How to Make a Cute Dress

Learn how to make a cute summer dress from a single piece of fabric with this single-seam project.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Material
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Pins
• Marking chalk
• Elastic cord
• Matching gross grain ribbon

Measure, Assemble and Wear

1. Take these measurements: chest across the center of the bust and hips. Measure the length of the dress from bust to the final length. Measure over your shoulder from the back of the dress to the top of the bust.

2. Use your largest measurement plus 4 to 6 inches for ease to determine the amount of the material you must purchase.

3. Sew the seam up the back or along the two side panels if you have used a larger measurement. Make a simple hem at the top and bottom of the garment.

4. Cut 6 to 8 strips of nylon cord the measurement of your full bust plus 2 inches for ease. Turn the garment inside out and mark 8 lines from 1/2 inch under the top hem and 1/2 inch apart. Pin the elastic along each line, easing the fullness evenly. Sew the elastic down with a zigzag stitch.

5. Cut the length of gross grain ribbon into four pieces allowing extra to tie over the shoulders. With the raw edge turned under, sew the ribbon to your dress so that each piece is in line with the center of your bust, both front and back. Finish the other raw edges of the ribbon with a zigzag stitch.

Tips & Warnings

• Extra ideas: This makes a cute swimsuit cover-up if you use terrycloth material. You can add a ruffle to the bottom for a different look. You may use gross grain ribbon attached to the center front and tied around your neck, or eliminate the ribbon and go bare-shouldered.
• If either your bust or your hips are unusually large, adjust the yardage to the largest measurement and then add ease. Material comes in a 45-inch width that will work well for hips under 38 inches if you are using a 5 1/2-inch ease. If your hips are larger or you want more fullness, you can sew a second panel with side seams instead of one back seam.

Resources

• Easy and cute from recycled bath poufs
• Pillowcase dress for children