Category: tutorials

I’ve had a quite a few requests for this tutorial. I hope you use it + enjoy it.  This dress is made to have neither a front nor a back. It is also made to go over the head, one arm at a time. Lets get started.



Buy the pattern piece right here in my shop.
Print pattern.

Supplies needed:
-skirt fabric
-bodice fabric
-bodice lining fabric
-fishing wire
-scissors

Start by cutting 2 bodice pieces + 2 bodice lining pieces.

Stitch the neckline of the bodice.

Then stitch the armholes about 1/2 way up.

Turn each piece.

Press the neckline flat.

Then press the armhole flat.

Including the length of the armhole that is not stitched.

Your two bodice pieces should now look like this.

Lay your two pieces, right sides together.

Take the top edge of each bodice + pin flush.

Like so.

Now using a 1/4 inch seam, stitch the two pieces together, on both sides.

This will leave you with a small hole that we will deal with in just a bit.

Time to stitch the sides.

Again put right sides together.

Pull up the lining on each side + pin.

Using a 1/4 inch seam, stitch your sides.

Be sure to only get the sides of the bodice when you sew, nothing else.

Time to iron the armholes. Push the fabric back into the hole, following your original pressed lines.

And iron flat.

Press your seams flat on the sides,

Turn down + press the sides.

Your bodice should now look like this.

Everything should be pressed nice + flat.

Top-stitch the neckline using an 1/8 inch stitch.

Nice + close to the edge.

Now top-stitch the armholes, again using an 1/8 inch stitch.

You just made a bodice + a fine one, I’m sure.

Now make the skirt.  For the length, I measured from right underneath the breast bone to the knee.  I also used the edge of a pillowcase for skirt, so finishing the hem was unnecessary. You can follow the directions on the elastic waist tutorial for finishing an hem.

Additionally, I used a french seam on the skirt, tutorial for french seam here.

To create the gathers in the waist I used the fishing wire technique.  Using a zigzag stitch,

stitch the fishing wire to the top of the skirt.

Like so.

Now time for assembly.  

Start with your skirt piece + bodice piece RIGHT side out. Pull up the bottom part of the bodice.

Then turn the bodice inside out.

Then upside down.

Slide your bodice piece into your skirt piece.

Pin bodice to skirt.

Make sure to have about equal lengths of fabric between each pin. Then pull your fishing wire loose ends tight to gather the skirt.

Using an 1/2 inch seam, stitch along the top edge.

You should have something similar to this.

Now, pull the the bodice up out of the skirt.

Lay bodice flat.

See how your raw edge is completely enclosed within the bodice? Perfect!

Turn the dress inside out + press your back seam, making sure the raw edge is going up into the bodice.

Then turn your dress right side out + turn the outside edge of your bodice under about 1/4 inch.

Press flat.

Using 1/8 inch, stitch the top bodice to the skirt

Now go forth + enjoy summer.

Think of this as your last minute gift idea, you could whip it up next Saturday right before Mothers Day. Seriously, this tutorial is so easy peasy, even if you are a beginner, you can do it in about an hour.

Materials needed:

• fabric 3 10x11inch pieces – contrasting, coordinating or all the same
• one piece for lining, one piece for the top + one piece for your brush pocket
• fusible interfacing 1 9.25×10.25 piece – whatever kind you have on hand
• ribbon 16-17 inches – or bias tape or whatever you have on hand

Start by ironing (fusing) your interfacing to the back of your lining piece.

Then iron your pocket piece in half lengthwise, it should now measure 5×11 inches.

Mark your pocket stitches. The big brushes need about 2 inches of pocket space + the little brushes need about 1 inch. Your pockets should vary depending on what kind of brushes you have.

Give yourself a 1/2 seam allowance on the ends when you mark, if you are doing a 2 inch pocket on the end, then mark your fist pocket at 2 1/2 inches, for the seam allowance. All other pockets mark true to size.

Sew your pockets to your lining.

You don’t have to sew down the edges of the outside pockets, you can if you want, but I always leave mine open + sew them down when I sew the whole piece together.

Start with your top piece face up, place your ribbon or bias tape on either side of the top piece about 4 inches from the bottom.

Place your sewn lining + pockets face down on top of your top piece.

Pin your ribbon in place.

With a 1/2 inch seam allowance, stitch around the entire piece,

leaving a 3-4 inch opening at the top.

Turn right side out.

There are so many fancy corner poker outers that you can buy, but I always just use a chopstick.

Poke out your corners.

Tuck under your opening, making it flush

Iron your piece flat.

Use an 1/8 inch top-stitch. See where the seam riper is pointing? If you line your piece up with the inside of that feed dog, that will give you an 1/8 inch stitch.

Like so.

Stitch all the way around the piece.

Fold + iron down the top piece about 2 inches.

Stitch across the top of the folded down piece.

I also stitched one of the edges of the flap down to give it some structure, you can ignore this step or do it.

Now fill it with brushes + enjoy!

Or maybe if you don’t have enough brushes, you should get some for Mothers Day so you can fill up your holder.

Make one + put it in a prominent place, leaving your husband a hint. Or if your like me, you could make one + hit your husband upside the head with it, for an even better hint.