How to Make a Sundress From Two Scarves

Make an adorable sundress from brightly patterned silk scarves.

Make a light and breezy sundress for a toddler or young child from some old square silk scarves. The dress is made with just a little bit of simple stitching and ribbon shoulder straps are added to keep the dress in place. Make the dress from two solid-colored silk scarves and embellish the dress with silk flowers or satin ribbon bows, or use brightly patterned scarves for the project for a dress that requires no extra embellishment.

Things You'll Need

• Silk scarves (2)
• Sewing machine (sewing needle)
• Thread
• Large plate
• Chalk
• Scissors
• 3/4-inch-wide ribbon
• Fray stop treatment
• Safety pins (2)

Instructions

1. Lay the scarves with the right sides together. Sew a running stitch along two opposite sides to make the side seams for the dress.

2. Place a large plate over the top of one side seam. Slide the plate so that it covers about 3 inches of the fabric. Draw around the curved edge with a piece of chalk and then cut out the curved shape to make the underarm section of the dress. Repeat at the opposite side of the squares to make the other underarm section.

3. Sew the curved sections of fabric together to refinish the side seams.

4. Fold over an inch of fabric along the top of the dress, above the curved underarms. Sew a running stitch along each fold, nearest to the rough edge of the folded fabric, to make tubes for the ribbon shoulder straps.

5. Cut 36-inch-long pieces of the 3/4-inch-wide ribbon. Seal the ends with fray stop treatment and hook a safety pin onto one end of each ribbon. Slide the safety pins through the tubes above the underarms. Pull the safety pin until there is an even amount of fabric on each side.

6. Turn the dress right side out and tie the ribbon ends in bows to complete the shoulder straps.

References

• "Sewing Clothes Kids Love"; Nancy Langdon and Sabine Pollehn; 2010