How to Line a Sleeveless Dress

The weight or sheerness of a fabric will determine whether or not to line a sleeveless summer or evening dress. Working carefully, you can line a dress even if your pattern did not call for one.

Instructions

1. Not sure what color or weight of fabric to use for the lining? Don't be shy. Ask the store salesperson for help. Place the lining fabric under the dress fabric. Does the lining color contrast with the dress, bring out or hide the pattern? Choose the effect most pleasing to you. Purchase the same amount of fabric as you did for the dress. Directions are for a dress with no collar or sleeves.

2. Cut pattern pieces for your dress and lining fabrics. Cut the bottom of the lining pieces at the dress hem foldline. Sew all darts and construction details on the wrong sides of the dress and lining. Sew the dress and the lining separately. Right sides together, sew dress pieces together at the shoulder seams matching right front to right back, left front to left back. Do the same with the lining. Press seam allowances open.

3. With right sides together, sew the lining to the dress at the neck and armhole edges. Begin and end this stitching 5/8 inch from all edges. Leave the back and side seams open. Notch the seam curves. Grade and trim the seam allowances. Press the seams open.

4. To turn the dress right side out, tuck each back piece of the dress under the shoulder seam and through to the other side. Flip the front of the dress to the back.

5. To sew the sides seams: On the Left side of the dress, pin the side seams of the Dress, right sides together and stitch. Do the same for the lining. Repeat for the opposite side. Press the seam allowances flat and then open and press again.

6. 

   Position the zipper in place on the center back seam. Mark the end of the bottom zipper tab. Working with the dress only, and right sides together, stitch the center back seam from the bottom of the dress to this mark. Baste the remainder of the seam to the top of the dress. Press seam open. Sew the zipper in place.

7. Right sides together, sew the center back seam of the lining from the bottom edge to the bottom of the zipper. Press the remaining seam edges of the lining in to the wrong side a little more than 5/8 inch. Hand stitch this edge to the zipper tape far enough away from the teeth to prevent catching. The dress and the lining should be hemmed separately. For the lining hem, fold edge up 1/4 inch and press. Fold up again, another 1/4 inch and sew hem in place.