Amalfi Dress Sewing Pattern Hack
The Amalfi Blouse PDF sewing pattern offers itself to be hacked into a dress pattern. There is a few ways you can go about this. You could either cut the blouse off at the waist and attach a gathered skirt or even a straight or circle skirt. Or you can extend the blouse and with it the button placket all the way to your desired dress length. I am going to show you how to do the latter today.
Making the pattern for the Amalfi Dress Hack
The first thing you will need to do, is take a tape measure and measure down your body how long you want your dress to be. Then measure your pattern and decide how much length you are going to add. I am 172cm / 5.6 feet tall, I am sewing size B and I added 33cm / 13” to my front, back and placket pattern pieces. I did so by cutting along the lengthening/shortening lines on the pattern and adding pattern paper (you could use any paper ).
Add length to your front, back and placket pattern pieces. I also decided to add side seam pockets to my dress. I used a pocket pattern from another pattern I like (my Cloud Dress pattern). If you do not own a pattern with side seam pockets, you can simply draw a pattern around the shape of your hand.
Add Side Seam Pockets to the Amalfi Dress Hack
First, take your pocket pieces and finish the raw curved edge. Sew the pockets to your front and back with the right sides of the fabric togethers about 20cm / 8” down from the raglan curve. Overlock or serge along the raw side edge of your skirt. The edge of your pockets will get finished in the process. Press the pocket away from the skirt. Edgestitch 0.3cm /0.1" away from the seam line. Repeat with all four pocket pieces. Now place the front and back skirt pieces with the attached pockets right sides together and sew along the side seams, pivoting to go around the pocket bags. Press the seams and pockets towards the front of the dress with an iron. Add a bar tack on the top and bottom of the pocket to reinforce this stress point and make sure that the pocket will hang towards the front of the dress.
Finish off your Amalfi Dress
From here onwards, it is smooth sailing. Finish your dress following the instructions you got with your pattern. I added 7 buttons and button holes to my placket, but 8 or 9 would also look lovely I think.
Here she is:
