OK, here are my best written instructions for my lined pillowcase dresses. Hopefully this will make sense for anyone with some sewing experience, but I fully intend to write a picture tutorial someday for beginners. If you have any questions, I'll try to elaborate a little more!
I used the full width of the gingham fabric and the lining for the dresses.
Cut along folded edge to make two separate outer and lining pieces.
To determine length: Measure from the breastbone to wherever you want the dress to end and add 1.5 inches. This is your lining measurement. Go ahead and cut your lining material. Subtract 2 inches from the length of the lining material. This is your outer measurement. Go ahead and cut your outer material.
You should now have four squares of fabric, linings should be 2 inches longer than outer fabric.
To make armholes: This part is tricky, so I hope I can explain it properly. I measured from the breastbone straight down to where I wanted the armholes to end. Then I added 5/8s of an inch and marked the measurement on a square of white paper. Next, I measured how wide I wanted the armholes and marked that measurement on the same white paper. I added 1/2 an inch seam allowance to the INSIDE of my marks and drew a round-cornered "L" shape connecting the two marks I'd made on the while paper. This is the pattern for your armholes. Use it to cut an "L" shape out of the top two corners of all four pieces of your material.
Pin (or just sandwich, if you're comfortable with it!) right sides of outer fabric together and sew side seams. Repeat for lining.
Next, pin RIGHT sides of outer fabric to WRONG sides of lining fabric at the armholes only and sew together. Turn fabric so right side of outer fabric is now layered over right side of lining fabric. Press armhole seams and topstitch.
Baste raw edges of top and lining fabric together between armholes 5/8s of an inch from raw edge on front and back. Press 5/8s outer fabric and lining to the inside (if you basted exactly 5/8s from the raw edge, you can use your basting as a guide for turning the fabric over so you don't have to measure it). Press up another 1/4 of an inch from the edge of the 5/8s and this will form your elastic casing for the front and back of your dress. Sew along bottom edge of casing.
Measure how wide you want the top of the dress and cut elastic. Feed elastic through the casing and secure ends by sewing them securely.
Straps can be made by using ribbons or using fabric. I cut FOUR one inch wide by 20 inches long strips out of the fabric I used for lining. Sew long sides together with 3/8s inch seam allowance, turn, tuck ends in and them in little knots. Measure the length between where you want the front and back of the dress to hit. Divide this measurement by two, determine the center of the straps, and mark the 1/2 measurement both ways on the strap away from the center. Sew TWO straps to each front corner of the dress at the markings. Sew both straps to the back corners of the dress at the markings. Now you can tie the loose ends of your straps into cute little bows!
Next, press up 5/8s of an inch at the bottom of the lining, press over another 1/4 of an inch on the 5/8s and this will form your lining hem. Sew. Repeat for outer fabric.
All done! Now you have a darling little pillowcase dress!OK, here are my best written instructions for my lined pillowcase dresses. Hopefully this will make sense for anyone with some sewing experience, but I fully intend to write a picture tutorial someday for beginners. If you have any questions, I'll try to elaborate a little more!
I used the full width of the gingham fabric and the lining for the dresses.
Thanks! I'm a picture tutorial junky myself and don't care for written instructions at all, but it's pretty rare for me to photograph my projects as I'm doing them because I'm usually figuring them out as I go. And I don't generally make several of the exact same thing!
I could add some! :) I just pulled from a bunch of pillowcase tutorials, which are very basic, and you can customize in pretty much any way you can dream up!
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