Philippa dress, top and skirt

Philippa is a pattern with many looks. A fitted style with three neckline options, cap sleeve or sleeveless choices, and two skirt lengths allows you to create styles suitable for anywhere. A sharp dress for the boardroom, a 1960’s mod-inspired garment, a casual skirt for weekends, or a cute top to throw on with skinny jeans for a dinner out - your choice!

Princess seams in front and back originate from the armscye and curve to just below the hip, where they angle out to the side seam. Optional pockets are hidden within the diagonal seams joining the side panels to the lower skirts. The side panels in front and back provide great opportunities to mix and match colours or patterns.

Philippa has three neckline variations - a classic 1960’s jewel neckline, a scoop neck, or a flat collar for that nod to mod styles. The jewel and collar necklines are high at the back. The scoop neckline is scooped in front and back. All are faced for a neat finish on the inside of the garment.

Choose from cap half sleeves that follow the curves of the front and back princess seams, sleeveless, or a second sleeveless variation with slightly cut-away shoulders. All three styles are finished with a bias facing.

The top variation of Philippa finishes just below the hip - the perfect length for pairing with pencil skirts or skinny pants, and it’s semi-fitted shape also works well tucked into skirts and trousers.

The dress and skirt variations can be made in one of two lengths - mini or above the knee.

The Philippa top and dress both fasten with an invisible zipper in the centre back. The skirt fastens with a lapped zipper in centre back and a button at the waistband.

Details

Philippa is a PDF pattern with both print-at-home and print-at-copyshop options, delivered straight away to your inbox on purchase. (Please note that the pattern file is a .zip format and will need to be opened on a laptop or desktop. Smartphones and tablets are unable to open .zip files.) 

The Philippa print-at-home pattern comes with a layers feature, making it easy for you to print the size (or sizes) you want. (You can find a tutorial on how to use the layers feature here.)

Sizes

Philippa is in the new Muse sizing and includes sizes 28-48., which correspond to high bust measurements 28" - 48". Philippa comes with both B-cup and D-cup options.

Suggested fabrics

Philippa works well in many types of fabric, depending on which style you choose to make.

For the top, choose a light-medium weight woven, such as rayon, silk, voile, lawn, linen, poplin or seersucker.

For the skirt, choose a medium-heavy weight woven, such as linen, sateen, denim, chambray, corduroy or wool blends.

For the dress, choose your fabric depending on whether you are making the variation with or without pockets. If making the variation with pockets, choose a stable light-medium weight woven such as a rayon crepe, poplin, chambray, sateen, wool blend, flannel, linen or lawn. If making the variation without pockets, you can also use lighter fabrics, such as silk, voile, crepe de chine or rayon.

The dress and top variations of Philippa also work well in a stable knit, such as a ponte or scuba. Either make the entire garment in a stable knit, or pair a knit for the side panels with a woven for the main fabric for extra comfort.

Fabric requirements

Fabric requirements are based on size 48. Smaller sizes may be able to be cut out of less fabric, however the amount listed is the most you will need for the given variation in a fabric with no print direction. 

Fabric requirements given are for the knee-length skirt variations, and include enough fabric for the cap sleeves variation.

Notions

• Dress, all variations - 60cm / 24” long invisible zipper, bias binding
• Top, scoop neck variation - 35cm / 14” long invisible zipper, bias binding
• Top, collar or jewel neck variation - 50cm / 20” long invisible zipper, bias binding
• Skirt - 18cm / 7” long dress zipper, 1 x button (approx 1.5cm / 5/8” wide)

Sample garments

Alison is 175cm tall and is wearing the mini length Philippa dress with cut-away shoulders and collar, in a size 34. It's made up in a mid-weight synthetic blend twill, with lightweight cotton drill for the contrast panels and collar.

Nicola is 177cm tall and is wearing the top and skirt Philippa variations, in a size 44. The top is the scoop neck, cap sleeves variation, and is made up in a rayon with rayon crepe for the contrast panels. The skirt is the knee length variation, and is made up in a lightweight denim.