Dress giveaway details at the bottom ....
I cannot take the credit for this simple but popular dress style but I love making this easy to sew pattern and I have often made it up for customers when they present me with pretty fabric they do not know what to do with.
You can dress the style up or down, wear it by itself to the beach or with a other clothing and heels out somewhere special. I often wear this style with additional layers by adding another dress or skirt underneath. They take approximately half an hour to make and you literally can just about use any summer weight fabric to make them.
For this project I am using a table cloth that really didn't match our décor. I don't really know where it came from but there is enough fabric for two summer dresses - one for me and one to give away.
I cannot take the credit for this simple but popular dress style but I love making this easy to sew pattern and I have often made it up for customers when they present me with pretty fabric they do not know what to do with.
You can dress the style up or down, wear it by itself to the beach or with a other clothing and heels out somewhere special. I often wear this style with additional layers by adding another dress or skirt underneath. They take approximately half an hour to make and you literally can just about use any summer weight fabric to make them.
For this project I am using a table cloth that really didn't match our décor. I don't really know where it came from but there is enough fabric for two summer dresses - one for me and one to give away.
YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:
Fabric - At least 150cm wide fabric - decide the length to suit your preference
Matching Cotton
Ribbon or any piece of fabric that does not fray for the straps cut to approximately 4cm wide
Sewing Machine
Scissors
A safety pin or hair clip to thread the straps through the casings
One Size fits Most
Fabric - At least 150cm wide fabric - decide the length to suit your preference
Matching Cotton
Ribbon or any piece of fabric that does not fray for the straps cut to approximately 4cm wide
Sewing Machine
Scissors
A safety pin or hair clip to thread the straps through the casings
One Size fits Most
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After cutting the fabric in half for two dresses, I then sewed two sides together leaving the existing hemming in place as for this project I will not be using an overlocker. Once you have sewn the side seam - fold the tube of fabric in half making sure the seam is either in the centre front or centre back of the garment. Cut out the half arm hole shapes as shown in the picture. The piece I cut out for the armholes measured 8cm across x 14cm in length. You do not need to be precise with this part as long as you get the basic shape cut out as shown.
Once you have cut your armhole shapes out - turn your stitch dial to the zig zag stitch and set it to the tightest but widest stitch available and stitch along all your cut edges. Around the armhole turn your fabric to the inside of the garment and straight stitch the zig zagged edge down as shown to give a neat edge.
Once you have cut your armhole shapes out - turn your stitch dial to the zig zag stitch and set it to the tightest but widest stitch available and stitch along all your cut edges. Around the armhole turn your fabric to the inside of the garment and straight stitch the zig zagged edge down as shown to give a neat edge.
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The next step is to sew the casing for your straps. Turn the fabric over to the inside approximately 3cm as shown and stitch down with a straight stitch. Iron before sewing and do this for both the front and the back of the garment.
Decide what you would like to use as straps and thread it through the casings using either a safety pin or a hair clip. For the garment I am wearing I reused some ribbon and the garment below I used a piece of non fray scrap fabric cut to approximately 3cm in width.
Options for inserting the strapping include: One length of strapping through the front and back and tying to the side or two lengths of strapping and tying at both shoulders.
Another option is to feed the length of strapping through the back and half way into the front as I have done. For this you will need to cut a small hole in the fabric for the ties to come through to the front.
Once you have finished doing this push the fabric towards the centre of the strapping both at the front and back of the garment and adjusting the length of strapping at each shoulder.
Hem your garment if necessary - I didn't need to as I used machined edge of the original table cloth.
Decide what you would like to use as straps and thread it through the casings using either a safety pin or a hair clip. For the garment I am wearing I reused some ribbon and the garment below I used a piece of non fray scrap fabric cut to approximately 3cm in width.
Options for inserting the strapping include: One length of strapping through the front and back and tying to the side or two lengths of strapping and tying at both shoulders.
Another option is to feed the length of strapping through the back and half way into the front as I have done. For this you will need to cut a small hole in the fabric for the ties to come through to the front.
Once you have finished doing this push the fabric towards the centre of the strapping both at the front and back of the garment and adjusting the length of strapping at each shoulder.
Hem your garment if necessary - I didn't need to as I used machined edge of the original table cloth.
 Strap casings with a zigzag before sewing into place. |  Threading the strapping through the casing |
Now I am set to give one of the dresses away ...
How to Win
Follow this link to my facebook page. Like the post pinned at the top of the page and tag a friend.
Make sure you connect to my face book page for competition updates.
Giveaway runs until 19th January 2015.
How to Win
Follow this link to my facebook page. Like the post pinned at the top of the page and tag a friend.
Make sure you connect to my face book page for competition updates.
Giveaway runs until 19th January 2015.
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