Easiest Pillowcase Dress with size chart
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Love beginner sewing projects for kids? This ultimate pillowcase dress is the perfect project! Here’s how to make an easy to sew, cute and comfy DIY pillowcase dress!
Pillowcase Dress
Beginner sewing projects for kids are awesome, just like this pillowcase dress! These type of dresses are so much fun to make, not to mention cute as a button! I find them also crazy easy to sew too! You simply cut out a basic shape dress and hem it! Add a little detail here and there, like a pretty ribbon as I did here, on this project, and you got yourself a fabulous dress in no time!
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Plus a pillowcase dress is so comfortable to wear, my little one loves wearing these at school. She is very active and a dress like this gives her freedom to move. And she is such a girly girl, she loves anything pink, dots and bows so I think my fabric choice and the ribbon are perfect for this pillowcase dress tutorial.
How to make a pillowcase dress for a little girl?
This pillowcase dress and the tutorial is for a size 4, as my daughter’s, but you can easily adjust it to larger or smaller sizes. Add or subtract a couple of inches to the length and width of the fabric (an inch might be enough in most cases), for each size up or down. For the armhole, add or subtract 1″ from the top and 1″ from the side when cutting down, for each size up or down.
How to make a pillowcase dress from fabric?
For this dress pattern you have the option to use a large pillowcase for a quicker and easier project. But you can also create the dress from scratch, using regular fabric, as I did if you’re feeling adventurous, don’t have a spare pillowcase or simply want to sew the dress in the fabric you love!
If you use a pillowcase, keep the already sewn sides of the pillowcase as the sides of your dress and the open end of the pillowcase as the hem of the dress. Cut the top of the pillowcase and use it to construct the top of the dress as indicated in the below tutorial.
If you are using regular fabric, follow all the steps in the below tutorial.
That’s the beauty of beginner sewing projects for kids, they’re so easy to adjust ans customize! Click the link below to see how to make a pillowcase dress yourself.
Pillowcase dress pattern
Materials needed:
- 100% cotton fabric (plenty of gorgeous options here, here and here). You’ll need 2 panels of 21″ x 26″ for front and back to make a size 4 dress.
- size chart – download from here
- scissors
- fabric marker
- pinking sheers (optional; I used them to cut the ribbon)
- ribbon for the bow and to add as detail to the hem
- matching or contrast thread
- sewing machine
- pins
- single fold bias binding (make your own with this tutorial)
hello I saw on line regarding pillowcase dresses for an org. is that correct.?
I have looked at SO many tutorials for making a pillowcase dress. Yours is the best! I needed clarification for the armhole finishing, and your pictures are wonderful! THANK YOU!!
Thanks for your lovely comment, Debra! I’m happy you found my tuturial easy & informative!
excellent tutorial thank you!!!the measures given are with seam margins?
Hi Eirini! Thanks for your lovely comment! The measurements include a 1/2″ allowance.
Hi! Petro, I would like to make this dress for my 2 year old Granddaughter and her baby doll. I was wondering how wide the satin ribbon was that you have here? I love poka dots too, but I have a multi coloured chevron that I have for both my Granddaughter and her baby doll.
Thanks, Joan
Hi Joan. I believe the ribbon is about 1″ wide.
hi, what is the approximate length of the ribbon?
Hi Natasha. About 13 feet for the straps & the trim.
Yours is the most thorough tutorial I’ve seen on Pinterest yet. Thank you so much
Hi Joyce! Thank you so much! You made my day :)
Pls how the do you determine the width of the fabric..? Want to make it for my daughter who is 2… Wonderful tutorial.
Hi Sarah. Thanks for your interest in my tutorial. There are instructions in the tutorial, right above the materials, for making the pattern smaller or larger: “This pillowcase dress tutorial is for a size 4, as my daughter’s, but you can easily adjust it to larger or smaller sizes. Add or subtract a couple of inches to the length and width of the fabric, for each size up or down. For the armhole, add or subtract 1″ from the top and 1″ from the side when cutting down, for each size up or down.” Hope this helps.
Great tutorial, thank you for sharing .
Very pretty. Can’t go past polka dots.
Thank you Pam. Polka dots are my daughter’s favorites!