How to Sew a Pillowcase Dress

Little girls love dresses, and one of the easiest summertime dresses to sew uses something that comes directly from your linen closet--a pillowcase. Even better, you can make this dress without the hassle of using a pattern. Read on to learn how to sew a pillowcase dress.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pillowcase
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Fabric pen
• Bias tape
• Sewing machine
• 2 yards ribbon

1. Take a clean pillowcase and fold it in half lengthwise so the side seams meet. Press flat with a warm iron.

2. Measure your child from her shoulder to where you want the dress to fall. Using those measurements, start at the closed end of the pillowcase and measure to the open end. Cut across the fabric in a straight line.

3. Open the pillowcase, and cut a hook-shaped armhole on each of the sides, starting at the top of the fabric. The size of the armhole will vary depending on the size of your child, 1.5 inches to 2 inches measured in from each side, and 3 inches to 4 inches curved down.

4. Use store-bought bias tape to hem the armhole seams.

5. Sew a casing on the front and back of the top of the pillowcase using the bias tape.

6. Thread a ribbon through each casing, making sure that they are of equal length. The ribbon is what cinches the dress at the top once it is tied over the shoulder and adjusted.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you learn the basic method for sewing a pillowcase dress, you can be creative with how it is finished. For example, embellish the dress by adding lace at the hem. Instead of using ribbons to secure the dress, create fabric straps instead.
• Shop your local thrift store for vintage and embroidered pillowcases.
• You can adjust a pillowcase dress for older girls as well, by simply cutting a bigger armhole and adding fabric to the hem. The nice thing about sizing a pillowcase dress is that it doesn't have to be precise.

Resources

• Pillowcase Dress Patterns