Posted on by thelongthread

Summer Dress

Made this little dress yesterday for my five-year-old, just in time for the first day of summer. I based the design on a Liberty of London for Target dress that we bought in the spring — a very simple pattern with elastic at the top and simple straps (without elastic). I used just a 1/2 yard of fabric so added the gingham bit at the bottom for length. This style could be shortened to make a quick and easy shirt as well.

37 Replies to “Summer Dress”

  4. Ooooh I love that, you are gifted with sewing! These are the times I wish I could make my boys a dress. 😡

  8. What a lovely little dress. I have a 4 year old that would love that…any suggestions for a pattern similar to that?

  10. Too, too cute! My 14 month old is a late bloomer and hasn’t started walking yet, so all the cute summer dresses will have to wait. *sigh*

  12. What a great dress! You should write up a tutorial for it….I’d love to try it but I don’t have the know-how! Thanks for your inspirational blog!

  13. Hi do you have a pattern for it, or could you suggest one please, it’s gorgeous!

  17. That’s almost mean, showing us that darling dress and then not tipping us off how to make one like it! 😀

  18. So very pretty. Love your fabric choices. This pattern works well, with of all things, a pillow case. Cut a scant amount of fabric from the seemed end. This will now be the top of the dress. Cut your arm holes using a bowl as your guide and fold over the casing. Use ribbon for the straps. Finding the right pillowcase is truly the challenge.

  19. Yes, this is very similar to a pillowcase dress. The main difference is that the straps don’t run through the casing, which can cause them to look wrinkled. The casing contains elastic and the straps are sewn at the ends of the casing to make them appear that they have come through the casing. You could easily use this method with a pillowcase! I think it would also make a sweet little nightgown made with some simple muslin and eyelet trim.

  26. Oooh, oooh! I am starring this. I have a five-year-old who needs this dress desperately. Looks like a pretty straight-forward construction… are the sides cut in A-line style, or are they straight and just come in due to the elastic pulling them in at the top? Looks like they taper in a bit towards the armholes. Hmm, will have to experiment if you don’t give us a tutorial. 🙂

  27. What a beautiful dress – as the mother to a (rather handsome and wonderfully natured!) little boy, I never have any opportunities to make lovely little things like this! That and the fact that my sewing skills aren’t quite up to par! Gorgeous dress, glad I found your blog! x

  33. Adorable dress! The combination of fabric and trim is brilliant! I also really like your idea of adapting it to make a nightgown! Thank you!!

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