Fernbird Dress & Top
Regular price $18.50
Unit price per
A pull on dress or top, the Fernbird is feminine, fun and easy to wear. With bust darts and "grown on" sleeves, the key design features are the deep double frills and scooped rear hem. This is a throw-on-and-look-glam-in-a-second dress, so easily worn with sneakers or heels.
SUMMER - Beautifully cool in rayon/viscose the dress and top is professionally finished with a simple neck facing.
WINTER - Mid weight knits and woven blended wool suitings. This dress will work with almost any fabric, although it's a good idea to keep drape in mind. We recommend you use a light weight fabric for your winter frills (like contrasting rayon, cotton, chiffons & crepes).
PATTERN FEATURES:
- Deep double frill (fold under so no frill hem)
- Scooped rear hem line (dress only) for dramatic effect and emphasized design.
- V Neck and round neck options
- Loose fitting and designed to sit mid knee (front) and mid calf (rear) - but easily adjustable
- Sizes NZ/AU 6-22
Share your makes on Instagram & Facebook tagging #FernbirdDress #FernbirdTop and @thesewingrevival
FABRIC
Please refer to the FABRIC REQUIREMENT CHART as one of the last images on this product listing. You can magnify this image if viewing it on a mobile phone whilst in a fabric store.
Light to mid weight fabrics with a good drape.
We highly recommended rayon/viscose for this pattern, but tencel, silk, cotton/silk and cotton/poly blends. Have fun contrasting the dress body with the frill fabric. We even had a play with a light weight cotton/metal fabric in contrasting frill which looks great.
DIFFICULTY
Confident beginner ready for the next step. Easy Intermediate (2/5). No closures (zips or buttons). Skill learnt: Gathering frills.
SIZE & FITTING
Each purchase comes with 4 sizes (please refer to the last image for size chart and international size comparisons):
Small - (NZ/AU/UK 6-8-10-12 | US 2-4-6-8) Pages = 26
Medium - (NZ/AU/UK 10-12-14-16 | US 6-8-10-12) Pages =27
Large - (NZ/AU/UK 14-16-18-20 | US 10-12-14-16) Pages =27
X-Large - (NZ/AU/UK 16-18-20-22 | US 14-16-18) Pages =27
WHAT DO I GET WITH MY PURCHASE?
Please note you are purchasing a digital pattern that will be sent directly to your email inbox after payment. You can print this pattern at home on A4 or US letter-sized paper or take it to a print shop for large scale printing (AO size). *You will not receive a hard copy printed pattern.*
Instant download available immediately after checkout includes:
1. Instructions
2. PAH Pattern file (PAH=Print at home)
For printing in A4 or US Letter on a home printer. Printing at home is the most cost-effective, and sticking your pattern tiles together to make your full size pattern is easy. Further information for printing at home can be found in our Resources section here.
3. AO Pattern file
AO is a large scale file designed to be printed at a Print Copy Shop. You cannot print this on your home printer as it is too big. If you choose to use this large file you will pay extra to have it printed but you do not have to stick anything together.
You can use the ADOBE LAYERS FEATURE to open the PAH pattern file and print only the size you need (and eliminate the "noise" of the unwanted sizes). You can also use the URL and bookmark links within the file to quickly access information and support. Download Adobe Reader for free (for Windows and Mac) here.
Reviews
New ZealandAnother fabulous TSR pattern.
Another winner from The Sewing Revival. Easy to download, print and put together the pattern. Great instructions. Perfect for less confident sewists like me! I made this in rayon, and next on the list is to make a top. Thanks TSR!
New ZealandLove love Love this dress
I found this dress and shirt pattern so easy to put together, I have two dresses with more planned, and two tops with more planned. I have also made a variation of the top too! I say get your Fernbird today!! I have already commented and made more since then.. but this time I have attached pics….
New ZealandFernbird dress
Fantastic and gorgeous
AustraliaThe Fernbird Dress
What a dream to make, very easy although there is some gathering to be done, but I did most of the gathering on my overlocker. I sewed rolled hems for the sleeve and hem frills in a contacting colour thread, this gave a great effect and I was very pleased with the outcome. I did adjust the neck size as the first toile I made was too big in the neck but the final dress I made was perfect, great pattern highly recommended.
New ZealandFernbird Dress AND Top Pattern
I have made two dresses, with more to make, I have the fabric, why stop at one I say… easy to make, easy to follow instructions, I have told my viewers how awesome it is, and many have since made it saying exactly the same. I made the top with a little hem line alteration, and it is EASY… love love love the Fernbird. I have made it in linen AND in Rayon, both work so well … I have purchase other patterns, The Mallard Coat and the Dovetail Dress… and will keep going.. .I can see me owning all the patterns Thank you TSR for the easy to understand instructions and lovely shapes… now if you don’t mind I’m gonna so some ‘pattern shopping’ ❤️❤️
New ZealandQuick and easy
Very quick and easy to assemble for a novice like me. Frill was easy but time consuming, in hindsight I should have fouled depth of frill as I doubled it up. i think it works. I will most likely make again and also try a top.
AustraliaFernbird dress pattern
Bought a pdf pattern, download without any trouble, would buy from the sewing revival again
South AfricaFernbird Dress
This is just a joy to make. It’s so quick, except of course the frills, which need some patience to make sure the gathers are nicely distributed. The grown in sleeves are a perfect length and very comfy to wear. I made a top too, with the round neck. It’s my fave top at the mo. Will definitely make more. I used a lovely drapy viscose.
New ZealandQuick and easy
Once the correct scale for printing was sorted it was a quick and easy project, I shortened the sleeves and added pockets, it’s a great pattern and a lovely dress to wear, made with linen/cotton
AustraliaFernbird Dress
This is a wonderful pattern. Super easy to make. Great instructions. I used two co-ordinating viscose fabrics and have a dress that is lovely to wear and gets complimented every time I wear it.
United KingdomPretty dress
I was looking for something with nice floaty sleeves and this fits the bill. Easy to put together and flattering on.
New Zealandnew pattern
love the pattern going to make another one hav 5 patterns love them all look forward to new ones..
New ZealandFernbird top
So easy to use & I had my Fernbird top cut & sewn in just a few hours. The fit is great & I'm very happy with it. Will definitely be using these patterns again.
New ZealandLovely easy to follow pattern
My experience was great. Couple of things I would do differently if I make again. One: Cut one size smaller. Two: not double up the fabric on the frills. Found the finish nice but too much fabric to the dress. I put pockets in my dress.
New ZealandFernbird dress
Nice simple pattern. Definitely a make-in-a-day, from cutting out to sewing the last stitch, once you have your pattern sorted. However, a couple of things to note - the cutting instructions give two different depths for the ruffles - 10cm and 18cm (I went with 18cm) and there is no recommended hem measurement for the top that I could see. Using a sewing ham makes pressing those underarm and lower sleeve seams so much easier. There are a number of free patterns online to make your own.
New ZealandFernbird dress
An enjoyable sew and it fitted me well. The instructions were easy to follow. I omitted the frill at the hem and made it a shirttail hem, am very happy with how it looks
New ZealandLove It!
Awesome pattern and instructions. Nice and simple. Will use this lots.
New ZealandLots of comments on my dress
This is the first time I've printed a pdf from home. Bit of a pain so next pattern took to warehouse for printing. Very easy style to make and love the different neck options
New ZealandFern bird dress and top
I’ve never used a pdf before and it was a bit overwhelming at first. But I figured it all out and discovered the principle to be very simple and easy. The instructions were fantastic! I’ve never had such good instructions in any pattern before. I made it for a special event quite quickly, even making a few changes like adding an extra frill, and changing the length to be straight cross. I got the sizes mixed up.. followed US sizing instead of NZ sizing and ended up making it too big, but upon reflection, even tho it’s far too roomy around the neck arms area, it did the trick! Can’t wait to make another one and the optional varieties you could change around within this pattern are really exciting! I’ll certainly be making this again!
The Sewing Revival
Thanks so much for taking the time to review the pattern. Your make looks fabulous. So glad you enjoyed the process too.
New ZealandI didn't think i was a frills woman, given i live in gumboots a lot...
however love this dress and have made two.... One a mixture of calico and scraps of old broderie anglaise to try the pattern out, and one in fine cotton batik. Both are a great success. I really like the shape achieved without zips or buttons. Initially tried to graduate the pattern from 14 bust to 10 waist to 12 hips but settled on 14 and 12 for my final pattern. I can see I'll use this pattern for really special fabric down the track. Thanks Janine, another winner.