How to sew a cute summer sun dress, Love to Sew Studio

Learn to make a cute summer sun dress using no patterns and is easy to sew.

To make the summer sundress you will need:

*about 1.5 yards of solid fabric

*about 1.0 yard of print fabric

*matching thread

*elastic thread

Please Note: Our estimates for needed fabric for this project are based on a size 8 dress. It's always best to buy more fabric if need be. (You can always make a matching bag from the left over fabric.)

Measure yourself to make your sun dress.

You will not need a pattern to make this dress. We will be cutting the fabric into a rectangle for the dress with your measurements.

First, measure your bust and your hips. Which ever measurement is bigger that is the one you will use. Now add 1/2 of that number to your measurement and that is your width measurement for the dress.

Example: If your hip measurement was the largest that's the one to use. Let's say your hip measured 34". Add 1/2 of that measurement which is 17".

34" + 17" = 51" So 51" would be your width measurement for the dress.

Now let's get the length measurement.

Measure from where you want the dress to lie on your body above the chest area to where you want the dress to end at your legs. Then subtract 3" from that measurement to allow for the gathered printed ruffle at the bottom. (We did ours above the knee, but you can do any length you want.)

Example: if your measurement of where you want your dress to lie on your body from top to bottom of dress is 40" subtract 3" to allow for the ruffled bottom.

40"- 3" = 37" So 37" would be your length measurement for the dress.

Fold the hem of the dress twice, press, pin, and then stitch.

Cut out your rectangle for your dress according to your measurements.

First, hem the top of the dress along the width. Fold under 1/2" to the ugly side of the fabric. Fold again 1/2". Pin, press, and stitch.

Sew rows and rows of gathering with an elastic bobbin to achieve this look.

Let's begin the elastic thread gathering technique.

Hand wind the elastic thread around your bobbin. Set your machine at a baste stitch. Begin by sewing a straight seam on the pretty side of the fabric just below the hem you just stitched. DO NOT SEW ON YOUR HEM. Sew just below it. Back tack at the beginning and at the end. Do not forget to back-tack each time other-wise your elastic gathering will fall apart.

Sew the next line using your first line as a guide and sew 1/4" from the line. (So your stitching lines will be 1/4" apart from each other.)

You can create this elastic gathering look by sewing it yourself.

Continue stitching rows. Rethread your bobbin as you run out. You may have to do so several times throughout making the elastic gathers.

Rows and rows of elastic gathering will help you create your summer sun dress that is easy to sew.

Continue until you have reached your desired amount. (We did 28 rows.)

How to make the gathered ruffle bottom:

Cut a piece of the print fabric 9" X twice your hip measurement. (if your hips measured 42" cut 82")

Most fabric is not that long so you may need to cut 2 pieces and sew them together. This is what we had to do. The photo here is showing us sewing two pieces together to form one very long strip.

Check out our site www.lovetosew.com for three methods to learn how to gather fabric.

Fold the very long strip in half PRETTY SIDES OUT.

Pin the top together and press flat.

Baste the top using the pressure foot as your guide.

Learn to gather fabric, there are three different ways.

Pull the threads to gather the fabric when sewing your summer sun dress.

To gather the top use your favorite gathering method.

One method is to just use a basting stitch. Keep your thread long after sewing and do not back-tack. Then pull one thread to gather.

We suggest using a stronger gathering method since this is a long seam. Here's how to do our favorite gathering method.

Attach the gathered ruffle bottom to the bottom of the sun dress and pin pretty sides together.

Pin the raw edges of the gathered end of the ruffle to the bottom of the dress. Make sure the gathering is even across the bottom.

Stitch in place using a 5/8" seam allowance.

Pin side seams pretty sides together and stitch down the seam of the handmade sun dress.

For some reason when each of my students made this dress they had to take the top part in an extra inch or two.

Place the dress PRETTY sides together and pin the side seam from top to bottom including the gathered ruffle at the hem.

Stitch using a 5/8" seam allowance.

Try the dress on. If the top area above the chest is too big, which we have found to be the case in some of our fittings, adjust accordingly by marking how far in you want to sew and make a new seam just at the top to fit. Make sure your new seam gradually gets to the original seam. (See Photo) Stitch over your marked line to form a new seam. Trim seam to 1/4" and zigzag seam finish.

How to sew the belt.

To make the belt cut a piece of the print fabric 7" X 60". Fold the belt PRETTY sides together and pin down the one long end and one short end. Stitch the long end and one short end using a 1/4" seam.

Turn belt pretty side out through opening at the other small end. Press nice and flat. Fold edges where the opening is in and stitch closed. The belt ties in the back.

Your Cute Summer Sundress is DONE!