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I was so excited because I really wanted to do a dolman style shirt for the next easy pattern and I recently discovered a free one! You have to join the Facebook group to get the code for it. The wide range of sizes (00-26) is another reason I like this pattern – I can make shirts for my daughter and me from the same pattern. She’s a teenager and sometimes she fits kids sizes and sometimes she doesn’t.
Dolmans are really easy because there are no sleeves to sew in since they are part of the body (although there are options to add long sleeves to it). Two seams, a neck band, sleeve hems, and the bottom hem. This pattern is also for knits so you’ll need a ball point needle. Either a size 14 or 11 (The thinner the material the smaller needle number).
I decided to have my daughter make one of these with me – just to show how easy it is. Her least favorite part is pinning and cutting and yes, we’re on the floor…not ideal, but it works in a pinch.
Just to keep things real – she didn’t actually get to sew her shirt. My machine was giving her fits – skipping stitches. It turned out that I was using the wrong size needle and then the needle was bent just the slightest bit. By the time I realized that, she was done. Since I don’t want to force her to sew, I finished up her shirt.
Even though this pattern is free, there are still options! Don’t like the slim fit? You can make it less fitted. Want bat wing style sleeves? You can do that too. The best part is, these are techniques that you can use to alter other patterns you have. There are two neckline options. For my daughter, I did the higher neckline and for mine, I went with the lower neckline – still perfectly modest, just not as high. I tried on the shirt before I put the neckband on and was concerned that the neck was going to be too big. Never fear, once the neckband was on, it fit perfectly!
The dolman pairs perfectly with the Chloe maxi skirt (also free and super easy) from Made for Mermaids (which is what we’re wearing in our matching pictures). I’m sure that at some point in the future, my teenager won’t want to match me, but for now she loves it.
The Hallå Slim Fit Dolman is available for women in sizes 00-26. Join their facebook group to get the code to get it free (read the pinned post).
Another option for a dolman pattern is the Sun Kissed Tee dolman by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop. It is NOT free, however she does have sales on occasion. It’s a simple no frills pattern, but there’s an option to add ruching to the sides which is why I love the pattern! I think the ruching adds a nice touch and it’s really not that hard. There are others with more sleeve and hem options, but for beginners, I really like these two.
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