How to Make a Dress in 5 Steps

Making a dress is a simple beginner sewing project that you can execute with a basic pattern and the right sewing tools. If you’ve never sewn before, read up on some basic sewing skills—like basic stitching and sewing machine use—before attempting this project. Additionally, start with an easy dress silhouette that calls for a thin, pliable fabric to set yourself up for success.

Certain styles of dresses are easier for a beginner to make than others. If it’s your first time sewing, here are some simple types of DIY dresses to make:

1. 1. A-line: An A-line dress has a hemline wider than its shoulders and features a bell-shaped silhouette that is simple to sew. Most sundresses and smock dresses are A-line.
2. 2. Drop-waist: Commonly associated with the flapper-style dresses popular in the 1920s, drop-waist dresses typically feature an unfitted waistline that falls below the natural waist, closer to the hips. The drop waistline is trickier to sew than an A-line dress, so follow the pattern closely.
3. 3. Fit and flare: A fit and flare dress is a modified version of the A-line dress, featuring a fitted bodice and waist before its skirt flares out.
4. 4. Maxi dress: A maxi dress has a skirt that touches the ground but is more boho casual than a formal gown. A maxi dress may feature any of the above silhouettes. Sewing a maxi dress as a first-timer means that you will need to work with a lot of excess fabric, which will require a large workspace to spread it out.
5. 5. Shift dress: A shift dress has a straight up-and-down silhouette without a fitted waistline, which wearers can pull on and off without a zipper. Many T-shirt dresses are also shift dresses.
6. 6. Wrap dress: A wrap dress is fitted to the body, secured by wrapping one side of the dress around the other at the high waist. This style involves sewing along slightly irregular patterns, so it may require a little more experience than other dress sewing tutorials.

Here are some of the materials you will need to pull off this easy sewing project.

• Fabric: Choose a comfortable fabric that is easy for beginners to work with, like a cotton blend.
• Iron: You’ll need an iron to help create straight lines and remove wrinkles from the fabric. You’ll use it to press the raw seams of your dress before sewing them together.
• Sewing machine: Using a sewing machine for this project will allow you to sew faster and produce a more polished-looking product. Learn how to use a sewing machine.
• Sewing pattern: Select a simple dress pattern—which will determine the shapes you need to cut out of your fabric—in your desired size and silhouette. This pattern will form the building blocks of this simple dress tutorial. Find free patterns online or visit your local sewing store to purchase one.
• Sewing tools: Basic sewing tools are necessary to execute this project, including a fabric cutter, pins, a tape measure, tailor’s chalk, a needle, and thread. The needle and thread will help you sew any decorative topstitching or tight corners that your sewing machine can’t reach. A fabric cutter, pins, and tailor’s chalk will help you mark and cut out the pattern pieces.
• Zipper: To close the back of your dress, you will need a zipper.

Before you get started on your new DIY sewing project, follow these tips and hacks to make the process easier.

1. 1. Choose the right fabric. If you are a beginner, use an easy-to-sew fabric like a cotton blend to make your first dress. Make sure the material is thick enough that you can’t see through it, or else you may need to make a slip.
2. 2. Select a basic pattern. Select a simple sewing pattern without details like ruffles, puff sleeves, or pleats for your first dressmaking project. A sleeveless A-line, shift, or drop-waist dress are all beginner-friendly options.
3. 3. Pre-shrink the fabric. Wash your fabric before cutting it to pre-shrink, which will prevent it from shrinking in the wash the first time you run it through a cycle. Iron the dress after drying to smooth any wrinkles.
4. 4. Take your time. When sewing your first dress, take your time to avoid making any simple, beginner-level errors. Triple-check your measurements and pattern cuts. Dressmaking requires more fabric than other sewing projects, and accuracy makes all the difference.
5. 5. Use sharp tools. Rely on sharp tools—like fabric cutters—to make clean, straight fabric cuts. Use new, sharp needles in your sewing machine.

Learn how to make a simple dress with this step-by-step sewing tutorial.

1. 1. Gather your materials. Lay your supplies out on your designated workspace. Ensure that your space is large enough to lay your fabric out flat. If needed, protect your surface by laying out a mat.
2. 2. Pin and cut out your pattern. Lay your pattern pieces on top of the fabric. Use pins to secure them in place so that they don’t move, mark the edges with tailor’s chalk, and cut them out. When cutting your pattern, leave a small half-inch seam allowance on the sides and bottoms. This allowance will give you room to create finished edges to connect the pieces while maintaining proper sizing.
3. 3. Sew the side seams and armholes. Lay the two main pieces of your fabric on top of each other so that their edges match up. (Depending on your pattern, this will likely be the dress’s front and back panels.) Sew the side seams of the front and back panels together until you reach the armholes. Your dress should still be open on the top (around the shoulders) and bottom (at the hem). For the first armhole, fold one-quarter of an inch of fabric in, towards the inside of the dress, all the way around. Press the armhole seams with an iron, so the raw edges aren’t visible, then sew them to the inside of the dress using a sewing machine. Sew the shoulder seams together to complete the first armhole. Repeat this process on the other side of the dress.
4. 4. Sew the neckline and hem. The most common necklines are scoop neck and V-neck shapes. If your pattern calls for something more intricate, follow those instructions. For a basic neckline, fold over the top one-quarter inch of the neckline fabric to hide the raw edge, and press with an iron. Sew the neckline seam. Hem the bottom of the dress using the same process, folding over a quarter-inch of fabric, pressing it, and straight-stitching it together to hide the raw edge.
5. 5. Add a zipper. Use the tape measure to cut a small slit in the back of the dress’s neckline, matching the length of your zipper. Sew the zipper into the dress to create a closure, which will make it easier to get in and out of the dress, especially if the neckline is small. Skip this step if you’ve chosen a silhouette or fabric that allows you to slip the dress on over your head easily.

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