How to Make Christmas Dresses
The difference between a Christmas dress and one you would wear on any other occasion is embellishment. This project will be a child's A-line jumper dress that requires no pattern. Of course you can make it large enough for an adult. The embellishment is the Christmas tree with real working lights. You could interchange the front pattern with a pumpkin for Halloween, but the concept will remain the same.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Sewing machine
- Red corduroy fabric, about a yard
- Bias tape that matches
- Thread
- Scissors
- Dressmaker's paper
- 12-inch dress zipper
- Velcro
- Green felt
- Fabric glue
- Miniature craft lights with a battery pack
- Medium-size star-shaped button
- 4-mm beads in assortment of colors
- Beading needle
Instructions
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Draw the Pattern and Make the Dress
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1
Measure your child. You need shoulder to shoulder, neck measure, chest measure, shoulder to armhole, and armhole to finished length of dress.
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2
Use the dressmaker's paper to draw a triangle that is the entire length of your child plus 8 inches, by 24 to 28 inches wide. The base will be the flare of the A-line skirt, and that could be wider depending upon the size of the child. Begin to sketch in the pattern you will use where the shoulder to shoulder measurement fits under the point of the triangular sketch. This will be somewhere between the 6- and 8-inch mark. Draw a line straight across. Make a round neckline where the head will be. Make sure it is deep enough to accommodate the neck measure. Continue down the length of the triangle, and mark the length of the shoulder to armhole drop plus 1 inch for ease. Make the last mark for the edge of the hem and add 2½ inches for hem finish and turn. Add 1 inch for ease to the width of the triangle. This will be your pattern. Make a second one for the layout.
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3
Purchase the material. The length of the pattern by the width of the pattern will be the measure of material and this will be about a yard, unless your child is taller or wider. That may require more yardage. Fold the pattern in half and pin it on the fold of the fabric. This is the front. Fold the second pattern piece in half and pin on the fabric. Cut out the pieces---one front and two back sections.
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4
Seam the two back pieces at the back seam. Mark 12 inches from the neckline down the back. When you sew this area, use a running stitch because it will be easier to rip out when you have installed the zipper. Steam open and insert the zipper following the instructions on the package. Use the scissors or seam ripper to open the zipper seam.
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5
Seam the shoulders, right sides together. Steam open. Pin the bias tape to the outside and seam around the neckline. Turn bias tape to the inside and hand stitch in place. Repeat this process to finish the armholes, but wait to sew the bias tape down. Sew both side seams first, right sides together, and then hand stitch the bias tape in place. Turn the raw edge of the hem inside ¼ inch. Hem the bottom and the jumper is finished.
Embellish the Dress
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6
Draw a simple Christmas tree pattern on the dressmaker's paper and transfer that to the felt. If your child is small, make the tree small enough, but enlarge the tree to fit the general chest area. Make the pattern as simple as a triangle or draw more detail in the shape. Decide where the miniature lights will poke through the material. Make a small cross cut in the fabric where the lights will sit. You don't need to worry about fraying with felt.
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7
Use the beading needle to sew beads all over the Christmas tree. On the back side of the fabric push the lights through the holes and use fabric glue to secure them. Glue the wires down. The on/off control can be glued to the tip of the tree on the inside. It will be easy to access when you want to turn it on.
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8
Use Velcro to attach the tree to the front of the jumper. It can be easily removed for laundering. Finish the project by sewing the star on the top of the tree. Decide whether you want it on the tree or on the jumper. It will help disguise the slight bulge of the battery control. Your child can flick the control on her tree and be the hit of the school party in her embellished holiday dress.
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