Now is the perfect season for sewing beautiful summer occasion dresses, and what better way to celebrate warm days and special events than with handmade outfits? Whether you're attending a wedding, a garden party, or just want to add another fabulous dress to your wardrobe, we’ve gathered some of the best summer dressmaking patterns inspired by our wonderful Fabrics Galore sewing community and our shop staff, who also include some expert dressmakers. Here’s a look at some of our favourite makes and recommended fabrics to help bring these patterns to life.
Penelope Dress – Emporia Patterns
@zoeandherstitches created a gorgeous version of the Penelope Dress, a classic tea dress style featuring a flattering loose bodice, balloon puffed sleeves which really create drama, and a full maxi skirt with an optional frill. It’s a timeless silhouette perfect for summer occasions and loose enough to be comfortable to wear all day long.
Fabric Recommendation: Cotton Poplin Pink and Blue Flower Trellis – The crispness of cotton poplin makes this an excellent choice for dresses with volume while keeping it light and breathable for summer.
Somerset Dress – The Petite Dressmaker
@amywinwoodfashion's stunning Somerset dress caught our eye with its feminine vibe. This has two length options, a fitted bodice gathered under the middle of the bust, a raised waistband and puff sleeves. It is a flattering shape, making it a great staple for summer wardrobes, recommended for intermediate and advanced dressmakers.
Fabric Recommendation: Roses Print Cotton Blue – A delicate floral print on breathable cotton makes this dress an absolute dream for warmer days.
Mariposa Bow-Back Dress – Nina Lee London
@ninaleelondon has designed the gorgeous Mariposa Dress, a romantic design with a statement bow at the back. This pattern is ideal for events where you want to make a lasting impression. We love it made up in the contrasting gingham sizes and if you don’t want to go bold in red, we also have pretty pastel colours in our gingham collection.
Fabric Recommendation: Red and White Gingham Cotton – The gingham trend is going strong, and this lightweight cotton will keep you cool while looking effortlessly chic.
Daphne Maxi Dress – Sewing Patterns by Masin
For those who love Bridgerton inspired Regency dresses and a flowing silhouette, the Daphne Maxi Dress is a must-sew. With its effortless elegance, this dress is perfect for weddings and summer soirées. You can increase the drama by going for a bold modern floral or keep it low key with a smaller floral print. Either way, it’s a winner.
Fabric Recommendation: Floral Cotton Pinks and Oranges Betty – A vibrant floral cotton will add a pop of summer colour to your handmade wardrobe.
Aalto Dress – Papercut Patterns
This contemporary dress design is perfect for those who love a minimalist aesthetic with a unique twist. The Aalto Dress features the option of a lovely twist halter neck and a gorgeous optional scooped low back and tie. A very relaxed yet sophisticated summer dress.
Fabric Recommendation: Cotton and Linen Mix Indigo Twisty – Linen blends offer structure while keeping you cool in the summer heat.
Peony Dress – Fabric Godmother
A vintage-inspired beauty, the Peony Dress is a showstopper with its relaxed shaping and elegant sleeves, perfect for dressing up or down.
Fabric Recommendation: Viscose Orange Temperate House – A drapey viscose is ideal for creating soft, fluid movement in this dress.
Alexa Frill Dress – Liberty Sewing Patterns
Nothing says summer quite like a Liberty print! The Alexa Frill Dress is playful and feminine, with ruffle details adding a touch of whimsy.
Fabric Recommendation: Liberty Fabrics Tana Lawn Lilibet – This iconic lightweight cotton lawn is perfect for airy, delicate summer dresses.
Sicily Slip Dress - Sewing Patterns by Masin
The Sicily Slip Dress is a consistent best-seller. It is a beautifully romantic bias-cut slip dress, designed to capture the effortless elegance of a summer in southern Italy. Whatever the event. this dress is made to make you feel confident, flirty, and effortlessly chic.
This sewing pattern offers two variations: either skinny straps with a low cowl neckline and flowing mid-length hem or with wider straps, a higher cowl neck and a hemline above the knee.
Fabric Recommendation: choose from 6 colours in our best-selling Petra range of printed spun viscose This iconic flowy viscose is perfect for airy, floaty summer dresses.
The Zadie Jumpsuit Pattern
The Zadie Jumpsuit is a relaxed, easy-to-wear one-piece with a wrap design that ties at the waist—no buttons or zippers required. Quick to sew and effortless to slip on, it features wide, ankle-skimming legs, deep slant pockets, and subtle waist pleats. Choose between a sleeveless dropped-shoulder style or wide 3/4-length sleeves for a versatile, chic look.
At Fabrics Galore, we love the Zadie Jumpsuit so much we dedicated an entire blog to it! Whisper it quietly: there is a pattern extension available to turn it into a wrap dress
Fabric Recommendation: Linen Cotton Blend Pink Stripe – One of our most popular linen and cotton blends which is breathable, comfortable and looks stunning made up.
Summer Occasion Patterns Sorted!
We hope these stunning dress patterns and fabric pairings inspire your next summer sewing project! Be sure to tag us on Instagram with your makes using #FabricsGaloreLondon – we love seeing your gorgeous creations. For more inspiration, head to our Spring/Summer collection for all our latest fabrics.
