Our Eucalypt pattern has been around for a while, but it’s the first time we’ve had the chance to show you all the inspiration, ideas & different ways you can make your top or dress! This is really such a wonderful basic pattern that really lends itself to being hacked and changed to suit exactly what you’re looking for!
If you’re looking at the top variation, you can make this pattern in woven fabrics for a more polished look, or a knit jersey fabric if you’re looking for a casual tank. The dress is perfect for a beach coverup, but when made in a luxe woven fabric you’ve got a dress you can take from day to night. That’s just the fabric choice! Take a look at all of the small variations and additions you can add to your Eucalypt to make it the top or dress you’ve been waiting for!
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- Try making your Eucalypt from a lace or sheer fabric, with binding around the neckline and armholes for a gorgeous evening variation. The loose fitting nature of the top lends itself to being worn over a slip so you won’t have extra bulk!
- Try making a winter version to wear with tights, boots and a turtleneck underneath! It’s such a put together look, that will also keep you warm in winter.
- We’re such fans of high waisted skirts and pants, sometimes a soft crop top that skims the top of your waistband is the perfect combo. You could even make bottoms in the same fabric you want a chic twin set look!
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One thing we love about the Eucalypt is how simple it is to create a completely different look by simply chopping the top a little shorter, and adding a gathered base.
- Try a drop waist Eucalypt dress with gathered skirt for a great summer shift dress.
- Pockets never go astray, and with a little extra length to your dress you’ll have the chance to add gorgeous pockets on the front.
- If you like your tops a little longer so they cover more of your hips, the gathered base to the top is a wonderful way to create extra length to your body. Try it in a sheer fabric so it skims your hips rather than bulking up too much.
- We’re always keen to find a simple hack that will turn our dress into a comfy maxi…adding the gathered long skirt is a perfect way to do just this! The simple lines make for a very chic and unfussy maxi…just the way we like them.
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- Create a mod-inspired geometric shape to your Eucalypt by sewing the front and back panels into four separate panels! There’s a great post by Meg on a dress she made for The Refashioners 2016, that shows how she colour blocked her dress with denim!
- Colour blocking with a solid and a print is always a great way to mix up the look.
- We love this idea for a maxi dress with the colour block starting much higher than the waist. It’s a wonderful maternity style if that’s what you’re looking for…otherwise it makes for such a comfortable shift dress.
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One of the simplest updates you can make to the Eucalypt top and dress is to use buttons to mix up the shape and style!
- Make the buttons purely decorative by placing them down the centre of the bust. Stopping just at the underbust is usually a good measure.
- If you’re confident adding in your own plackets, the dress looks amazing as a button-up shift dress.
- Of course, if you’re looking to really mix it up, you could try adding buttons down the back instead!
LOOKING FOR MORE EUCALYPT POSTS?
Here’s the full list of posts and tutorials that will be included in the Eucalypt Sewalong:
- Useful Eucalypt Tutorials (this post!)
- Raising the Eucalypt armscye
- Three ways to sew a bias-facing neckline
- How to make bias tape
- How to add faux shoulder ties
- How to sew a gathered waist Eucalypt
- How to make a jersey maxi dress
- Button front Eucalypt
- Zip front Eucalypt
- Cottesloe & Eucalypt Maker Round-Up
- Inspiration & Ideas for the Eucalypt Top & Dress
We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNeucalypt and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!
Don’t have the pattern yet?
