From the Victoria and Albert Museum:
Exclusive to the V&A, this free, downloadable sewing pattern shows you how to recreate an original Mary Quant design from 1962: the bold and beautiful 'Georgie' dress. This stylish pleated dress has a classic mid-century elegance, with a wrap-over front bodice, three-quarter-length sleeves and wide sashed-belt finished with a bow. The pattern and instructions have been created for us by Alice & Co Patterns, based on the original 'Georgie' dress designed by Mary Quant, in the V&A collection.
DESIGN - The 'Georgie' dress has a fully lined faux wrap-over front bodice edged with a self-fabric frill, three-quarter sleeves also with a frill, and a full unpressed pleated skirt. It is finished with a wide sash belt. Quant's original 'Georgie' dress was made in a statement striped cotton inspired by hard-wearing utility fabrics, like those used for traditional butchers' aprons, with a playful mixing of the direction of the stripes.
FIT - Close-fitting through the bodice with bust and waist darts – the original only had bust darts but we've added some at the waist to work over a wider size range and give extra opportunity to tweak the fit.VARIATIONS - Use a ribbon or lace frill instead of making your own, or omit them all together for a simpler look. Gather the skirt rather than pleat for a softer feel (or if you you hate making pleats!). Alter the length of the skirt, sleeves and belt to suit your size and fabric.
LEVEL - Intermediate/Confident Beginner – it's all about keeping your under and over wraps in order, learning how a lining can make a very neat finish on the inside and getting to grips with a bit of pleating. Never worked with pleats before? These step-by-step instructions will guide you through the full process – there's even a nifty technique to create pleats using a household fork! Plus, you'll set in sleeves and make self-fabric frills.
RECOMMENDED FABRICS - Quant's original 'Georgie' dress was made in a statement striped cotton inspired by hard-wearing utility fabrics, like those used in traditional butchers' aprons. The navy version in our collection was purchased in 1962 by 19-year-old Sarah Robinson from Truro, Cornwall (south-west England), who described it as a "happy, fun dress to wear, and beautifully made". It retailed at 12 and a half guineas, (about £264 today). The corresponding fashion drawing shows that a very similar style, 'Rosie', was also available, in a more formal silk chiffon lined with taffeta, in black, pink or jade.
SIZES - UK 6-16 and 18-22