Felix Dress Sew-Along

Master the Felix Dress through our comprehensive sewing guide! This ideal wardrobe piece takes you from summer heat to autumn cool. We'll guide you through the unique faux wrap neckline, easing techniques that reduce waistline bulk, and full lining methods that make this dress really fun to sew. Three sleeve options and generous pockets make this incredibly versatile.

Day 1

Ready-to-Wear Inspiration

Collage of wrap dresses in classic colors and bold prints including florals, dots, and stripes with V-necklines and gathered waists

Kick off your Felix Dress with ready-to-wear inspiration! We explore the wrap dress silhouettes and easy layering pieces that influenced this design. From classic colors to punchy prints and stripes, discover fabric mixing ideas for that perfect look.

Get Inspired

Lesson 2

Selecting Your Fabrics

Master fabric selection for your Felix Dress! We break down the crucial difference between drape and weight, explore why soft fabrics with movement are essential, and guide you through self fabric and lining choices for that flowing silhouette.

Three Felix Dress samples in yellow floral print, gray stripes, and blue linen with close-up fabric swatches shown below

Recommended Fabrics

Rayon Challis:
Similar drape to silk but easier to handle and sew, available in wide variety of colors and prints. This fabric has beautiful drape and movement, making it ideal for the Felix's flowing silhouette.

Silk Crepe de Chine & Charmeuse:
Both drape beautifully with lovely movement on the body. Double Georgette is another great silk choice. These fabrics create the flowing, swingy movement that makes the Felix special.

Rayon Blends:
Generally solid choices - the rayon addition makes fabrics less rigid than pure cotton or linen. You can see how rayon/linen and rayon/cotton blends result in much softer drape than their pure counterparts.

Cotton Batiste, Gauze & Voile:
Somewhat loosely woven fabrics that result in softer, less crisp hand that works well for this dress design. The loose weave gives them the drape the Felix requires.

Fabrics to Avoid

Essex Linen:
Too rigid for the Felix dress. This will create a tent-like silhouette rather than the intended flowing drape. Works great for patterns like the Farrow Dress but not for this design.

Cotton Lawn:
While lightweight, the crisp weave lacks the drape needed for Felix's flowing design. Great example of drape vs. weight. Lawn is light but crisp, not soft.

Coated Fabrics:
Beautiful in theory but lack the drape essential for this pattern's success. The coating prevents the fabric from having the soft, collapsing quality the Felix needs.

Choose Your Fabrics

Lesson 3

Felix Supply List

The first step to a successful project is making sure you have everything you'll need from start to finish right at hand. This post covers all the essential supplies from fabrics and interfacing to marking tools and pressing equipment.

Flat lay of Felix Dress sewing supplies including pattern, fabric swatches, thread, pins, scissors, and rulers

1. Felix Dress Pattern

You can purchase the Felix Pattern here. It's available as a downloadable PDF only but that includes both US and A0 Copy shop files as well as a print at home pattern that fits on both US Letter and A4 paper.

2. Main Fabric

We'll be talking all about fabric on Wednesday but you'll need a lighter weight fabric, think soft fabrics, for the main fabric as well as for the lining. The pattern instructions show you how to line both the bodice and skirt, but in the sew-along I'll show you how to omit the skirt lining if you'd like. For our sew-along I'll be using an Atelier Brunette rayon for the self, and lining it with this lightweight viscose batiste.

3. Fusible Interfacing

You’ll want to look for a woven fusible interfacing in approximately the same weight as the fabric you’re using - lightweight! Avoid bonded interfacings as they lack the drape necessary to produce a professional looking garment you’ll want to wear.

4. 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 and you'll get better tension right off the bat.

Gather Your Supplies

Lesson 4

Choosing Your Size

Felix Dress finished garment measurements chart showing bust, waist, hip, and length measurements across all size ranges

Learn to select the perfect size for your Felix Dress using three key measurements. We cover taking accurate bust, waist, and hip measurements, explain why bust is most important for this design, and guide you through the size chart when measurements fall between sizes.

Find Your Size

Grab the Felix Dress Pattern

Lesson 5

Basic Pattern Adjustments

Felix adjustments — Part 1! Learn to make a muslin for fit testing, blend between different bust and hip sizes, and make length adjustments to bodice and skirt. We'll cover more advanced adjustments in our next pattern adjustment post.

Felix Dress pattern piece showing blend lines between sizes, and muslin bodice on dress form with measurement markings

Making a Muslin

Learn why making a test version is essential for the Felix, especially if you're new to this style. We show you how to construct a quick muslin bodice to evaluate fit at the bust point and waistline before cutting your final fabric.

Blending Between Sizes

When your measurements fall into different size ranges, you don't have to choose just one size. This technique shows you how to gradually transition from your bust size to your hip size for a customized fit.

Basic Bodice Length Adjustments

This is the easiest way to lengthen or shorten your Felix bodice while avoiding changes to the armhole. This method uses the printed lengthen/shorten lines and affects the neckband placement.

Basic Skirt Length Adjustments

Learn simple techniques for adjusting the skirt length of your Felix, including using the lengthen/shorten lines or adding/subtracting from the hem. Essential for getting the perfect dress length for your height.

Check Your Fit

Lesson 6

Advanced Pattern Adjustments

Felix adjustments — Part 2! Learn three different methods to adjust bodice length and raise the V-neckline, plus step-by-step full bust and small bust adjustments with dart manipulation for a truly customized fit.

Three diagrams showing Felix Dress bodice pattern with full bust adjustment lines, dart creation, and spread pieces

Bodice Length Adjustment Method 1

Learn how to shorten or lengthen the bodice above the V-neckline while keeping the armhole unchanged. This method affects the neckline placement and requires adjustments to multiple pattern pieces.

Bodice Length Adjustment Method 2

Discover how to adjust bodice length through both the armhole and neckline. This method raises the armhole as well as the neckline and includes sleeve cap adjustments to maintain proper fit.

Bodice Length Adjustment Method 3

Master a combination technique that raises the V-neckline without changing the overall bodice length. This method splits the adjustment between shortening the upper bodice and lengthening the lower section.

Full & Small Bust Adjustments

Learn comprehensive bust adjustment techniques for the Felix's dartless design. Covers determining your adjustment amount, creating darts through slashing and spreading, and making corresponding changes to skirt pieces when needed.

Perfect Your Fit

Lesson 7

Cutting and Fusing

It's time to cut and prep your Felix! Learn to cut slippery fabrics, create the angled front piece, and apply strategic interfacing to neckbands and bias edges. Plus helpful cutting guides to check you have all pieces before moving to construction.

Start Cutting

Lesson 8

Assembling the Bodice

Felix Dress neckband pieces sewn together with interfacing visible, showing construction stages on abstract print fabric

Time to start sewing your Felix! Learn to assemble the neckband with proper grading and understitching, plus construct both self and lining bodices. Includes helpful tips to prevent sewing your lining backwards - a common mistake with this construction.

Start Sewing

Lesson 9

Attaching the Neckband

Felix Dress bodice with neckband attached showing faux wrap construction in teal abstract print with pink lining visible

Attach the neckband to your Felix bodice with this unique construction method! This non-standard technique produces a completely clean finish and might make you feel like a sewing magician. The hardest part of the dress but so worth it!

Attach Your Neckband

Lesson 10

Adding the Pockets

Felix Dress pocket pieces attached to bodice and skirt in teal abstract print fabric with scissors nearby

An easy day in the Felix sew-along! Learn to attach pocket pieces to both the bodice and skirt using proper seam allowances and grading techniques. This straightforward process includes edgestitching and understitching for pockets that stay put.

Create Your Pockets

Lesson 11

Attaching the Skirts

Felix Dress on dress form showing front and back views with skirts attached to bodice in teal print and pink lining

Time for the skirts! Learn to ease the fuller skirt fabric into the bodice, attach both self and lining layers, and anchor those important pockets. This is the exciting moment when your Felix really starts looking like the dress it's meant to be!

Sew it Together

Lesson 12

Sewing The Side Seams

Felix Dress side seams sewn showing teal abstract print self fabric with pink lining and serged seam allowances

An easy day in the Felix sew-along — just four side seams and you can try on your dress! We'll sew lining side seams first, then turn inside out to sew the self seams. Simple construction that brings your Felix together for the first fitting!

Join the Sides

Lesson 13

Sleeveless Armhole Finishing

Sleeveless Felix Dress in blue and white striped linen showing bias facing applied to armholes with scissors and ties nearby

Time to finish the armholes for your sleeveless Felix. Learn to apply bias facing with a 1/2" seam allowance (not the usual 1/4"), then trim, grade, clip, and understitch for a clean finish. Perfect technique for smooth, flat armhole edges.

Finish Your Armholes

Lesson 14

Sewing the Sleeves

Felix Dress with flutter sleeves in teal abstract print showing faux wrap neckline and pink lining at V-neckline

Time to add sleeves to your Felix! Learn to baste the sleeve cap for gathering, insert sleeves into lined armholes, and finish with clean hems. This tutorial covers both flutter and 3/4 sleeves using the same insertion method for both styles.

Set Your Sleeves

Lesson 15

Hemming the Dress

Felix Dress hem detail in pink fabric showing double-fold hem with serged seam allowance and stitching

It’s the last day of the Felix sew-along, time to hem your dress! We use the same double-fold technique as we did for the sleeves to hem both the shell and the lining. Your Felix is finally complete!

Finish Your Felix