How to Make Floral Dresses

Adorn the A-line dress with a row of delicate silk flowers.

Create a lightweight floral dress to keep you cool and in fashion all summer long. The A-line dress is made from two different floral fabrics, one for the skirt and one for the bodice, for a lively contrast in fabric, pattern and color. Make it a short and flirty dress for a day at the beach or a night out with friends, or make it a modest knee-length or mid-calf floral dress for a perfect fashion essential to wear to family events.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing tape measure
• Floral patterned, stretch cotton knit fabric (1/2 yard)
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• 1-inch-wide elastic
• Floral patterned, lightweight cotton fabric (at least 1 1/2 yards)
• Straight pins
• Silk flowers

Instructions

Make the Top of the Dress

1. Measure around the fullest part of your bust and add an inch. Measure from beneath your arm to below your bust and add two inches.

2. Lay the stretch cotton knit fabric on your work surface and cut a rectangle according to the bust measurements.

3. Fold the rectangle in half and sew a running stitch to join the short ends together. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance. The seam line will run down the center of your back.

4. Fold over 1 1/2 inches of fabric at one rough edge and sew a running stitch as far from the fold as possible to make a tube.

5. Measure the circumference just above your bust line and subtract 1/2-inch. Cut the elastic to this length and thread it through the tube. Secure the ends of the elastic to the fabric with a running stitch. Set the upper part of the dress aside for a few moments.

Make the Dress' Skirt

1. Measure the circumference just beneath your bust line and multiply by 2. Measure from just beneath your bust line to mid thigh and add 1 1/2 inches.

2. Lay the lightweight cotton fabric on your work surface and cut a rectangle according to the above measurements. Fold the fabric in half and sew a running stitch to join the sides of the skirt together. The seam line will run down the center of your back.

3. Fold over 1/2-inch at one rough edge and sew a running stitch to make the hem. Fold over 1-inch along the last rough edge and sew a running stitch as far from the fold as possible.

4. Subtract 1 inch from the circumference of your bust line and cut a piece of elastic to this length. Thread it through the tube in the top of the skirt. Secure the ends of the elastic to the fabric with a running stitch.

5. Slide the skirt over top of the unfinished edge of the top of the dress and pin the two pieces together. Sew a running stitch around the two pieces. Pin the silk flowers all the way around the joined section of the skirt and sew to embellish the dress with even more flowers.

References

• "Absolutely A-Line: 1 Easy Pattern = 26 Adorable Dresses for Girls"; Wendi Gratz; 2009
• "Sewing For Dummies"; Janice Saunders Maresh; 2010
• "The Party Dress Book: How to Sew the Best Dress in the Room"; Mary Adams, et al.; 2010