The Darling Ranges dress is a modern take on the shirt dress, with a v-neck opening and buttons down the front. The bodice is gently fitted at the shoulders and bust but with plenty of ease around the waist and hips, making it ideal for hot, sunny days.
This is a pattern with lots of options, and lots of scope for customisation! Darling Ranges comes with two dress views and a cute blouse option. The dresses both have the option to add ties or a belt, meaning you can easily adjust the shaping to suit your preference.
There’s three sleeve types included - short, 3/4 and elasticated - but we’ve given you ideas for more! In her top tips video, Lauren demonstrates how to add more volume to the elasticated sleeve hem, as we did for Belle’s Goddess Power version. She also shows you how to draft a bound sleeve cut-out and tie, as shown on her pink Ariadne dress.
As well as being fun and comfy to wear, the Darling Ranges dress is also practical! Both views have roomy side seam pockets for storing your essentials.
And can we talk about the fabric?! Our much-anticipated Goddess Collection is just what your summer wardrobe needs - bold prints on our beloved viscose linen base. With five sun-drenched designs to choose from you might find it difficult to only pick one!
There is enough fabric in this kit to make any view of this pattern. This listing is for the 0-20 size kit, the 14-30 kit listing can be found here.
This kit is available in all five designs of our Goddess Collection: Goddess Power, Bougainvillea Island, Delphi Tiles, pink Ariadne and blue Ariadne.
The g&g exclusive 'Goddess Collection' is inspired by hot days with the brightest of sunshine to give you that gorgeous summer feeling that makes you smile and relax. They contain icons from Greek Mythology, with Goddesses whose power reflects the power you feel when you can sew your own clothes, choose your own style and feel confident and proud in what you wear.
These five fabric designs draw deep inspiration from Greek mythology and the natural beauty of the Mediterranean, blending symbolic storytelling with vibrant visuals.
Goddess Power celebrates feminine strength through an array of goddess symbols - spot Selene’s moon, Aphrodite’s doves and Athena’s owl - all tied together with wave-like motifs inspired by Amphitrite’s hair. The Delphi Tiles print brings myth and culture together in a hand painted tile grid featuring 11 iconic symbols from Greek goddesses and daily life. Bougainvillea Island captures the idyllic charm of sun-drenched Greek islands, with vivid depictions of blue seas, wooden sail boats and blooming flowers. And the Ariadne design features a maze-like pattern which evokes the mythical labyrinth which Ariadne helped Theseus escape from, fittingly with a ball of thread.
All the prints are on our new off-white viscose linen base, which is 51% viscose, 36% linen and 13% cotton. This fabric is ideal for summer; breathable and drapey with that lovely slubby linen texture.
To see the fabrics close up check out the video in the main gallery above.
The pattern in this kit is in sizes 0-20 (B cup):
Bust: 32 - 46” (81 - 117cm)
Waist: 24 - 38” (61 - 97cm)
Hip: 34 - 48” (86 - 122cm)
This kit is also available in Megan Nielsen's 14-30 (D Cup) size range, which you can find here. If you are unsure about what dressmakers cup size you are, please check out this article and note that it is different to what bra size you might wear.
If you'd like to see how the Darling Ranges looks on many different bodies, check out the Instagram hashtag, here. The full size chart, including finished measurements, can be viewed in the gallery above.
- The PDF digital files for the Darling Ranges Dress & Top by Megan Nielsen. The link to the PDF instruction booklet and information on how to access your PDF files for sizes 0-20 are available to access when logged into the g&g website
- A0 print out of the Darling Ranges Dress & Top. Sizes 0-20 are included on the print out.
- Main fabric: as described above. All kits contain 3.1m of fabric (3.4 yards)
- Interfacing: 10cm, white ultra soft lightweight interfacing.
- Forming tape: 1.1m of Forming Tape Interfacing, white
- Elastic: 80cm of 6mm wide elastic, white
- Buttons: 9 x 15mm corozo buttons in natural (Goddess, Bougainvillea Island & Delphi), pink (Pink Ariadne) or blue (Blue Ariadne)
- Thread: 1 reel of Gutermann sew all thread, shade 1
- Sewing Machine Needles: Size 80 needles
- Label: Exclusive Goddess Collection sew in woven label, 1 of 4 designs
- Video: access to Lauren’s top tips video, as described below
A physical print out of the instruction booklet will NOT be included. You can view the instruction booklet on your device at home, print it out at home, or add the 'printed pattern instructions' product (see link below) to your order and we will print it for you.
Alongside the purchase of this kit you will receive access to Lauren’s exclusive YouTube videos to be used alongside the pattern instructions.
She shares her hints and tips on getting a really lovely finish on your garment including how to use forming tape, how to bind a neckline, how to pattern match the Delphi print, how to draft a gathered sleeve with a cut out and tie, an alternative method for sewing the belt and much more!
The two videos have over an hour of footage, sectioned out with time stamps/chapters for easy reference and navigation.
The link to the video will be contained in your order confirmation email along with the pdf files, please file this safely for future reference.
Megan Nielsen rates this pattern 3 / 5, however the blouse or view C dress would also be suitable for an advanced beginner.
Techniques include sewing binding, setting in sleeves, sewing buttonholes and sewing a gathered skirt (for view A).
To complete this project successfully you'll need a regular sewing machine along with Lauren's essential recommended sewing tools.
You can see some of the tools most used by Lauren in her top tips video in the Related Products section below.
If you would like a printed copy of the instructions sent out with your kit, in addition to the PDF copy that you will receive, please see the related products below and add it to your cart as a separate product.
Your kit will be wrapped in tissue and beautifully presented in recyclable packaging.
This kit is available for immediate dispatch.
As Sewing Society kits are processed and shipped from a different location to the shop, we are unable to group together kit orders with past or subsequent orders or combine orders retrospectively. Please click here for the full g&g Sewing Society shipping terms.
