This pattern won the 2004 Young Designers’ Contest. Miss Amanda Kastner designed her winning entry based upon fashion plates from 1911 and 1912, creating a kimono-style bodice with an optional inset. The overskirt can be made in a coordinating or contrasting color. This pattern is very easy to make and so comfortable to wear!
- Sizes 6-26 all included, with instructions for “D” and “DD” sizing.
- Instructions included for nursing mothers to make a nursing dress!
- Easy style to dress up or down with fancy or everyday fabrics.
- Click to download the Kimono Dress Pattern Chart.
- Photo Instructions coming soon!
This pattern is rated “intermediate” because of the bodice inset, but a beginner should have little trouble creating a beautiful dress with limited help. Be sure to visit this designer’s own website, Hint of History Patterns, for more of her beautiful, inspiring work!
Note: If you purchased a copy of this pattern prior to March 13, 2006, click HERE for corrections/revisions. Also note that the yardage chart was incorrectly printed for some months (we don’t know how many)! This was caught on February 16, 2011. If you have the incorrect chart, you can download the correct one above or drop me a line for a replacement.
7:37 am
I made this pattern and am pretty pleased with the results. Here’s a photo of that http://tinyurl.com/1912dress.
8:54 am
My pattern is on its way! I don’t know much about historical clothing, but I wanted to do something special to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of my workplace, in October. There will be lots of visitors and I will probably be in charge of the museum tours again.
I am pretty clueless about what kind of shoes and hat to wear with this dress, and what colors and fabric the ladies were wearing back then. Can anyone give me some guidance?
11:40 pm
Hi, Sunny! Sounds like a fun project. If you pop over to my Vintage Images section, you will find original catalog images from the 1910s, and that will help you with hats, colors, and fabrics.
There are hundreds of images, so it helps to narrow down by searching for keywords like “1910s” “19-teens,” or even “hat.” Have fun!
8:56 pm
Well, I feel a little silly having to ask this, but don’t see where to enter my search terms. Where is the search box?
1:23 am
Hi, Sunny! Scroll to the bottom of the page, and the search box is in the footer.
9:16 pm
Hello,
I was wondering if it would be necessary to wear a corset while wearing this dress. I have worn a Civil War dress with a corset before. Do you know if women in 1912 would wear a corset with a dress like this? I know some about women’s clothing in the Civil War but not much about early 1900s clothing.
Thank you
12:28 am
Hello, Ann! A 1912 corset was columnar and did not cinch in the waist for the hourglass shape of the years before. You can easily wear this without a corset because of its free-flowing lines and empire waist. Hope this helps!
7:55 pm
Thank you for your answer!
5:10 pm
Have you any plans to release this as an epattern, Mrs Chancey?
2:12 am
I do, but I am trying to work out a way that the original designer gets the profits from ePattern sales and haven’t figured that out yet. Thanks for asking!
4:26 pm
Nellie, You did such a wonderful job on your dress! I love your color blocking. You are very creative! Thank you for sharing your picture.
2:01 pm
I am making a new wardrobe for myself. I like to use different inspirations but still look modern. I have a beautiful grey knit. Do you think this pattern would sew up fine in a stretchy material? I will also be doing the nursing option.
2:06 am
Hi, Amy! I’ve never tried it in a knit, but if it’s not a super-stretchy one, it should do fine. I would still reinforce the neckline and the nursing flap edges with interfacing to prevent them stretching out of shape over time. Hope this helps!
7:58 pm
Okay, I was waffling, but after seeing your picture I’m going to choose this pattern for the Titanic centennial. Nice work!