This dress is so simple to make. Initially my plan was to make Hattie a maxi dress, but realized that a maxi dress + her rough n tumble life = hot mess. Instead I went with a mid calf dress which allowed her to climb trees, swing + ride her bike without incident.
Belted or full, this dress is just perfect for spring or summer. The dress is so simple + can be made in about an hour – promise.
Additionally this tutorial is designed for seamstresses without sergers. If you have a serger, then modify away!
Click here for the full tutorial after the jump!
Materials needed:
1- 2 yards fabric
45 inches of cut 2-inch strip
Tools that are helpful for this project:
Sharp scissors
Safety pin
Measuring tape
Sharp scissors
Safety pin
Measuring tape
Hot Iron
Sewing Machine
Start by measuring your child shoulder to the calf or mid-knee or wherever you want the dress to fall to. To make faster cuts use a machine linked here.
If you’re not sure if Cricut or Silhouette is the better choice take a look at the Cricut vs silhouette comparison page.
Add two inches + cut the length. For the width of the dress, I used the width of my yard, only cutting the length.
Cut your armholes. I used a triangular cut about 5x 4 inches.
Press + hem your armhole seams.
Press the edge down 1/4 inch.
Then turn + press another 1/4 of an inch.
Stitch right along the edge of your pressed hem.
This is where I stitched up the side of the dress. I used a french seam, but you can certainly used a straight stitch with a zig zag if you like.
Press and sew the top + bottom of the dress similar to how you did the arms holes. Or you can pick one of the following if you read these extra resource.
For both the top I used a larger hem, to make the casing. I pressed down 1/2 inch.
Turn + press a full inch. Stitch right along the edge.
Do the same for the bottom hem.
The top of your dress should look like this.
At this point, you could thread a ribbon through the casing + be done. I choose to make some non-bias bias tape.
If this tape was cut on the bias, it would be true bias tape. How I make my non-bias tape or bias tape.
1. Cut the 2-inch strip.
2. Iron in half.
3. Open.
4. Iron one edge into the middle.
5. Iron other edges into the middle.
6. Iron in half again.
I stitch right along the edge.
I then use zig zag on the bottom at a diagonal.
Thread your tape through the casing.
The knot or bow will be on the shoulder or put it in the back or front.
Last Updated on December 1, 2020 by Emily
