Just thought I’d give a quick how-to on Keadryn’s patriotic dress (you know, in case you’re looking for an opportunity to be knee deep in red seersucker before the Fourth of July). It was super simple to make!
To make one you’ll need:
-a yard of the main fabric
-a 36″x4″ strip of coordinating fabric
-a template sleeveless dress to trace
Trace a sleeveless dress that fits. If the collar is puckered, stretch it out to trace. Leave 1/2″ on all sides to account for seams and cut out two copies (one for the front, one for the back).
Double roll and press the four arm holes. Sew in place.
Double roll and iron the hem. Don’t sew yet.
Pin and sew up each edge (make sure you line up the arm holes so that they match. It doesn’t matter if they bottom hem matches exactly because you can still adjust for that when you hem the dress).
Pin small pleats in the collar until it is 6″ wide (if you traced a flat collar, you can skip this step… your collar will already be about this wide).
Make wide ‘bias tape’ by cutting a 36″ x 4″ strip of fabric. Iron in half and in half again.
Fold the bias tape in half. This will be one sleeve. Measure three inches in from the center fold. Sandwich the front collar between the ‘bias tape’ and pin in place. If you pinned pleats in the collar, make sure to pin those in place in the bias tape. Repeat on the on the back collar.
Sew along the bottom edge of the bias tape. At each end of the bias tape sleeves, tuck the raw edges of the fabric in, creating a triangle point (and covering all unfinished edges). Sew in place.
Hem by sewing the doubled rolled bottom edge down.
Done! Super cute (and oh so easy!)!!!
Jenny says
June 29, 2011 at 1:24 pmCutie-cute!! I love the basket weave fabric!
OnePerfectDay says
July 1, 2011 at 10:04 amThat would have to be the perfect little dress!
Rachel@oneprettything.com says
July 1, 2011 at 3:33 pmThat's so perfect for summer. I love the simplicity! Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
CraftCrave says
July 2, 2011 at 3:17 amJust a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [02 Jul 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
amy says
March 21, 2012 at 8:08 pmI am going to make all 4 of my granddaughters some this wknd, thank you for the tutorial.
Kirstin says
March 21, 2012 at 8:11 pmWhat a great idea… I need to make Piper Jane a couple of these! 🙂
Jill Wilhelm says
April 8, 2012 at 12:44 amI love all of your tutorials and made my girls dresses using this tutorial! I linked it back to yours 🙂 Thanks so much! You can check it out here: http://iknowtheplansihave4you.blogspot.com/2012/04/pillowcase-dresses-for-easter.html
Kirstin says
April 8, 2012 at 10:40 pmJill- they turned out so great! Love the white and green! 🙂
Julianne says
July 13, 2012 at 1:13 pmLove this simple dress 🙂 I bought a lot of seersucker this past spring and now I know what to do with it!! I am gonna make this for my daughter and add a ruffle that coordinates with the top to the bottom! Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial.
Kirstin says
July 13, 2012 at 10:46 pmThanks Julianne! I have a ton of seersucker on hand too (love it!) and need to make another one of these dresses! 🙂 Send me a picture if you make one- I’d love to see yours.
Deb says
March 15, 2014 at 12:58 pmLOVED THIS CUTE DRESS….IM GOING TO DO TWO BOWS…SUPER EASY!
THANKS
Kirstin says
March 16, 2014 at 10:24 pmLove that- it is such an easy sew!
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says
May 22, 2015 at 12:19 pmOh, how CUTE!! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures