This tutorial will show you how to take the Nerida Hansen Smock Dress pattern and create a button placket on the front bodice. 

What you’ll need:

• Smock Dress front bodice
• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tape
• Scissors
• Light interfacing
• Buttons
  
   

1. Trace your front bodice pattern piece in the size of your choosing.
   
   
2. Along the original fold edge add 6cm in width. From the original fold edge draw a vertical line at the 2.5cm mark, the 5cm mark and the 5.5cm mark. Label as C, B and A respectively.
   
   
3. Omit the facing pattern piece and create your own bias tape.
4. To create your own, create a pattern piece 2.5cm wide by 80cm in length.
   
   
5. Cut your pattern pieces as indicated on the original instructions with the following changes: Omit the facing pattern pieces, cut 2 of the front bodice (not on the fold) and cut your bias tape out once.
   
6. To prepare the front bodice pieces cut out a strip of light interfacing (2.5cm wide by 30cm length) and iron this to both front bodice pieces in between line A and line B.
   
   
7. Fold along line A with wrong sides together. Press. Fold along line B with the wrong sides together. Press. Fold line B will now be meeting with line C and your raw edge is tucked underneath. Edgestitch.
   
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 for the other front bodice side.
9. Follow the smock dress instructions to attach the front bodice pieces to the back and finish seams.
   
10. Attach the bias to the neckline with right sides facing, and extend the bias by 1.25cm on the front edge and fold back and pin. Pin the remainder of the bias along the neckline edge until you reach the other side. Trim bias if necessary, but still leave 1.25cm extending over the front edge and fold back and pin like at the beginning.
    
    
    
11. Sew the bias down at 1cm seam allowance.
12. Pull the bias up and press. Make sure the seam allowance is being pressed up also. Understitch.
13. Press the bias down 1cm and then again 1cm. Press and pin. Edgestitch close to the folded edge.
    
    
14. Place the wearer’s right front placket over the wearer’s left and pin in place and baste at the bottom.
    
15. Attach the skirt and complete the dress as per the original instructions.
16. Mark buttonholes on the wearer’s right and create button holes.
17. Sew buttons on the wearers left and you’re done!
    
    
    Like the Smock Dress? Then snap it up for yourself as the printed version or PDF.
    
    The Abstract Floral Winter in organic cotton sateen is available in our Print on Demand store on Spoonflower.
    
    Thanks Romy for a super cute hack tutorial. Follow Romy's blog for more sewing inspirations, and keep an eye out for her with us. She'll be popping back in again soon.