The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up Free Sewing Pattern

The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up is the piece you’ll reach for all summer long. Made from a super plush cotton French terry, this easy-to-wear cover up is designed to keep you comfortable before, during, and after every beach day, poolside afternoon, or lakeside getaway. Soft, absorbent, yet still stylish, it’s everything a traditional cover up wishes it could be.

Featuring a sporty quarter-zip neckline, the Reef Cover Up lets you adjust your look depending on the moment. Zip it up for a cozy, laid-back feel or leave it partially open to catch some sun and show off your favorite swimsuit underneath. At the hips, clever zippered pockets connect into a hidden kangaroo pocket, giving you the convenience of secure storage with the comfort of a classic sweatshirt. A delicate lace trim along the hem adds a subtle feminine touch that elevates the design beyond simple beachwear.

The relaxed silhouette makes the Reef Sleeveless Cover Up universally flattering and incredibly versatile. Throw it on over a swimsuit for an effortless cover up, or style it as a casual summer dress for running errands, grabbing lunch, or heading out for a weekend stroll. Looking to customize your version? Try a scuba knit for a sleek, sporty look that feels right at home by the water, or sew it in denim knit for a more structured everyday dress you’ll wear far beyond vacation season.

Whether you’re packing for a tropical getaway or simply making the most of warm weather close to home, the Reef Sleeveless Cover Up is the perfect blend of comfort, function, and chic summer style.

Essential Materials & Sizing Guide for the Reef Sleeveless Cover Up

Continue reading for a breakdown of what knowledge and materials you need for creating your very own sleeveless cover up! We’ve got you covered with the recommended materials we used—if you want to follow along exactly—as well as a curated list of alternative fabric type recommendations if you want to customize your own version. The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up free sewing pattern download includes technical drawings for seam and sleeveless cover up visibility, plus a size chart to help you find your perfect fit!

Purchase Products Used Below:

Quantities indicated are for sewing a size small* sleeveless cover up. Toggle the ‘SHOP THIS LOOK’ box to find quantity estimates for other sizes.

• 2 yards of Heathered Dapple Gray and White Cotton Blend French Terry
• 1.5 yards of Antique White Scalloped Edge Lace Geometric Trimming – 0.5″
• 1 each of Light Gray Metal Closed Bottom Zipper with Silver Teeth – 9″
• 2 each of Light Gray Metal Closed Bottom Zipper with Silver Teeth – 4.5″
• 1 each of Gutermann Sew All Thread 100m – 111 Slate Grey
• MDF535 – Reef Sleeveless Cover Up Sewing Pattern (Free download below!)

Additional Products Used:

• Tailor’s Chalk
• Stitch Witchery Hem Tape

*Quick Tip! The ‘SHOP THIS LOOK’ box defaults to full-yard quantities. To order an exact half-yard quantity for any fabric, simply use the decrease quantity button (-) to subtract by the half yard. Then click “ADD TO CART” to add all materials to your cart. (Our system can only display full-yard quantities initially.)

Alternative Fabric Type Recommendations:

The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up sewing pattern is best suited for medium weight fashion fabrics. Explore other fabric types or colors from our featured collections for your sleeveless cover up with the links below.

• Scuba Knit
• Medium Weight Linen
• Denim

Download Your Free Sewing Pattern

Submit your name and email in the form below to receive the download link for the Reef Sleeveless Cover Up free sewing pattern directly in your inbox. Mood Sewciety Patterns will send your free download link via email with the subject line: ‘Your Free Download from Mood Sewciety – The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up’ (in PDF format for A4 and letter-size printing).

© MoodFabrics.com / MoodSewciety.com – Mass production, resale, or distribution of this pattern in any form is strictly prohibited.

Find Your Perfect Fit

The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up Sizing Guide is based on the suggested design & wearing ease for this style. You can also choose the size according to your desired finished garment measurements, blending between sizes as needed. Measure the printed patterns to make sure the dimensions are according to the desired fitting and adjust if needed before cutting the fabric. For best results, sew a test garment in a similar fabric to adjust your pattern.

Measurements may vary after adjustments. If using non-stretch fabrics, reference the approximate finished garment measurements chart to choose your size.

Note: Always read all the instructions before cutting the fabric!

How to Sew The Reef Sleeveless Cover Up

The instructions provided below are designed to guide you through sewing the Reef Sleeveless Cover Up from start to finish.

3 Tips for Sewing with French Terry

⇒ French terry is stretchier in one direction than the other, so make sure all your pattern pieces are cut on the same grain line with the stretchier direction of the french terry spanning horizontally over your body, not vertically.

⇒ Make sure you press all your seams open really thoroughly because the french terry is really thick and bulky, so pressing your seams will prevent bulk when wearing it.

⇒ Use a microtex needle when sewing through the parts of the pattern where there are 4-6 layers of fabric.

Pattern Pieces & Fabric Cuts Needed

• (A) TOP BACK UPPER
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (B) TOP BACK LOWER
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (C) TOP FRONT UPPER
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (D) TOP FRONT LOWER
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (E) SKIRT BACK
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (F) SKIRT FRONT
  • Fabric – Cut 1 on Fold
• (G) COLLAR
  • Fabric – Cut 2 on Fold
• (H) FRONT POCKET
  • Fabric – Cut 2 on Fold
• (I) HEM BAND BACK
  • Fabric – Cut 1
• (J) HEM BAND FRONT
  • Fabric – Cut 1

Sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance for all seams unless otherwise specified.

Step 1

CONSTRUCT FRONT

1. Layout the front dress pieces right sides up with the front upper piece on top, the front lower piece in the middle,  and the front skirt piece on the bottom.
2. Pin and sew the front dress pieces right sides together.
3. Press the front seams.

Step 2

CONSTRUCT BACK

1. Construct the back in the same manner as the front.
2. Press the back seams open and flat.

Step 3

HEM BAND

1. Lay the front hem band right right sides together on top of the back hem band.
2. Pin and sew the short sides of the hem bands to each other to create one big circle.
3. Press the hem band side seams open and flat.

Step 4

SIDE SEAMS

1. Place the front of the dress right sides together on top of the back with the sides lined up.
2. Pin and sew the front of the cover up to the back of the cover up at the side seams.
3. Press the side seams open and flat.

Step 5

SHOULDER SEAMS

1. Line up the front and back shoulders right sides together.
2. Pin and sew the shoulder seams.
3. Press the shoulder seams open and flat.

Step 6 

SLEEVES

1. Press a ½ inch hem into the armscyes.
2. Pin the armscye hem into place.
3. Topstitch over the folded armscye with a ⅜ inch seam allowance.
4. Repeat for both armscyes.

Step 7

ATTACH HEM BAND

1. Place the hem band right sides together around the hem of the cover up.
2. Pin around the bottom hem of the dress.
3. Sew the hem band to the skirt.
4. Flip the hem band down and press the seam open.

Step 8

COLLAR

1. Place the two collar pieces right sides together and pin the upper curved edge as shown in the photo below.
2. Sew the tops of the collars together.
3. Press the collar seam open and flat, then fold the collar wrong sides together and press the seam folded.
4. If you haven’t already, cut the slit in the center front neckline of the coverup that is as long as the teeth on your zipper.

Step 9

ATTACH COLLAR

1. Pin one of the raw edges of the collar right sides together to the neckline of the cover up.
2. Sew the collar to the neckline.
3. Gently press the seam allowance between the collar and the neckline towards the collar and away from the neckline.

Step 10

CENTER FRONT ZIPPER

1. Pin the zipper right sides together with one of the sides of the center front slit as shown in the photo below. Make sure the top of the zipper is lined up with the seam at the top of the collar, NOT the raw edge of the inner collar piece.
2. Sew the zipper tape to the center front neckline.
3. Flip the zipper so that the other side of the zipper tape is right sides together with the other side of the neckline slit.
4. Pin and sew the other side of the zipper tape right sides together with the other side of the neckline slit.

Step 11

FINISH COLLAR

1. Fold the inner collar piece so that it is right sides together with the outer layer of the collar.
2. Pin the short edges of the collar pieces to each other with the zipper tape sandwiched between them, as shown in the photo below.
3. Fold the long raw edge of the inner collar wrong sides together with a ½ inch fold (we’re doing this now so that all the raw edges are hidden for the next step).
4. Sew the the short edges of the collar pieces right slides together, making sure you caught the zipper tape.
5. Clip the corners of the collar and then flip it right sides out and wrong sides together.
6. Pin the  folded edge of the inner collar to the seam between the outer collar and the neckline.
7. Sew a stitch in the ditch between the collar and the neckline from the right side of the cover up.
8. Topstitch around the zipper.

Step 12

LACE TRIM

1. Press a 1 inch hem into the bottom of the skirt.
2. Press stitch witchery fusible hem tape into the hem of the skirt (or hem it with a ⅞ inch seam allowance.
3. Pin the lace trim around the hemmed edge of the skirt.
4. Sew the lace trim to the skirt with a ⅛ inch seam allowance.

Step 13

TOPSTITCHING

1. Topstitch above and below the seam between the front top and front bottom pieces.
2. Topstitch above and below the seam between the back top and back bottom pieces.
3. Topstitch the top of the collar.

Step 14

MARK POCKETS

1. Using the markings on the paper pattern, mark the locations of the zipper pockets on the front skirt. Make sure you only make the markings as long as the zipper teeth of the zipper you’re using for this pocket.
2. Cut out a slit along the pockets as shown in the photo below.

Step 15

POCKET ZIPPERS

1. Pin and sew the zipper right sides together with the inner edge of the pocket slit.
2. Do this for both zipper pockets.

Step 16

INNER POCKET BAG

1. Place the inner pocket bag right sides together on top of the zipper you just sewed.
2. Pin and sew the inner pocket bag directly on top of the zipper you just sewed.
3. Flip the pocket bag to the inside of the cover up dress.
4. Pin the other side of the pocket bag to the other pocket directly on top of the zipper. This step is a little tricky because you have to manipulate the fabric to pin it from the inside of the cover up dress.
5. Sew the inner pocket bag to the opposite zipper.
6. Sew the opposite side of zipper tape on each of the zippers right sides together to the opposite side of the pocket slit on both sides of the skirt.

Step 17

OUTER POCKET BAG

1. Place the outer pocket bag right sides together on the inner pocket bag.
2. Pin the pocket bags together around every edge except for around the zippers. When you get to the zippers, make sure you only pin the outer pocket bag to the outer edge of the zipper tape.
3. Pin the tops of both pocket bags to the seam allowance between the cover up top and cover up skirt.
4. Sew each of the pinned sections one by one, making sure no seams are showing from the outside of the coverup.

Step 18

TOPSTITCH POCKETS

1. Fold the triangular pieces of the pocket slits toward the inside of the skirt to hide their raw edges.
2. Topstitch around the zipper, making sure not to sew the pocket shut in the process.
3. Repeat for both pockets.

Sewing Success: The Finished Reef Sleeveless Cover Up

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