Casual Dress Tutorial

I LOVE dresses and this tutorial below is a great dress for relaxing around the house in or running errands.  It's simple to make, doesn't require much material and a generic pattern so you can make quite a few in various fabrics! 

What you’ll need:

• 1.5 metres of fabric
• tape measure
• sewing machine
• coordinating thread
• pattern for bodice

I made the dress in two parts – the top and the skirt.  There is also an optional belt/sash.

The Top

1. The first thing to do is to cut the 2 pieces for the top.   I did this using a pattern I made at home.  I found that I could never cut the pieces for the top using a blouse or dress I already had – maybe I’m too uncoordinated!  I used this fabulous and easy tutorial and made my own pattern block in half an hour!
   
   
   
2. I wanted the neckline for my dress to be a little lower so I folded a dress I already had in half and placed it over my front piece, which was also folded in half, and copied the neckline.  This can be adjusted as you pin the fabric and try it on but its always better to cut a little at first (otherwise disaster and tears may ensue!). 
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Pin the shoulders and the sides of the top to ensure the top fits.
   
4. Fold the necklines of the top pieces twice, press and sew to create the neckline. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Place your necklines together and you will be able to see how the pieces line up. Fold the arm seams twice, like the neckline, for the front piece and sew.  (Tip: I find it easy to fold once, press the fabric and then fold it again - it helps to keep the fabric flat when you are folding.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Once you have completed the front piece, sew the top of the shoulders together. Then lay the front piece on top of back piece and you will be able to see how much you need to hem for the back piece so the arms match each other.  Press all your seams. 
   
   
   
7. Pin the sides with rides sides together and try the top on.  Cut the bottom of the top about 1-2 inches below the waistline.  (Tip: I put the top on and marked where to cut with pins.  Be generous with the amount of space you leave between the waistline and the cutting line, you do not want to cut too much.) 
   
   
   
8. Sew the sides with right sides together.  Here I have tried my top one after I have sewn the sides together and it is a still bit big on the sides so I need to take it in about 0.5inches on each side.  
   
   
   
   The Skirt (Gathered skirt)
9. Measure your waist and the length you want your skirt to be. Measure your skirt from your waistline down.  My waistline is 31 inches and I wanted my skirt to sit just below my knees.  This was 22 inches from my waistline.  Cut 2 rectangles with each rectangle L = 31” and W = 22” (hem allowance and the top of the skirt) 
   
   
   10. With right sides together, sew only one of the sides together so you end up with one long rectangle.
   
   
   
   
   
   11. Fold the bottom of the skirt twice and sew to create the hem.
   
   
   12. At 0.5 inch down from the top, sew a long baste stitch all the way across the top.  Leave a generous amount of thread at both ends and ensure you do not backstitch either ends.
   
   
   
   13. Slowly pull the bobbin thread.  
   
   
   
   14. Pull from both ends until the width of the skirt matches the width of the top.  Tie a knot on both ends.
   
   
   
   15. Turn the top and skirt both inside out and place the top inside the skirt.  Turn the bottom of the top up an inch and pin the skirt to the top. Ensure your stitch is underneath the original baste stitch as shown in the third picture below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Belt (optional)
   16. Cut a strip of fabric with width of 4 to 6inches (depending on how thin or thick you want your belt plus an 0.5inch for seam allowance) and a length of 2.5 times your waist.  My strip was L = 93" and W = 6"
   
   
   17. Fold fabric in half and cut a triangle out of each corner.
   

   

   
   

   

   
   18. With right sides together, stitch along the bottom of the sash and along one of the triangles.
   
   19.  Turn the sash right side out and press.  Topstitch all four sides of the sash close together.   Alternatively you can also use a slipstitch to just close that last open seam.