How to Make a Child’s Summer Dress

3.31 2011

This dress is so simple to make. Initially my plan was to make Hattie a maxi dress, but realized that a maxi dress + her rough n tumble life = hot mess. Instead I went with a mid calf dress which allowed her to climb trees, swing + ride her bike without incident. 

Belted or full, this dress is just perfect for spring or summer. The dress is so simple + can be made in about an hour – promise.

Additionally this tutorial is designed for seamstresses without sergers. If you have a serger, then modify away!

Materials needed:

1- 2 yards fabric
45 inches of cut 2 inch strip

Tools that are helpful for this project:
Sharp scissors
Safety pin
Measuring tape

Hot Iron
Sewing Machine

Start by measuring your child shoulder to calf or mid knee or wherever you want the dress to fall to.

Add two inches + cut the length. For the width of the dress, I used the width of my yard, only cutting the length.

Cut your arm holes. I used a triangular cut about 5x 4 inches.

Press + hem your armhole seams.

Press the edge down 1/4 inch.

Then turn + press another 1/4 of an inch.

Stitch right along the edge of your pressed hem. 

This is where I stitched up the side of the dress. I used a french seam, but you can certainly used a straight stitch with a zig zag if you like.

Press and sew the top + bottom of the dress similar to how you did the arms holes.

For both the top I used a larger hem, to make the casing. I pressed down 1/2 inch.

Turn + press a full inch. Stitch right along the edge.

Do the same for the bottom hem. 

The top of your dress should look like this. 

At this point you could thread a ribbon through the casing + be done.  I choose to make some non-bias bias tape. 

If this tape was cut on the bias, it would be true bias tape. How I make my non-bias tape, or bias tape.

1. Cut 2 inch strip.

2. Iron in half.

3. Open.

4. Iron one edge into middle.

5. Iron other edge into the middle.

6. Iron in half again.

I stitch right along the edge.

I then use zig zag on the bottom at a diagonal. 

Thread your tape through the casing.

The knot or bow will be on the shoulder, or put it in the back or front.

My other little girl dress tutorials.

How to make a Summer Frock

How to make a Pillow Case Dress Part One

How to make a Pillow Case Dress Part Two

Comments

1. Elaine :

   ADORABLE!
2. Shelley :

   That is so stinking adorable! And her little pose with her hands on her hips, too much cuteness :D
   
   I'll be making a few of these for my little Izzy for sure!
   
   Shelley
3. Beau&Lindee :

   adorable blog. looking forward to your tips:)
   
   www.beauandlindeeshow.blogspot.com
4. Yolanda @ Miss Refashionista :

   ohh my, I want one!!!!
5. Brooke :

   so so cute!
6. Sarah@AlpinePoppy :

   Love it.
7. Flora :

   Love your site! Such wonderful ideas!
8. erica :

   okay, this may be something that i can do on the sewing machine.
   thanks for the tutorial...im going to attempt it this weekend. yay!
   seriously thank for all the inspiration lately :)
9. hungiegungie :

   i love this! that fabric is great... perfect for a summer dress. - erin
10. Carrie :

    I made this today and it turned out great! I am VERY new to sewing, so it took me longer than an hour and maybe I had to completely start over once, but I did it! Thanks for the tutorials; Your elastic waist skirt was the very first thing I ever sewed. :)
11. UK lass in US :

    How cute it looks in stripes!
    
    I just bought my daughter a striped nautical top (boat neck and 3/4 sleeves - I couldn't walk by without picking it up... Ok, I'm secretly wishing came in my size, even though I know that she can pull off stripes much better than me). Now I'm wondering if she needs a dress, too...
12. Rachel@oneprettything.com :

    So cute! I love those blue stripes! Thanks for another great how-to, I'll be linking.
13. Grace Marie :

    trying this again:
    
    love this tutorial..thank you for posting!
    
    Used it twice..for myself today!
    
    www.pattonperpendere.blogspot.com/twilight