Easy Summer Dress Pattern – Part 2 – Construction

Easy Summer Dress. Free multi-size pattern and step by step photo tutorial from So Sew Easy.Welcome back to Part 2 of the Easy Summer Dress Step by Step Tutorial.  Have you already printed your pattern and cut out your fabric?  If not, then take a step back to Part 1 and then join me here next for construction instructions.

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Find the pattern download here

Go back to Part 1 to find the pattern download, details about sizing and instructions on how to put your PDF pattern together.

Step By Step Construction

Equipment and materials:

Essential

  • Sewing machine and thread, sewing basics such as scissors
  • Clear Elastic 3/8th inch wide

Optional but useful

Your dress is made up of just 4 main pieces, and will be super-quick to sew.  Follow through these step by step instructions and enjoy!

Easy Summer Dress.  Free multi-size pattern and step by step photo tutorial from So Sew Easy.

Easy Summer Dress.  Free multi-size pattern and step by step photo tutorial from So Sew Easy.

Sewing your Easy Summer Dress

1.  Identify the back of the dress (the longer piece) and add a strip of Wash Away Wonder Tape to the top edge, just inside the raw edge on the wrong side.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

2.  Measure across the top edge and cut a length of Clear Elastic 1 inch LESS than the top edge measurement.  If you can't get the clear elastic, then you can also use a regular elastic but it will be bulkier.

3.  Remove the backing tape from the sticky tape and stick your clear elastic in place along the top edge, centering the elastic with about 1/2 inch clear at each end.  If you don't have the sticky tape, then you can pin the elastic in place.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

4.  Take your dress to the sewing machine and with the wrong side facing up, turn the top seam over using the elastic as a guide to get a straight line.  Fit your Stretch or ball point needle. Sew the elastic in place using a triple zigzag stitch if your machine has one (its like a wide zig-zag where each part is made of three small stitches.)  If you only have a regular zig zag stitch, use this on a wide setting to sew through the elastic.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

5.  Here's what it looks like from the outside.  The stitches allow it to still stretch and the elastic will hold it snugly against your body so the dress doesn't fall !  Set aside the back for now.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

6.  Time to make the bust part of the dress.  Take the rectangular piece and sew a line of long basting stitches between the circles, 1/4 inch from the edge.  Do not back-stitch at each end and leave the thread ends long.  Repeat on both sides.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

7.  Now fold the fabric at the off-center notch, with WRONG sides together.  Put in a pin at the fold and then match up the corners and pin these too.  Now you need to gently pull the gathering threads to gather up the fabric between the circles.  Continue to gather until the gathered edge measures the same as the flat edge.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

8.  Once both edges match in length (or close enough), match up the raw edges and pin together.  Repeat these steps for the opposite side.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

9.  Take the fabric to the machine, and with the gathers facing upwards and the raw edges matching, sew in place along the previous line of basting stitches.  Adjust the gathers as you sew.  Repeat for the other end.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

10.  Now match the two remaining raw edges on this piece.  We need to keep these together.  You can either use your Wonder Tape to baste the two edges together, or match, pin and sew close to the edge.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

11.  Now to make the small piece that gathers the center of the bodice.  Find the small rectangular piece of fabric you cut earlier.  Fold wrong sides facing with the two shorter sides together – see arrows.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

12.  Sew along the shorter side to make a tube of fabric. Use a narrow zig-zag stitch so this can stretch.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

13.  Turn inside out and center the seam line facing upwards.  This will be in the inside of the gathering piece.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

14.  Place your bodice piece on top with the raw edges even, and line up the center notch on the bodice with the center seam line on the gathering piece.  Pin in place.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

15.  Roughly pleat the bodice in the center and bring up the other end of the gathering piece, matching the centers and raw edges until you have a bow shape.  Remove pins and replace them through all layers.  Sew close to the edge through all layers.  An overcasting stitch works best, or a zigzag close to the edge.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

16.  Now match up the bodice piece with the waist piece.  The gathered side of the bodice will be the right side or outside.  You can see that the top part will need to be eased into the  mid-section.

Sew close to the edge through all layers.  An overcasting stitch works best, or a zigzag close to the edge.

17.  Pin the two pieces right sides together, stretching the mid-section piece a little to match to the width of the bodice piece.  Line up the center front and the outside seams.  It will look a little awkward, like this.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

18.  Carefully sew the two together using a narrow hem.  You can sew with the bodice piece upwards to check as you sew that you are sewing the hem a little wider than your earlier basting stitches along the bottom edge.  This saves removing them later.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

19.  Now match up raw edges on the bottom of the mid-section with the top of the front skirt.  Pin and stitch in place, right sides together, using a narrow zig-zag stitch or an overcasting stitch and foot.  The front piece is now complete.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

20.  Pin the dress back to the dress front, right sides together along the side seams.  Start to pin at the bottom edge keeping fabric even.  The front of the dress is slightly longer than the back to allow extra room for the bust.  Once you have pinned to approximately the waist area, match the top of the dress back and front, and pin.  Then stretch the fabric of the back piece slightly to match the front piece and pin the remaining side seams together. Try on the dress for fit before sewing.  Careful with the pins!

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

21.  Sew the side seams using approx a half inch seam.  Sew with the gathered bodice side up so that you can make sure that your side seam is slightly larger than the existing basting stitches on the gathered panel to make sure those stitches won't show on the outside.

22.  Now try on your dress and see if you need to make any adjustments in those side seams to get a nice fit.

23.  Finish the side seams by either pressing them open and flat, or trimming and finishing with an overcasting stitch to neaten the edges.  You can see my narrow overcast seams in this photo – this gives a nice finish on the inside.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

24.  Now to create a smooth hemline.  We don't want to spoil all the hard work now with a wavy seam as can often happen with knit fabrics, so I recommend using a knit stay tape along the bottom before sewing.  Or at least test your intended hemming method and stitch on some scrap fabric first.  Iron your stay tape just inside the edge of the fabric.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

25.  Turn your hem to the inside using the edge of the stay tape as a guide and pin in place. If you have a Twin Stretch Needle, you can use this for a professional, neat and stretchy hem (remember to sew it face up with the twin needle.)  If using a single needle, hem with the wrong side up and a single line of straight stitches.

Easy summer dress - free pattern and step by step tutorial from So Sew Easy.

Easy Summer Dress.  Free multi-size pattern and step by step photo tutorial from So Sew Easy.

26.  Your (strapless) dress is now ready to wear!  However you might want to add some support for the bodice.  Try some of these optional ideas:

  • thread some ribbon/lace/leather/cord through the gathering band at the center of the bodice and tie behind the neck.
  • braid three x inch-wide pieces of fabric to make a central halter strap.
  • make two tubes of matching (or contrasting) fabric and stitch to the bodice ‘cups' to create a halter neck. Make them wide or narrow as you prefer.   A good option for a larger bust.
  • or use a braided strap from the cups to behind the neck.
  • make two tubes of fabric and attach them as straps from the bust to the top of the dress at the back.  Place them carefully to cover your bra straps for even more support.

Easy Summer Dress. Free multi-size pattern and step by step photo tutorial from So Sew Easy.

 

I'd love to hear your feedback on this pattern and tutorial and see your photos and links to your finished dresses – please leave a comment below, or drop me an email using the link at the top of the page.
Authored by: Deby at So Sew Easy

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[…] I couldn't leave us grown up girls out of the fun of course! So below you'll find my favourite free summer dress patterns and tutorials for women.  Whether for the daytime or evening, for work or for play, […]

Dawn Morris
Dawn Morris

Hi Deby!!

I loved your twist top pattern so much that I decided to try another of your patterns. I just finished making this dress and you’re right…it’s so-sew-easy!! I love it! It fits perfectly and is very comfortable and flattering. I still need to send you pix of the twist top I made so I will add a pic of my dress as well so you can see how it turned out. Thank you so much for sharing your patterns with us. You are very generous and they are much appreciated. I definitely think you have a future in clothing design. Thanks again!!!

Deepti Bangera
Deepti Bangera

hey Deby…this was realy simple and trendy…will mail u once i finish the same…Thanx

handimom
handimom

I think this is the best tutorial I have ever seen!! The dress looks great on you and I’ve learned several new techniques as well – thank you Deby!