How to Make a Pillowcase Dress

A pillowcase dress is the quickest and most fun of all the dress patterns. In less than half an hour, you can make adorable girls dresses from pillowcases. This is a cool summer dress that even a beginning seamstress can make. So grab your cutest pillowcase, your sewing box and learn how to make this girl's dress.

Things You'll Need

• Pillowcase
• Thread in a complementary color
• 1 yard of rickrack (optional)
• Two 6-inch elastics
• Two 10-inch ribbons

Instructions

1. Wash, starch and iron the pillowcase.

2. Measure the desired length of the dress, beginning at the girl's collarbone. The wide hem of the pillowcase will be the bottom of the dress with this dress pattern. Make a pencil or chalk line on the pillowcase to reflect the desired length plus 1 inch.

3. Mark cutting lines for the armholes, shaped like the letter "J" on the left side of the dress and a backward "J" on the right side of the dress. These should be 3 to 4 inches deep, depending on the size of the child. (This is a sleeveless dress.)

4. Fold and press both sides of the top (neck) part of the pillowcase 1/4 inch from the top and again at 3/4 inches.

5. Stitch along the first fold to make a casing for the elastic; the casing should be like a tunnel.

6. Thread 6 inches of elastic through each casing and secure the ends with a safety pin temporarily. Stitch across the ends of each casing to hold the elastic in place. It will gather and form a neckline.

7. Fold, press and pin the arm holes using the ribbon as binding. The ends of the ribbon will extend past the edges of the armholes to be tied at the shoulders.

8. Sew the seam.

9. Sew a ribbon of rickrack along the bottom seam for a decorative embellishment.

Tips & Warnings

• A lightweight cotton or linen pillowcase makes a great summer dress, and a heavier fleece pillowcase works well for fall.

• Seal the ends of the ribbon with a small stitch or knot so they don't unravel.

• White pillowcases can be sheer, so a slip or bloomers should be worn beneath the dress.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish