Step 1

Cut out your pieces using the size chart above. The length is the length of the dress from shoulder down plus the 2-3″ band at the bottom of the dress. If you’re not sure what size to make, measure your “model” and go by the length you want the dress to be.

Step 2

Most fabric is 44″ wide, that is why all of the pieces are 21″ wide, this will allow you to cut 2 pieces of fabric at the same time with minimal waste. Since the dress is gathered up in the front the smaller sizes will be more gathered and the larger sizes less. You can make the dress wider if you like, but you’ll need more fabric.

Step 3

Begin by cutting two pieces of fabric 21″ by the desired length using the chart above. These are your dress front and back pieces. Cut two pieces of fabric for the band at the bottom also using the chart above as a guide.

Step 4

Next, you need to cut your armholes. Since I made a size 3-6 months I measured in 2″ from the sides of my dress front and back pieces (along the 21″ side) and 4″ down (again refer to the chart). I then drew a line and rounded the corner with a CD (you want to cut out a J shaped hole) I cut out the arm hole then folded the pieces in half and cut the same hole out of the opposite side of the fabric.

Step 5

Sew the dress band to the dress front and back pieces, right sides facing. Press the seam towards the band.

Step 6

Sew the dress front and back pieces together using a french seam. To do this sew the dress front and back pieces together wrong sides facing.

Step 7

You will then use your scissors to trim the seam allowance down to a scant ⅛″. You want to cut as close to the seam as you can without actually cutting the seam.

Step 8

Press seam.

Step 9

Turn the dress wrong side out and stitch down the side seam with a ¼″ seam allowance. This will catch the raw edge of the seam and leave you with a nice finish on the inside of the dress.

Step 10

Press the raw edge of the dress band ½″ towards the wrong side of the fabric.

Step 11

Fold so that the folded edge is even with the seam between the dress and the dress band.

Step 12

Pin in place.

Step 13

Stitch band in place on the right side of the dress just inside the seam between the dress and dress band. Engage your Dual Feed foot to help the fabric feed evenly as you stitch.

Step 14

Press.

Step 15

Next you will finish off the arm holes. Take your double fold bias tape and unfold it. Pin the bias tape to the arm hole so the raw edge of the bias tape is even with the raw edge of the arm hole.

Step 16

Stitch in place close to the 1st fold in the bias tape.

Step 17

After you’re done stitching, refold the bias tape and stitch along the fold, catching all of the layers as you sew.

Step 18

Press.

Step 19

To make the casing at the top of the dress. Press under the top edge of the dress ¼″.

Step 20

Fold the fabric down ¾″ and press again.

Step 21

Stitch in place close to the folded edge.

Step 22

Feed your ribbon through the casing on the top of the dress starting at one side and going around the other side ending where you started. Pull on the ribbon to “gather” the top of the dress.

Step 23

Place a stitch through the center of the back of the dress to secure the ribbon in place (it’s always a good idea when making something for a small child to stitch ribbon in place so they can’t pull it out of the casing creating a hazard).

Step 24

Trim the ends of the ribbon and you’re done!

Step 25

Cut out your pieces using the size chart above. The length is the length of the dress from shoulder down plus the 2-3″ band at the bottom of the dress. If you’re not sure what size to make, measure your “model” and go by the length you want the dress to be.

Step 26

Most fabric is 44″ wide, that is why all of the pieces are 21″ wide, this will allow you to cut 2 pieces of fabric at the same time with minimal waste. Since the dress is gathered up in the front the smaller sizes will be more gathered and the larger sizes less. You can make the dress wider if you like, but you’ll need more fabric.

Step 27

Begin by cutting two pieces of fabric 21″ by the desired length using the chart above. These are your dress front and back pieces. Cut two pieces of fabric for the band at the bottom also using the chart above as a guide.

Step 28

Next, you need to cut your armholes. Since I made a size 3-6 months I measured in 2″ from the sides of my dress front and back pieces (along the 21″ side) and 4″ down (again refer to the chart). I then drew a line and rounded the corner with a CD (you want to cut out a J shaped hole) I cut out the arm hole then folded the pieces in half and cut the same hole out of the opposite side of the fabric.

Step 29

Sew the dress band to the dress front and back pieces, right sides facing. Press the seam towards the band.

Step 30

Sew the dress front and back pieces together using a french seam. To do this sew the dress front and back pieces together wrong sides facing.

Step 31

You will then use your scissors to trim the seam allowance down to a scant ⅛″. You want to cut as close to the seam as you can without actually cutting the seam.

Step 32

Press seam.

Step 33

Turn the dress wrong side out and stitch down the side seam with a ¼″ seam allowance. This will catch the raw edge of the seam and leave you with a nice finish on the inside of the dress.

Step 34

Press the raw edge of the dress band ½″ towards the wrong side of the fabric.

Step 35

Fold so that the folded edge is even with the seam between the dress and the dress band.

Step 36

Pin in place.

Step 37

Stitch band in place on the right side of the dress just inside the seam between the dress and dress band. Engage your Dual Feed foot to help the fabric feed evenly as you stitch.

Step 38

Press.

Step 39

Next you will finish off the arm holes. Take your double fold bias tape and unfold it. Pin the bias tape to the arm hole so the raw edge of the bias tape is even with the raw edge of the arm hole.

Step 40

Stitch in place close to the 1st fold in the bias tape.

Step 41

After you’re done stitching, refold the bias tape and stitch along the fold, catching all of the layers as you sew.

Step 42

Press.

Step 43

To make the casing at the top of the dress. Press under the top edge of the dress ¼″.

Step 44

Fold the fabric down ¾″ and press again.

Step 45

Stitch in place close to the folded edge.

Step 46

Feed your ribbon through the casing on the top of the dress starting at one side and going around the other side ending where you started. Pull on the ribbon to “gather” the top of the dress.

Step 47

Place a stitch through the center of the back of the dress to secure the ribbon in place (it’s always a good idea when making something for a small child to stitch ribbon in place so they can’t pull it out of the casing creating a hazard).

Step 48

Trim the ends of the ribbon and you’re done!