The wardrobe staple
Eucalypt has been one of my absolute favourite patterns for so long and I’m just so happy to be re-releasing it in print in our extended sizing 0-20 as well as releasing the new Curve version in sizes 14-30! Eucalypt is a wardrobe staple that I absolute could not live without. It’s a woven tank and dress pattern that seems to just go with everything. You may have noticed as we use it constantly when styling other patterns for our photoshoots. Personally I love using this pattern with special fabrics where I want to let fabric take centre stage.
This is a fantastic beginner sewing project as it requires minimal adjustments, is simply shaped and doesn’t include closures or too many tricky techniques. You’ll learn how to sew french seams as well as how to sew bias facings and turn a beautiful curved hemline.
If you’re a more experienced sewer this is a very quick and satisfying sew, and a wonderful base to add you own ideas to. Its incredibly easy to hack and add your own details to, and I can’t wait to show you one of the fun tutorials we’ve got planned for it next week!
Details details details
The hem is curved and is slightly longer in the back than the front. The neckline is scooped but not too low, and the back of the neck is cut a little lower than your average tank, which i think gives it a very sweet look.
The hemline on the tank is nice and long, so that there is room to adjust if need be. The dress should hit below mid thigh, but is also easily adaptable. One of my favourite quick variations is to straighten out the hemline for a comletely different look! I also have a cropped version planned which will be great with high waisted skirts. I’ve used this pattern in so many ways including sewing it up in knit fabric as a maxi dress!
The recommend fabric for this pattern is quite broad, as you really can successfully make it with almost anything. Light weight to mid weight fabrics will make lovely tops and dresses – but you could even use a denim or wool fabric and use it as a layering dress.
The neckline and armsyces are finished with bias tape facings, which is a wonderful opportunity to use up your scrap fabrics or include a contrast fabric as an internal detail.
How does it fit?
Eucalypt is a loose fit woven tank and dress, and it’s intended to feel very breezy and comfortable. It has a good amount of ease, and the armsyces provide a good range of motion and are nicely scooped out at the back – which is a detail i love!
The fit of the Curve pattern is a little different than the standard pattern, and generally includes a bit more ease through the bust and hip. The standard pattern is drafted for a B cup and the Curve pattern is drafted for a D cup, and we have also included a bust dart in the Curve pattern to allow a better fit for larger busts as well as easy adjustments if you need to do an FBA. The Curve pattern is also a little higher cut in the underarm to provide a bit more bust coverage.
View A is a woven tank
View A is a basic woven tank and is my favourite version to make with special fabrics as it uses so little fabric!
The Curve version includes bust darts and the standard version is dartless. Both include a beautiful curved hem.
View B is a woven tank with centre front seam
This version of the pattern is a really fun way to play with prints or add to the centre front seam. For the size 6 sample above we used a striped cotton shirting and cut the front panels on the bias for a fun chevron detail. For the size 22 sample above we used the selvedge of the fabric to create some visual interest at the centre front.
You can easily turn this version into a button up shirt or insert a zipper or other fun trims.
View C is a woven tank dress.
This is such a fun little dress! As with all versions the Curve pattern includes bust darts and the standard pattern is dartless. This is my favourite little summer dress and is so breezy and comfortable to wear. Much like the tank version, i love using a cute print with this version to let the fabric shine.
View D is a woven tank dress with centre front seam.
This dress includes a centre front seam which provides a lot of potential for playing with prints and texture as well as adding other elements to the centre front. For our size 10 sample above we cut a striped linen on the bias to create a chevron and for our size 26 sample above we used a double sided linen, carefully lining up the circles down the centre front. It’s a really fun detail!
Much like the tank top this version allows you to add other details to the centre front if you like such as turning it into a button up or adding a zipper or trim. My favourite nursing dress when I was still breastfeeding was a zip front Eucalypt dress – and I still wear it every summer!
All the sizes!
As part of the re-release of Eucalypt in print we’re so happy to offer it in the extended size range! Sizes 0-20 are available in printed and PDF format and Curve sizes 14-30 are available in PDF format!
If you have any questions at all please let me know in the comments below or send us an email at hello@megannielsen.com . We’d love to see what you make with the Eucalypt and Eucalypt Curve pattern! Don’t forget to tag your creations #MNeucalypt and @megannielsenpatterns to share what you’ve been working on, and check out what everyone else is up to!
