Five reasons why you will fall in love with a ‘Big’ Black Dress

Never mind the Little Black Dress, right here, right now it’s all about the BIG BLACK DRESS. Nothing fancy, just a big black dress that you can chuck on and exude a laconic nonchalance.

We all know everyone needs a little black dress in their life, but sometimes a big black dress is more suitable for that ‘artfully undone’ look. And I have just the pattern for you to make your very own BIG BLACK DRESS in the time it would take to choose your accessories for a big night out. And it’s FREE. You’re welcome.

This big black dress was inspired by the work of Japanese fashion designer, Issey Miyake. He took Japan from fashion obscurity to the forefront of contemporary fashion design. He is known for his garment construction of flat shapes with the minimal amount of seams. Clothing that you can wear regardless of shape or size.

This one size fits all most BBD is easy to wear, it can be the dress you throw on to open the door to the postman when you haven’t even brushed your teeth yet. Or it can be the dress that you wear for drinking fine wine and chatting to creatives at the opening an photography exhibition.

I call it ‘effortless dressing’.

You will fall in love with a Big Black Dress because:

1. Anyone can wear one – apple, pear, banana or hour glass. And you don’t have to worry about the king size bar of chocolate you ate (every single chunk of it) before you went to bed last night because this BBD hides EVERYTHING.
2. It’s spag bol friendly. Don’t worry if you haven’t yet grasped the art of eating spaghetti with a fork and spoon. If you spill you dinner down this dress, no one will ever notice – it’s black.
3. It’s versatile – wear it whatever the occasion. Well ok, not for swimming.
4. It is not a fashion trend – your friends, their friends and the friends of their friends will not be wearing one all at the same time as you, your neighbour and her sister. Unless you tell them about my free pattern that is 😉
5. You can make one in less than an hour, because you are smart and creative and stylish and fun – so download the free pattern here.

How to make a Big Black Dress in 4 easy steps

Just 2 pattern pieces and 4 seams.

You will need: 2.20m of medium weight black knit fabric, 150cm wide. OK, it doesn’t have to be black, you can make a BRD if you want to.

1. Place the pattern on your fabric, making sure the stretch in the fabric goes across the body. Cut 2 on the fold. (Your Front and Back pieces should be identical.)
2. Using a zig zag stitch or your overlocker/serger, join the Front and Back with right sides together using a 1cm seam.
3. Hem or overlock/serge raw edges at all openings.
4. Fold the neck down inside the dress by 10cm (or whatever you prefer). From the outside of the dress, stitch down through both layers along the the neck seam you have already sewn.

That’s it. Now try it on. Do you love it?

Essential: If you make yourself a BBD, show me, I would love to see it.