Pillow Case Dress Instructions

Pretty pillowcases can easily be turned into unique and special dresses.

Pillowcase dresses are simple to make because the body and hem of the dress are already done for you. These dresses can be any size you wish, from a long tunic shirt to ankle-length dresses. Generally, these dresses hit a child mid-calf. Pick a pretty floral pillowcase for a spring dress, or use a solid color in jersey material for a comfy shirt. Ribbon ties finish off the dress at the top; pick a matching or complementary color pop the garment near the facial area.

Things You'll Need

• Pillowcase
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Measure your child from the shoulder down to the desired dress length. This can be the hips, knees, mid-calf or ankles. Add 1 1/2 inches to your measurement; this allows for the ribbon casing around the neck.

2. Lay the pillowcase flat on a table and measure, using the dimensions from Step 1, the length from the open end of the pillowcase. Cut off the remaining sewn end. You should now have a pillowcase with two open ends, the length you measured for your child.

3. Fold the pillowcase in half lengthwise. Cut a "J" shape at the cut edge, not the folded side, going down. You are cutting through four layers of fabric at this point. This creates the armholes of the dress. Unfold the material, so lays flat once more.

4. Fold down the cut end of the pillowcase 1/2-inch. Iron it flat and sew it down to create a smooth finish. Sew around the entire top of the dress, armholes front and back.

5. Fold down the fabric again, along the front and back. Do not fold down around the arm holes. This fold should be 1 inch, to account for the ribbon. Iron the fabric flat and sew it down securely, keeping the ends open so you can thread the ribbon through.

6. Cut two pieces of ribbon, each 1 yard long. Thread one through the front and one through the back casing on the neck. The ribbon should be in the middle of the casing, with equal amounts showing.

7. Sew a few stitches in the middle of the casing to ensure the ribbon does not get pulled out of the dress. You can do this with the machine or by hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of making a ribbon casing, you can sew binding around the top edges and simply tie the binding at the shoulders.

References

• Everything Sewing: Pillowcase Dress How-To
• One Hip Mom: Do It Yourself Pillowcase Dress Instructions
• Freshly Picked: Pillowcase Dress Tutorial
• Bumblebee Linens: Making a Dress out of a Pillowcase