The Elma Dress Sewing Pattern Review – Me & Kiddo Patterns

The Elma Dress Sewing Pattern by Me & Kiddo Patterns is the perfect beginner-friendly dress to wear all year long. I made my own version, and in this blog post, I’ll share my thoughts on the pattern and instructions, the fabric I used, and the modifications I made.

Some of the links in this blog post contain affiliate links that help support Wool Wren Studio at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

This pattern was kindly gifted to me, but all opinions are my own.

Pattern Overview

The Elma Dress sewing pattern by Me & Kiddo Patterns is a beginner-friendly tie-strap dress and top pattern that’s perfect for creating a flowy garment for warmer months. If you’re looking for an easy sewing project that works well with natural fabrics, this pattern is a great place to start.

The pattern is available as a printable, layered PDF sewing pattern, with multiple printing options:

• A4
• US Letter
• Copyshop / A0

It also offers an inclusive size range, with sizes from XS to 4XL, making it accessible for many body types. The Elma Dress pattern is available for purchase through Me & Kiddo Patterns’ Etsy shop and currently retails for $15.95 USD.

This sewing pattern includes three views:

• A two-panel skirt (the version I chose)
• A single-panel skirt
• A top variation

The Elma Dress is designed for light- to medium-weight fabrics, making it ideal for sewing with:

• Cotton
• Linen
• Woven Blends

Thanks to its adjustable tie straps and lightly gathered skirt, the Elma Dress offers a comfortable, customizable fit. While it’s an excellent choice for summer sewing, it can easily be adapted for year-round wear with thoughtful fabric choices and layering.

Why I Chose This Pattern

One of the most worn garments in my wardrobe was a dress I bought around 2015. I bought this blue polyester dress at Kohl’s and wore it to brunches, on a holiday in Bretagne, France, when I was an au pair, and during many hot summer days here in Canada. The straps were starting to fray, and the neckline had become a little too immodest for my current taste. I knew that I wanted to replace it with a natural fiber fabric since it was a dress I reached for often.

When Satu of Me & Kiddo started to tease this design on Instagram, I knew it would be the pattern to replace my beloved navy blue strap dress. I loved the comfortable design, and I knew the tie straps would be customizable for many seasons of life.

photo credit: Me & Kiddo Patterns

Fabric & Materials

For this particular Elma Dress, I decided to go with this gorgeous navy floral linen from The Linen Lab. I was eager to use a printed fabric, as this is what the original polyester dress looked like.

This lightweight (133 g/sqm) linen is prewashed, lending it a soft and drapey feel, perfect for dresses and flowy blouses. It has a length of 51 inches, which allows you to use it for many garments. It’s a simple, yet elegant print that would look incredible in so many instances.

Linen is notorious for being a little finicky when sewing. This fabric did move around and warp a bit, but I found the use of extra pins and Wonderclips helped keep things in place. The lightweight nature of the fabric made it easy to sew the binding and ties. I was able to use a universal needle without any issues on my machine. I would recommend this fabric for any confident beginner sewist.

Notions for the Elma Dress

Some of my tried and true notions.

Sizing, Fit & Modifications

This is the first Me & Kiddo garment sewing pattern I’ve sewn (though I’ve made many of her home décor sewing patterns and loved them). Based on my body measurements, I chose to sew a size S.

Sizing & Fit

• Sewn size: Small (S)
• Size chosen based on my actual measurements, not ready-to-wear sizing
• I wanted to add a couple of adjustments to the length of certain pieces

Modifications I Made

I made several simple pattern modifications to better suit the type of dress I was looking for:

• Stay-stitched the armholes to prevent stretching while sewing
  • Linen tends to stretch during construction, so this helped maintain shape
• Shortened the bodice by 2 inches
  • Inspired by modifications shared by Bethany Lynne Makes
  • The original bodice looked like it would be slightly long for my torso
• Adjusted the skirt tiers to keep a midi length
  • Shortened the first tier by 2 cm
  • Added 2 inches to the bottom tier

Strap & Tie Adjustment

The original pattern has the ties finished at the underarm, but I chose to modify this detail:

• Finished the ties so they tie at the shoulders instead
• I love the feminine detail of featuring the ties at my shoulders
• Allows me to control how modest or open the armholes feel

This tie-strap adjustment also makes the Elma Dress incredibly versatile. I can easily wear it:

• Over a long-sleeve cotton t-shirt
• Under hand-knit sweaters during cooler months

Overall, these small changes helped customize the dress I was envisioning while still keeping the Elma Dress a beginner-friendly sewing project that works beautifully in linen, cotton, and other natural fabrics.

The fit of this dress is one of my favorites, and the pattern lends well to a beautiful drape for light to midweight fabrics like linen and cotton. I’d love to make another version in something like this lightweight gingham fabric.

Instructions & Pattern Quality

I have sewn up a couple of Me & Kiddo‘s patterns and am always impressed by the instructions and pattern. They are approachable for any level sewist. The instructions are clear and detailed. There is a lot of useful information about how to print out the pattern, which fabric to choose, how to make modifications, and measurments for the skirt if you wish to go paperless.

The instruction booklet (a downloadable PDF) includes a clickable table of contents, all the garment views, a little about Me & Kiddo, and more information about the pattern. There is a size chart so you can sew the perfect size for yourself, and a glossary with terms used throughout the instructions.

The color-coded illustrations make it easy for beginners to sew both dress views and the top. Each page features a “wrong side” and “right side” key. There are internal links for quick video tutorials and skipping steps if they don’t apply to the view you’re working on.

Sewing Experience

This project was a dream to sew. It only took me a weekend to make, which I love. While the bodice tie channels were intimidating at first, the instructions were easy to read and left me feeling confident. I was able to wear it right off the sewing machine (and I did for a couple of days after…. 😅).

There weren’t any new skills I used while making this, although I hadn’t made tie channels the way the pattern calls for before, and I found it to be really enjoyable.

Finished Project Review

I love my blue Elma dress. I wear it regularly all year long. The slightly oversized design is incredibly comfortable, and the soft linen fabric is breathable, yet warm. I used my serger for this project, so I know that this dress will last for years to come.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

I would love to make the top or another midi-length version of the Elma. I would also choose to make a size small again, but I think I would add a couple more inches to each tier, as I love ankle-length dresses. I think a classic soft organic cotton as a top would be perfect to wear with any skirt in the hot months of summer. The Elma Dress would also look wonderful in a block print Indian cotton or a mustard cotton gingham.

Some of the edges on my tie channels are fraying, so I would be more conscious about capturing all the raw edges in my next version. But the overall structure of my dress is holding up well, perfect for everyday wear.

Who is This Pattern Best For?

If you’re a beginner sewist looking for a quick project that is sure to become a wardrobe staple, the Elma Dress pattern is perfect for you. While you may learn a couple of new techniques, your hand will be held through the entire process, and you’ll finish a project you can wear any time of year.

Natural fibers suit this pattern well as the design lends nicely to light to midweight woven fabrics such as 100% cotton, linen, and woven fiber blends.

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend this pattern?

• Yes! It’s a beginner-friendly pattern and a very approachable pattern that I could see myself making again.

Can the Elma Dress be worn year-round and in many situations?

• Absolutely. I wear it with a tee or long sleeve underneath for a more modest or warmer look, under a sweater or cardigan, or by itself.

Is the Elma Dress a good pattern for a handmade capsule wardrobe?

• It is! With its 3 views, including a top, it’s the perfect staple for hot summer months or cooler winter days.

Is the Elma Dress and Top Pattern worth the price?

• Yes! I think it’s an affordable price point and offers a lot of value for any home sewist.

Overall, I was very pleased with the process of sewing and now wearing the Elma Dress. It’s become an instant wardrobe staple that I can’t wait to wear for so many occasions in life.

📌 Save the Elma Dress Sewing Pattern to your Pinterest board for later.

Have you sewn the Elma Dress and Top Pattern yet? Let us know in the comments.