30 DAYS OF SUNDRESSES TUTORIAL
Easy And Chic Maxidress
Here is a tutorial I wrote and guest posted this past weekend. It’s a super easy maxi dress.
You can draw your measurements directly on to your fabric and the measurements are based off of the chest measurement so this dress can be made in any size with these directions.
I’m making another one for my 16 year old who wants a beach dress.
Isn’t it funny how when the hot weather comes around we all want to cover ourselves up with maxi dresses? They feel so floaty and comfy to wear on a hot day!
The pattern for this dress is taken from the chest measurement and it consists of 6 rectangles.
1 bodice piece
1 skirt piece
4 strap pieces.
You will be making some elastic casings , some gathering , a few straight lines, and that is it.
Maxidress tutorial
materials:
1 .5 to 2 yards of fabric
1/2 yard cotton knit for lining (optional)
3 yard 1/4 inch elastic
matching thread
I have the instructions printed on the photos but I will also place them below a few photos which are hard to read.
Measure the chest to determine the width of the bodice.
It will be the chest measurement x 1.5
Determine the length of the bodice piece.
For a developed bust measure from the top of the bust where you want the dress to be, up and over the bust to where you want the bottom of the band to be.
Obviously this will be more straightforward for children!
Add 1/2 inch seam allowances.
Cut out your skirt piece.
The width will be twice the chest measurement If the chest measurement is less than 30 inches you can fit the skirt onto one piece if your fabric is 60 inches wide.
If not, you will have to make two skirt pieces.
Measure from the bottom of where the bodice piece will be to the floor and add a few inches for a hem. if you are making this for a child you can add several inches so you can let the hem out as your child grows.
Sew up the side seam and gather the top part to match the width of the bodice.
(A note about gathering.)
I like to sew 3 parallel lines closely spaced in my seam allowance. it gives a more professional and evenly spaced gather.
Attach the lining under the skirt and overlap the bodice on top and pin together.
Sew across all three layers on the first line you sewed for the elastic channels.
Make sure to space your starps evenly and not tto wide because they will slip off the shoulders.
I tried to be brief in my tutorial here, so if you have any questions or I may have left something out, feel free to e mail me at justine(at) sewcountrychick(dot)com or you can contact me at my blog or facebook.
Thanks again to Melly Sews!
About Justine
lovelydressand so easy! I might make one for bethan.
It’s lovely.
This is lovely, thanks for sharing!
http://www.blissfulsewing.blogspot.com
Hope you don’t mind, but I just pinned this (http://pinterest.com/pin/28358672624168017/) because I love maxi dresses with elastic thread “smocking” in the bodice, but I find them incredibly itchy and can’t wear them. This may be the solution I’ve been looking for.
So funny, I’m working on a maxi dress that is almost the same…it’s even red! Love your version. If you’re looking for another place to share your creative projects, stop by Etcetorize this week! We never have enough sewing projects so would love to see you there~
I really like maxi-dresses. Have you ever done a tutorial for a grown-up version of this dress? This is really pretty
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
THis is beautiful and so is your daughter..Looks great on her.. Happy sewing.
This is adorable! I love the fabric, I want one too!
~Jamie
Many Many thanks for your tutorial! I made 2 dresses today… Will post them on my blog…
Did you serge the bottom edge of the bodice or maybe sew the bodice together first right sides together and then turn right side out? There seems to be a ruffle where the bodice and skirt meet.