This month’s Cashmerette Club pattern is the Franconia Dress, a shirred woven dress designed for curves!
This is a past Cashmerette Club pattern, which you can download instantly today as a Cashmerette Club member on our yearly All Access level! To learn more and sign up, click here.
There’s nothing we love more than a fashion trend that’s cute but also ultra-comfortable! Shirred woven dresses are the ultimate trendy/comfy garments because no matter what you’re up to, they move with your body while still providing shaping.
This month’s Cashmerette Club pattern is the Franconia Dress, a lightweight woven dress with a shirred waistband for all-day comfort, a gape-free faux button placket, a delicate bound v-neckline and essential inseam pockets. Sew yours up for an easy breezy everyday look or a stylish beach coverup! (And if it’s your first time shirring, we’ve got you covered with a free video sewalong.)
The Franconia Dress comes in sizes 0-32 and cup sizes C-H and is available exclusively to Cashmerette Club members. Not a member yet? Join today for as little as $9 USD—cancel anytime.
Michelle is wearing a size 22 E/F. Her measurements are 48″ high bust, 51″ full bust, 46″ waist, and 54″ hips, and she is 5′ 6″.
Jenny is wearing a size 18 G/H. Her measurements are high bust 43″, full bust 47″, waist 39″, and hip 44″, and she is 5′ 6”.
Brit is wearing a size 6 E/F graded to an 8 at the hips. Her measurements are 34″ high bust, 37″ full bust, 29″ waist, and 41″ hips, and she is 5′ 6.5″.
Meet the Franconia Dress
Shirred to perfection, and with comfort like no other! Designed for curves, comfort, and style, the Franconia features:
- Bust-friendly, gape-free fit with cup sizes C-H
- Trendy shirred waistband that creates definition and texture while serving up all-day comfort
- Delicate bound v-neckline
- Breezy elbow-length dolman sleeves
- Midi-length flowy skirt with essential inseam pockets to carry all your stuff
- Pullover design with a faux button placket—no buttonholes to sew!
The Franconia is rated advanced beginner. Sew your first Franconia with confidence thanks to our free video sewalong!
The Franconia is designed for light- to mid-weight woven fabric such as cotton lawn, linen, or rayon.
A big thanks to our friends at Atelier Brunette for gifting us the fabric for Brit and Jenny’s Franconias! Brit is wearing an Atelier Brunette cotton gauze and Jenny is wearing an Atelier Brunette gingham double gauze. Michelle is wearing a Franconia in a viscose from Emma One Sock.
Fabric Requirements and Finished Garment Measurements for the Franconia Dress
Here are the fabric requirements for the Franconia Dress:
And here are the finished garment measurements:
*Although the finished measurements of the bust are the same for all cup sizes, the shaping is different, so be sure to choose your proper cup size.
The waist measurements shown are the stretched measurements. The shirring will reduce the waist measurement by approximately 20-25″ (51 – 64 cm) so that the final waist measurement is slightly smaller than the body measurement.
The Franconia is designed for a loose fit with a cinched waist. If you’d like a more fitted look, go down one size.
15% off Beyond the Pink Door
Our friends at Beyond the Pink Door want to help you create your dream Franconia with 15% off storewide throughout the month of July! (Exclusions apply.)
Beyond the Pink Door stocks a carefully curated collection of beautiful, high-quality dressmaking fabrics, alongside patterns and notions. Based in Galway, Ireland, Beyond the Pink Door ships worldwide.
Members—you can head to the Club dashboard to get this Club-exclusive discount code. Not a member? Sign up today!
Also New in the Club this Month: Masterclass & Live Event
Club members in the Plus and All Access tiers get a new fitting masterclass every month! This month, Jenny is diving into sleevehead adjustments. Sleeves can be tricky to fit, but you can greatly improve the overall fit of a sleeve with some simple adjustments, and Jenny’s here to show you how.
Plus and All Access members also get access to this month’s live event. This month, we’re doing something a little different: it’s a Cashmerette Club Quiz Party! It’ll be part sewing quiz, part Cashmerette trivia, and a whole lot of fun, so get ready to test your knowledge and learn a thing or two in the process.
Head to the Club dashboard to learn more and register to attend. Can’t make it live? This event will be recorded and shared with members afterward.
We can’t wait to see what you make with this pattern! Join Cashmerette Club today to download the Franconia Dress and get started sewing instantly.
(Joining after July 2023? You’ll need to sign up at the All Access level to get the Franconia Dress.)