How to Make Pillow Case Dresses

Do you have a surplus of perfectly usable pillow cases but never run through all of them? Instead of letting them sit in your linen closet collecting dust, why not put them to some practical use by making them into dresses for your little girl? Sewing a pillow case dress is an extremely simple and cheap way to clothe your little girl. In no time at all, you can sew a new wardrobe for your children.

Things You'll Need

• Pillow case
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Sewing machine
• Fabric pencil
• Iron
• Safety pins
• Elastic

Instructions

1. Measure your little girl. Start measuring at the shoulder and stop when it's as long as you want it. You'll need to add 7/8-inch to the length for when you hem the necklines.

2. Decide on a pillow case. It can be a solid color or a pillow case with a print. Using one with an embroidered edge will make an attractive dress or you can embellish the dress yourself instead. Next, iron the pillow case to get all wrinkles out of it.

3. Lay the pillow case flat on a hard surface. Starting at the open end of the case, use a ruler and mark the measurements. Make sure that the open ends are as even as possible so that the dress hangs evenly. Mark a straight line across the top of the measurements and then cut the top off.

4. Fold the pillow case in half. If your child already has a sleeveless dress or shirt that fits comfortably, then it can be used as a pattern for the arm holes. Align the piece of sleeveless clothing with the open edges of the folded pillow case and pin to the case. Trace around the arm holes and then cut. When you open the case back up there should be two matching arm holes.

5. Turn both top edges ¼ -inch towards the inside of the dress and press. Fold the edges down again, this time to ¾-inch and press. Sew with the sewing machine on the bottom of one of the folded edges, from one side to the other. Do the same with the other folded edge, making sure to leave the sides open so that it makes a tunnel.

6. Cut two pieces of elastic at six inches long. Pin a safety pin to the end of one piece of elastic and feed it through a tunnel. This makes the tunnel bunch up so the neckline is stretchy. Secure the other end of the elastic with a safety pin when it comes to the tunnel. Sew both the open ends of the tunnel closed and remove the safety pins, securing both ends of the elastic. Now, do the same with the other tunnel to finish the necklines.

7. Repeat Step 6 for the arm holes. Take a safety pin and secure the end of a 28-inch long ribbon. Thread the ribbon through the arm tunnel. Make sure that both ends of the ribbon are the same length and then sew in the side seam to keep the ribbon in place. Do the same to the other arm tunnel. The ribbons will tie on each shoulder.