I have had plans to make my two girls Easter dresses for months, but just kept putting it off and putting it off and then when I had to go home for the funeral I thought that there was no way I was going to have time to make them. As I was walking through Joann's this week, I came upon the cutest fabric that was pre-ruffled on the bottom and smocked on the top and my plans of being able to finish dresses in time became a reality.
I know that these dresses have been around the block a few times now, but this was my first time making them before so bare with me.
This has to be the easiest thing to make in. the. world. And it looks like you spend to much time and effort to get the look.
The fabric comes like this. All you have to do is sew up the side to create the dress and add straps of some sort. It literally took less than a half hour to make. Umm... I think that is a record for a dress this cute! :)
So here is how I made the dress {for my skinny 3 year old}:
Keep in mind that you are going to have to take your own measurements to come with how much fabric you will need.
SUPPLIES:
-half yard of the pre-ruffle/smocked fabric
-whatever you want to use to make the straps; ribbon, extra fabric, etc.
-thread
To make my dress straps, I bought an extra half yard of the regular matching fabric because I have plans to make a skirt for my baby to match this dress {pictures and tutorial to come soon}.
Step 1: Zig zag or serge the raw edges of the sides of the fabric.
Step 2: Put the fabric right sides together and sew up the side to create the dress part. {forgot to take a picture of this step, but I think ya can figure it out ;)}
Step 3: Measure how wide and long you want the straps to be. For my little gal, I cut two strips of fabric that were 3 inches side and 10 inches long. {Keep in mind that you will be folding your straps in half so double your width.} Once your fabric is cut, take one of the fabric pieces and fold it in half (hotdog wise) right sides together and sew up the side of the raw edges creating a tube. Do this for the other piece of fabric too.
Step 4: Turn the tube right side out and and iron flat so that the seam is centered (instead of on the edge) so that you won't see it once the straps are flipped over.
Step 5: Try the dress on your daughter and pin the straps onto the dress so you can see where they need to be sewn. Carefully take the dress off her while the pins are still in.
Step 6: Sew the straps in place.
That's it!
