Monthly Sewing Series: August

I gave myself a challenge for this month’s project: I could only use fabric and supplies that I had on hand, and I needed to make something I’ve never made before. Easy enough! My eye has been on this dress for years, so finally attempting to make it has felt very rewarding. The fabric print isn’t my all time favorite but it works for now, you know, until I get my hands on some fun fabric.

How I made the dress:

To prep, I measured across my chest. Then I measured from where I wanted the top of the dress to sit and measured down my body until I hit the length I wanted. The last measurement you’ll take is the width of your dress, for my dress I measured at the widest part of my hips and added an inch for both sides. The straps can be adjusted in length to whatever length you want. I cut mine out at 4” wide so that when they were sewn and flipped inside out they would be 2” in width. 

1. Fold your strap in half, right sides of the fabric together. Stitch up the length of the open side and only one of the ends. Flip the strap inside out and press it flat. Top stitch around the perimeter of the strap. Repeat for all of the straps.

2. Measure how far in you want your straps to sit. You could place them 1/2” from the outer edges, and they would sit right on the corners. When I initially added my straps, it wasn’t until I had finished that I realized I had placed them too far in on the chest portion. Don’t do that or the corners at the top look flappy and weird. I did fix mine by folding the fabric and top stitching it in place later, but if you want the easier route, don’t do what I did. 

3. Take your two lining pieces and hem the bottoms or each pieces. Then with right sides together you’re gonna make a sandwich. Take the front dress piece and lay the straps at the top where you want them to sit. Pin them to the dress. Then take the front lining piece and lay that on top of it. You should have the straps sandwiched between the fabric, with the right sides of the fabric on the inside. Sew along the armhole and chest piece down to the other armhole. 

4. Flip the pieces right side out, and your straps should come out the top and me nice and secure. Press your seams flat, and top stitch near the edge to finish it off. Repeat step 3 and 4 for the back pieces and back lining of the dress. Add your pocket to the front piece here if you choose to have one. 

5. Take the finished front and back pieces and lay them right sides together. Sew the side seams from the armhole down. Finish off the raw edges however you like. Press your seams. 

6. Hem the bottom of the dress, press it flat, and you’re done!