How to Make Lined Baby Dresses

Have fun dressing your newborn up in a handmade dress.

If you enjoy dressing your little one up, you might try creating your own outfits out of patterned or colorful fabric from the store. Baby clothing is often easier to handle and make than adult clothing because of its smaller dimensions, and making your infant's clothes at home can also be an inexpensive alternative to store-bought brands.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 yard fabric
• Piping
• Bias tape
• 1/4 yard lining fabric
• Well-fitting tank top (for measurement purposes)
• Sheet of paper
• Scissors
• Sheet of paper

Instructions

1. Draw an outline of the tank top on paper.

2. Draw a straight line across the outline under the chest, about 1 1/2 inches below the armholes.

3. Cut the outline of this shortened tank top out. This will be the template for the bodice.

4. Pin the template to the fabric and cut two pieces. Do the same for the lining fabric.

5. Cut two rectangles from the fabric, each 9 inches by 18 inches, for the skirt.

6. Position the two pieces of fabric so the right sides are facing each other and sew along the width, leaving a 1/2-inch in seam.

7. Use a long stitch to sew around the top of the skirt 1/4 inch from the edge.

8. Position the front bodice lining and fabric so the right sides are facing each other and sew along the the top edge, leaving a 1/4 inch seam. Do the same for the back bodice lining and fabric. Turn both inside out.

9. Position both bodice pieces so that the right sides are facing each other and sew the front to the back, leaving the bottom open. Turn right side out.

10. Line the raw edges of the piping and bodice up and sew the piping to the bodice. Turn the bodice inside out again.

11. Turn the skirt inside out and line the top up with the bottom of the bodice. Sew together.

12. Sew bias tape across the bottom edge of the skirt. Turn the dress right side out.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want your baby to grow into the dress, add an extra 1/4 or 1/2 inch to the sides of the bodice or proportionally increase the size of the pattern slightly.

• Experiment with ribbons and pins to make the dress look fancier.

• Wash and dry cotton fabric before cutting it to prevent the dress from shrinking after it is made.

References

• Made by Rae: Itty Bitty Baby Dress