Maternity Dress Tutorial

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Maternity Dress TutorialA sweet and simple dress for any gal. Whether youreexpecting or not, this design is for just about any bodytype!

DIFFICULTY: medium

Materials needed:1/2 yard fabric for top1/4 yard lining for topElastic threadCoordinating multipurpose thread for fabricWater soluble marker or pencil*1 1/2 - 2 yards fabric for skirt (yardage will depend

on what style of skirt you make)

NOTE:In this tutorial, I only included a PDF pattern for the top.The skirt portion will be your design. There are instructioto help you attach the skirt to the top at the end of thistutorial.

All of the seams are sewn at 1/4 and make sure to serg

(or zig-zag) your raw edges as you go along to prvent an

Lastly, I am by no means a professional seamstress. No formal training in the art sewing or pattern making so if you have any questions, PLEASE feel free to contacme via blog (www.happyfind.typepad.com) and I will be MORE than happy to help!

pattern is for personal use and not for resale...thanks!

Happy sewing!!!


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Frontcut 2 of fabric

cut 2 of lining

backcut 1 of fabric

side panelscut 2 of fabric

strapscut 2 of fabric

lining for side panelscut 2 of fabric

13

1Using the PDF pattern, cut all of your pieces. Makesure your pattern is aligned with the grain of the fabric(FIG.1).

FIG. 1

and a notch alongthe bottom edge(this is your center).

Your pattern will have a notch on the sid

2

On your front pattern piece, you will

notice a notch on the sides and onein the center along the bottom edge.This will help you later on (FIG.2).

FIG

mark placement of

darts

FIG

FIG

draw a soft curve about4 from bottom of fabric

bottom of fabric

bring your dart markstogether and pin in place.

dart marks

1

2

and stitch.

FIG. 4

14

Take both of your FRONT pieces of cut fabric andhave the RIGHT SIDES face down (FIG.2). Alignyour pattern on top of the fabric like shown in fig.2.There are two small lines along the bottom of thepattern. These are guides for your darts. Using a

water soluble marker or pencil, make a mark on the

WRONG SIDE of your fabric. Flip your patternover, aligning it on the left side of the fabric andmark your darts as well (FIG.3). Repeat thisprocess with your other FRONT piece of fabric.

Take one of your top pieces (doesnt

matter which one) and with the WRONGside facing you, fold fabric over, matchinthe dart marks. Pin in place.

Using your water soluble marker or pencdraw a soft or slight curve 4 inches fromthe mark as shown in FIG.4.

Stitch over your curve. Make sure to

backstitch the ends so your darts wontcome undone! Repeat this process on thother side and on the other FRONT pieceof fabric.


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17

16

18

15 Your darts should look like this (FIG.5)

FIG.5

wrong side of fabric

FIG

Its important to have a soft curve to your darts so thatwhen the fabric lays on your body, it has a more naturaland flattering look (FIG.6).

Tip

Stitch your FRONT lining piece and SIDEPANEL LINING pieces with the RIGHT SIDfacing each other as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG.6

FIG

Matching notches, stitch your FRONT pieceand SIDE PANELS together with RIGHT

SIDES facing each other. **Notches are notshown in picture**. FIG.7

Set aside.

Grab your straps, fold in half (WRONG SIDE out) and sew a 1/4 seam. Turn RIGHT SIDE out, ironand topstitch sides as close to the edge as possible. (FIG.8 & 9)

FIG.8 FIG


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FIG.10

19

111

110

112

Now these next few steps may be a bit tricky.

Attach your straps to the FRONT FABRIC asshown in FIG.10. In order to find the right locatifor the straps, place the FRONT FABRIC pieceover your chest and pin in place. Once pinned,stitch in place (about 1/8 from edge, just to holdin place).

I purposely made the straps long becuase everygals body is different, right? So take measure-ment for desired length and mark your strapswith a 1/4 allowance.

With your mark, align the strap along the top rawedge of the SIDE PANEL and about 1 from rawedge side (FIG.11).

Make sure your straps are not twisted and stitchabout 1/8 from edge just to hold in place.FIG.11

Now take your lining piece and frontpiece and pin along the top edge asshown in FIG.12 with RIGHT SIDESfacing each other. Stitch 1/4 from edge.Cut any extra strap fabric.

Turn fabric over with RIGHT SIDESfacing out. Iron seams.

FIG.12

You see the exposed edge of the FRONT LINING in FIG.13? Not pretty. Fold 1/4 from the edge andhand stitch along the folded edge. It gives a more finished look and keeps the lining in place (FIG.14

FIG.13 FIG


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113

FIG.15

FIG.

116

115

114

Turn your piece over, RIGHT SIDE up and topstitchabout 1/8 (or closer) from top edge (FIG.15).

Woohoo! Were almost done withthe top!!! Set piece aside (FIG.16).

FIG.17

With your BACK PANEL, fold 1/2 from rawedge of long side. Iron. Take that fold and foldin half, tucking raw edge on the inside. Youshould end up with a 1/4 double fold as showin FIG.17. Stitch in place.

Turn fabric over with RIGHT SIDE up andwith a watersoluble marker or pencil,starting from where your stitched,make1/2 marks along the short raw edge down.Continue making marks across the fabriclengthwise. This will be your guide whenyou are applying the elastic shirring(FIG.18 & 19).

1/2 mark

FIG

FIG.19


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120

117Wind some elastic thread onto your bobbin. Not too loose and nottoo tight.

TipNever shirred before?Check out these links tohave a better understan

ing on how to do it!

www.craftstylish.com/item/27550/ho

to-create-elastic-shirring

www.kukyideas.com/journal/2007/0hirred-dress-tutorial.html

www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-shirred-fabric-summer-dres

118Start shirring by using the marked guidelines onyour fabric (FIG.20).

FIG.20

119 Shirring done!(FIG.21)FIG.21

FIG.22

Pin the raw edges of your shirred piece to the rawedges of SIDE PANELS of your top with RIGHTSIDES facing each other. Stitch and serge or zig-zag edges (FIG.22).

121

Press seams outwar

towards SIDE PANE(FIG.23).

FIG.23


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12

11

123

122Turn piece RIGHT SIDE out and top stitch about 1/8 from seam(FIG.24).

FIG.24

Yippee! Were gettin there...

almost done...

(FIG.25)

Set aside and lets get

started on the skirt!

FIG.25

The skirtWhether you like it long or short or perhaps you want to make it into a tunic, you can add any design of sko this pattern to make it truly your own. First, you will need to take measurements of your body to deter-

mine the desired length. For length, start from just below your breast. For width, measure the widest part your hips and the bottom opening of the top.

Just remember to always add extra fabric depending on the style of the skirt and dont forget seam allow-

ance!When measuring the top, take your measuring tape and

measure the bottom openening . Gently stretch shirringout as you are measuring. ***Add about 1/2 seamallowance for both front and back .***

Once you have decided on a style of skirt, cut yourfabric accordingly.


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13Cut a small notch or mark the front center of your skirt.This will help you when youre sewing the top to the skirt(FIG.1)

FIG.1

14When you are designing your skirt,make sure the top of the skirt is thesame measurment as the bottom ofthe top.

Take your top piece, turn it inside outhaving the bottom edge align with the

top of skirt.

Pin together, matching the notchesand seams (FIG.2 &3)

FIG.2

FIG.3

15On the BACK SIDE, gently stretch outhe shirring and pin (FIG.4 & 5).

FIG.4

FIG

16Stitch in place. When you reach to the shirring part, gently stretch out and sew. ***Either serge orzig-zag your raw edges to prevent any fraying.***

Hem the bottom and youre done!!!! Yahoo!!!


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Documents

Maternity Dress Tutorial