How to Make a Terry Dress Cover Up

Sew a stylish spa cover up using a bath towel.

Whether you are enjoying a day at the beach or stepping out of a hot shower, terry cloth cover ups provide modesty while still being comfortable. You can make a terry dress cover up that is custom fit to your body using a common towel. This simple strapless spa-like dress will take you from the laid back ease of the beach to lunch in a public cafe without having to take the time to change your swim clothes.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Terry cloth towel
• 2-inch wide eyelet ruffle, amount determined by width of towel
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• 1 1/2-inch wide elastic, amount determined by your measurements
• Large safety pin
• 1-inch wide hook and loop tape, 4 inches

Instructions

1. Measure around your body at the bust and multiply this measurement one and a half times. Your towel will need to be at least this long to accommodate an overlap around your body and an elastic gathered top edge.

2. Lay your towel on your work surface with the length running horizontal. The side facing up will be the outside of the dress. Measure from the top edge to the bottom edge and add 2 inches. Cut a length of 2-inch wide eyelet ruffle using this measurement.

3. Lay the ruffle along the left short edge of the towel, matching the straight edge of the ruffle with the edge of the towel. The ruffle will be laying on the towel, facing toward the right. Adjust the ruffle ends with an inch protruding off the top and bottom edges. Pin the straight edge of the ruffle to the towel. Sew the pinned ruffle using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Fold the ruffle to the left and press.

4. Turn the towel over with the inside of the dress facing up. Fold the protruding ends of the ruffle to the inside of the towel. Fold the sewn ruffle seam to the inside of the towel. Press the fold and pin. Sew along the pinned edge. This creates a hem and secures the ruffle ends. The ruffled edge will be the overlapping edge on the dress front.

5. Lay the towel dress horizontal with the inside facing up and the ruffle edge on the right. Fold the top edge down 3 inches, press and pin. Stitch the pinned edge creating a casing.

6. Measure around your body just above your bust and add 6 inches. Cut a length of 1 1/2-inch wide elastic using this measurement. Attach a large safety pin to one end of the elastic. Using the safety pin as a guide, thread the elastic through the casing. Remove the safety pin. Pin each end of the elastic at each open end of the casing. Stitch over the ends of the casing to secure the elastic.

7. Cut a 4-inch length of 1-inch wide hook and loop tape. Pull the two halves apart. Lay out the towel with the inside up. Place the fuzzy half of the hook and loop tape horizontal along the top casing edge of the dress on the end with the ruffle. Pin the tape and zigzag stitch along each edge of the tape to attach. Wrap the terry dress cover up around your body, overlapping with the ruffle side on top. Place the bristle side of the tape between the overlap where the fuzzy tape is sewn. Pin the bristle hook and loop half to the casing edge that is overlapped. Zigzag the edges to attach.

Tips & Warnings

• Large bath towels, beach towels or terry bath sheets are options for graduating sizes of material.