Summer Dress Tutorial

This is the first dress I ever made – I know its not perfect but it fits (yay!) and it also looks okay (double yay!!) 

What you’ll need:

•  2 metres of fabric
• tape measure
• sewing machine
• elastic
• pencil
• coordinating thread
• patterns for bodice and pocket (you can make your own!)

I bought 2 metres of this striped fabric for Rs. 600 which is about $5. Initially I was going to use it to make a skirt for my sister but I thought the fabric and the print would be perfect for a summer dress.

 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. Fold the fabric over twice, iron and sew necklines of both pieces.

   3. Pin down both sides of the pieces to ensure the top fits. 

   This will give you an outline of how the top fits on the sides and across the shoulders and    neckline. 

4. Align your two pieces and make sure the neck line matches and stitch the shoulder seams.  Then, like your neckline – fold the fabric over twice to sew the arm seams. 

5.  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.) 
Sew the sides together, right sides together.  (Keep in mind I used a fabric with some stretch in it so I didn’t need to add a zipper.) 

6. If your top is a bit “boxy”, you may need to add darts in order to make your top more fitted to your shape.  Here is a good tutorial which might help you with darts for your top.

 The Skirt

 7. 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.

 I cut 2 rectangles with each rectangle L = 31” and W = 24” (hem allowance and the top of the skirt)

8. Cut out four pocket pieces.  I have included a picture of my pattern which I just drew in like a minute!

 9. Pin the pocket pieces to the four edges of the rectangles, 3.5inches down from the  top.  Sew the four pocket pieces into place.

10.  Get the two sides, right sides together, and sew the edges together ensuring you sew around the pocket.  (See where the pins are placed in the image)

      11. Fold the bottom of your skirt twice and sew to create the hem.

12.  The next step is attaching the skirt to the elastic.  Here I have used a 1inch elastic but it is probably better to use a 0.5inch elastic.  Sew the sides of the elastic together.  I divided my elastic into sections so I knew how much material I needed to allocate for each section. 

   13. Pin skirt to the elastic.  

   14. 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 the stitch is below the one that you used to attach the skirt to the elastic. 

      15.  Press all the seams.