Ashton Hack: Butterfly Sleeve Dress

You knew this was coming, right? Since the release of the Ashton Sleeve Expansion Pack, I have been itching to share some more Ashton hacks (this time with sleeves)!

Ashton Top Butterfly Sleeve Dress Hack in Leopard Print Tencel Twill
Ashton Sleeves Expansion Pack, butterfly sleeves.
The Ashton Butterfly Sleeve Expansion

This hack is very simple - lengthen the Ashton Top to a dress and add a little optional waist tie. I used a leopard print Tencel from Blackbird Fabrics and I looooooove this dress. It feels so chic and cool while still being super comfy and easy to style.

Ashton Top Butterfly Sleeve Dress Hack in Leopard Print Tencel Twill
Ashton Top Butterfly Sleeve Dress Hack in Leopard Print Tencel Twill

How to lengthen the Ashton Top:

All you need to do is extend the sides of the Ashton pattern all the way down to where you want your dress to end. I added 22" to mine.

Technical illustration to demonstrate how to extend the side and center seams to create a dress from the Ashton top pattern.

Before you cut your fabric - make sure the dress is going to fit over your hips! Measure the pattern around the hip area and times those measurements by 2. Subtract 2.5" for the 4 seam allowances and you have your finished hip measurement. If that is smaller than or close to your hip measurement, you may want to make the dress more a-line in shape. See below.

Technical illustration to demonstrate how to extend the side seams in an A-line shape to create more room in the hips.

You will also need to adjust your hem facings. Make sure that they are the same width as the new hem on your dress.

Technical illustration to demonstrate how to trace a new dress hem using the original hem facings.
Technical illustration to demonstrate how to extend the hem facings.

I used the butterfly sleeve of the Ashton Sleeve Expansion Pack for this look and I love the gentle drape of the fabric off the shoulder and the swish when I move around.

Close up of the Ashton butterfly sleeves, sewn in tencel twill.
Ashton Top Butterfly Sleeve Dress Hack in Leopard Print Tencel Twill
Helen models her Ashton dress hack with her hands on her hips.

I also sewed a waist tie to cinch this dress in, but that is totally optional! I didn't sew belt loops or anything fancy, just a separate tie piece that you can optionally wear.

For this butterfly sleeve dress, I sewed a simple belt in self fabric to cinch in the waist.

I think this little dress is a winner. I may not have anywhere to wear it just yet - but I'm going to be ready when I do!

This Ashton dress hack is an easy way to dress up a tried and true sewing pattern!
Ashton Dress hack in leopard print tencel twill, shown seated.

I want to wish you Happy Holidays! We are going to be taking some time off over the next week or so and cozying up with a good book by the Christmas Tree. I hope you and yours are safe and well and I look forward to continuing our sewing adventures in the new year!

-Helen

Do you have feedback or questions about this blog post? Please reach out to us at support@helensclosetpatterns.com. We would love to hear from you!

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