Hi Ribbon Retreat fans! Jess here, from Craftiness is not Optional...and I am so excited to be here with a cute and easy sundress tutorial for you!
I used some adorable fabric from Ribbon Retreat-for the main fabric I used one yard of the Cream Main from Fly a Kite by October Afternoon for Riley Blake, to cover the buttons I used the Cream Circle, and for the contrast fabric I used 3/4 – 1 yard Dottie in Teal.
These fabric amounts are good up to 4T. You will need more fabric for bigger sizes.
First I made a quick bodice pattern by tracing around a tee folded in half.
Then I drew a curve like so for the bottom of the bodice, and a straight line across for the top like so.
Then I cut it out and traced around, adding seam allowance. Do the same for the bottom of the bodice.
Then I cut out 4 rectangles for the sleeves. Mine were 6.5″x8″ but I wish I’d cut mine a little narrower-more like 5 inches would have been better I think. You can measure around the shirt you used to trace to find out how long they should be, then add seam allowance to that measurement.
I also cut two strips for the bottom of the dress-as wide as you want and then cut them selvage to selvage to make sure they are long enough.
Cut out 4 bodice pieces on the fold as well.
Then I folded my fabric and cut out 2 pieces on the fold for the skirt, using the bottom of the pattern I traced earlier. You can measure an existing dress to find the length you want.
Then I figured out how long I wanted the dress part to be, and cut the sides in a slight A-line.
Next sew long sides of 2 of the rectangles right sides together…repeat for other 2.
Then turn your sleeves right sides out, press, and top stitch along the sides.
Then sew a gathering stitch along the short ends of all 4 ends.
Next gather all the ends to be the same width and tie off the thread tails to keep them secure…then pin them about 1/2″ from the edge of the top of the bodice. Baste them in place.
Then pin another bodice piece on top and sew together along the curved armholes and top.
Turn right side out and press.
Then repeat the same steps with the other bodice pieces.
Next open up each side of the bodice like so.
Pin them right sides together, sew, and press with iron. Repeat for the other side.
Then I sewed the strips of contrast fabric to the bottom of the dress pieces.
Sew the sides of the dress together and sew.
I cut my pieces a little wide so I gathered it to fit the bodice, and sewed them right sides together, matching up the side seams.
Thank you Jess!
I absolutely love this dress! And the fabric makes it so much fun.
Check out Craftiness is not Optional for tons more tutorials on cute girl clothing and accessories.
And if you love the line, Fly A Kite, click on the link to see more of it’s cute fabrics!
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Have a great day! 
56 Comments
Here is the dress I made – I did add piping & did some ruffles at the hem. I look forward to feedback on how to fix the dress so it moves better for my girl. Thanks again for such a wonderful tutorial! I might try this again, using some knit fabrics – and I’ll make the A-line wider next time.
I made this pic “public” on FB, so hope you can see it:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152825787225113&set=a.10150968535365113.776040.766570112&type=1&theater
I just finished my version of this dress for my daughter who is Thomas the Train obsessed. It is my hope that she would want to wear this out instead of her Thomas pj’s.
Unfortunately, the fabric I found & used is a heavy woven (quilting cotton). It doesn’t give her enough room the legs to move as freely as she needs. Suggestions on a fix? A slit in the back? Add fabric to the side seams? Crop the dress into a tunic and sew matching shorts, skirt, or pants?
I am a real novice – never made a dress before…suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
…I linked to my FB picture of the dress – not sure how else to show you.
Thanks – love your dress tutorial!
Thank you so so much for this wonderful idea….I have made it for various little girls already and for my daughter as a top, not a dress. You have inspired me with drawing own patterns, thanks again
Made this sweet dress last weekend and love it! The only issue I had was the head hole ended up being super tight for both my daughters.. Next time I would somehow factor in a button hole on the back or make the sleeves wider. Thanks for a cute tutorial!
ok, thank you! this dress is SO adorable I cant wait to see how it turns out! thanks for such a wonderful tutorial and dress idea!
Hi Emily! Thank you for your question! Jess says if you pin the bodice and skirt together, center the bottom of the bodice curve with the middle of the skirt curve, and pin starting in the middle and working your way out…then the curves will fit each other-it will look weird at first but will come together. Have a wonderful day Emily and good luck with your dress!
somebody help! ok so mine looks exactly step for step the same…until I get to the part of pinning the bodice onto the skirt part….when I lay them out before pinning with the skirt underneath the bodice it looks the same as her picture with the arch going up…but…when I turn either the bodice or the skirt upside down such as you have to do in order to put right sides together….the arches don’t line up! they are now opposite eachother….does that make sense? im so confused!!
TKS so much for the tutorial! It made easy and simple to make my dd a cute dress!
Joana
Hi Carolyn! I will try to answer your question to the best of my ability.
The blogger gathered the skirt a little bit in the front and back centers. It looks like she only did it enough to fit exactly the bodice. You could possibly do this by sewing a basting stitch where you want it to gather and then full the fabric there. It will not show when it’s sewn to the top. Then you line the bodice and the skirt right sides together. She placed the skirt inside the bodice and sewed them together. Does that help at all? – Shirley 
I have been making this dress and all was goin
g really well until I came to join the bodice and the skirt. I am really confused by how to do it and everything seems to get in the way. Can you please give any advice? thanks .
Love the Fly A Kite fabric!! Great tutorial with lots of photos =)
Hi Louise! Your dress turned out so cute! I love the fabric you chose. Good luck with the rest of your sewing week! – Shirley
Hiya,
I made this dress last week and it is adorable. I wrote about it on my blog here !
http://cookiescakescondiments.blogspot.co.nz/
Thanks for a great tutorial! All the way from New Zealand!
Louise
You’re welcome, Lauren! We are so happy you loved the tutorial. I bet it is adorable! Thanks for sharing! – Shirley
I am an extremely beginner (okay maybe not sooooo beginner as I think I am) But I just tried this this morning, and although I couldn’t work out the sleeves, I made an attempt and it worked out better then I could have imagined! Thank you so much for the detailed tute! x
I bet it is adorable! If you post it to your blog, let us know. We’d love to see it! – Shirley
I made this dress tonight, it is such a cute idea. I can’t wait for my daughter to wear it tomorrow.
thanks for this awesome pattern. I made 2 of these for my granddaughters. It was super easy!
holy cute! i love this dress!
Love, love, love this, especially the sleeves. So cute!
Thanks so much Emily! The dress is so cute! I love the fabrics you chose. Thanks so much for reading and your comment. Have a great day! – Shirley
Hey there I just made this today and I am in love with it!! It was easy and very cute. I mentioned your link so peep can find your tut and to give credit where credit is due:)! Thank you so much for sharing such wonderful tuts!! Luv, Em
it’s gorgeous. i will put this on my “once i learn how to sew” list
Hi Andrea! We believe they were 5/8″ sized covered buttons. Thanks! – Shirley
What sized covered button did you use for this dress?
Meg – it is so cute!!! I love how you made it a fancy dress. Your daughter is beautiful!
Thanks for the tutorial! I made one for my daughter and it turned out cute! I wrote about it here: http://craftingmakestheheartgrowfonder.blogspot.com/2012/05/lets-go-fly-kite-sundress.html
Gonna give this a try! Also, LOVE the princess bandaide!
What size t-shirt do you use in making the pattern? Love the dress. I hope to make them
for my granddaughters
This is awesome! I’m excited to attempt to make this for my daughter. Thanks again for an amazing tutorial!
Today, I have read 5 tutorials on baby clothes… But, it looks like very easy and complete suitable for me.. Because, I’m beginner in sewing and trying to make it happen for my little angel. Thanks for sharing…
@Dana-I would use a tee that is a size up from what your kiddo normally wears if it’s too tight. I don’t have that issue, but my kids are like beanpoles.
Also, to make sure it will be big enough, measure around your kiddos chest and compare that to the pattern, and enlarge as needed. Hope this helps!
I am new to ‘making my own pattern” and I completely botched this! It was WAY to tight to get on my two year old. Sigh. How do you know how big to draw it? I traced a t-shirt but it was stretchy and the fabric I sewed with was not… I think that was my problem.
This is awesome! And so easy to follow I made two today for my almost 3 year old with remnants that I bought a while ago. I didn’t do contrasting fabric–just the top part and a gathered skirt. So cute. And now she has two cute dresses! Thanks for sharing!!
@ Samantha-I’m sorry if the pictures don’t show enough…basically you are opening the sides up, then pinning and sewing them right sides together, lining up the seam that was created when you sewed across the top and down the armholes. I hope this helps!
Hi! I’m almost done with mine, (I’m a beginning/intermediate sewer, so I’m still learning a thing or two) but I”m stuck at the part where you are closing up the sides of the bodice, when you open them up. I can’t follow the pictures. Any help?
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This dress is SO CUTE, and I love the Fly a Kite fabric you used. Perfect pairing! I want to try to make this in my size!
Amazing dress. Cannot wait to make one! Thank you for sharing ♥
Hi Melissa! This fabric is Fly a Kite for Riley Blake. It has such beautiful fabric in the line! Click the link to see it.
Hey guys! Thanks so much for the nice comments! To answer your questions-it slips over heads very easily! My daughter has a 90th percentile noggin and it slipped on with nary a problem!
I’m sorry, I don’t know where I got the fabric on my ironing board-I’ve had it for a looong time.
So cute, thanks, did it just slip on? Or is there a fastening?
This is darling. What is that fabric with the children?
I love this dress, it’s darling! I have a cute knit fabric that would be adorable but it looks like you used a woven? Do you think either would work well?
I love the flower fabric on the covered buttons- brilliant!! Jess, you make the best little dresses.
So cute. Is it hard to get it on over her head without a zipper or buttons? Thanks
i Love how you make your own patterns….im still trying to work up the nerve to do that because i would really like to sew my daughter a dress.
thanks for inspiring!
this dress is adorable! i can’t wait to make one for my granddaughter.
Wowza! That is just too adorable. Thank you!
Such a lovely dress. Thanks for the great tutorial. Pinning it.
Fabulous tutorial!! Thank you!
So cute and perfect for spring/summer, great job!
darling! i can’t wait to try this out.
what is the fabric on your ironing board? it is lovely!
I love this!!! So beautiful. I can’t wait to try this tutorial out!!
Oh wow!! I can’t wait to try this!!
Fabulous, you make it look so easy. Well done