip Stitch

    Master the slip stitch for invisible hand-sewing! This tutorial shows you how to create completely invisible stitches for hemming, finishing bindings, and securing facings. Perfect for the final touches on your Farrow Dress back neckline.

    Learn to Slip Stitch 

  • Removing the Inseam Pockets

    Want to create a more formal version or work with delicate fabrics? This tutorial shows how to remove the inseam pockets from your Farrow pattern. Learn to modify the pattern pieces and create clean diagonal seams for a streamlined silhouette without pockets.

    Skip the Pockets