Summer Dress Pattern For Women With Gathered Waist

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A gathered waist dress pattern is the perfect clothing item for summer! Fun and easy to sew, this women summer dress pattern and tutorial is suitable for all levels.

Gathered Waist Dress Pattern

I love dresses, especially in summer when the weather is too hot to bear! This little summer dress pattern for women is simple but elegant for day, it feels comfortable without compromising style and looks great on lots of body shapes.

I love a lot of things about this dress but the feature I appreciate the most is the slightly higher and loose waist as I kind of hate anything tight on my waist! I also think that it elongates my figure so that I appear slimmer and taller, just like a real super model (just kidding, haha!)

And it’s so incredibly easy to make! This gathered waist dress is basically an A line dress with a slightly gathered waist. I wanted to make my summer dress pattern as simple as possible by eliminating the use of bias tape for neckline and armholes. Because let’s face it, bias tape can be a pain when used to finish those tricky areas.

I wanted a quick and easy sew and that’s what I got with my womens summer dress! I think the dress looks simply fabulous! And I had so much fun making it and modeling, with my little 6 years old niece taking the photos; it was a hoot! Isn’t she so talented?

You can make your own summer dress pattern using any A line dress to draw your pattern then follow this simple tutorial. Or you can purchase my pattern if you are a size 8 (European 38) or get it free when you join my sewing newsletter.

Summer dress pattern

Materials:

Fabric for dress 2 yards (I used a soft cotton) – similar here
fabric for lining 2 yards (I used white chiffon)
1/8″ elastic
button
fabric pen
pins
scissors
matching thread
sewing machine
pattern (optional)

Directions:

Start by washing and ironing your fabric and lining.
Make your pattern using an A line dress or download mine from here. This is how your pieces should look like once assembled.

Cut the fabric and lining pieces, on the fold, making sure to add 1/4″ allowance and about 2″ for the hem.
Match the back pieces for dress and lining.

Fold in half

And cut a slit of about 6″ just down the middle

Match the dress pieces, right side together, pin at the shoulders and sew. Do the same for the lining pieces.

Make a tiny button loop. Take a small piece of fabric of 3″ by 1/2″, fold in half and iron, then fold each side in half and iron, then fold one more time using the initial fold and iron. You will probably find this loop to long and will need to trim once you attach it to the dress.

Match dress pieces and lining pieces, wrong sides together and pin all around the neckline.

Insert the little strip of fabric you just made as in the photo below.

Turn the dress right side out by dropping the lining through the neckline.

Trim the corners then gently push the out .

Sew around the slit as close to the edge as possible.

Sew around the neckline a 1/4″ seam then again as close to the edge as possible.

Sew the sides together on both the dress and the lining, making sure they’re facing inwards so they’re enclosed when the dress is done. Serge or zig zag to finish the seam.

With the dress right side out, work on the armholes. Turn the seam inside, all around the armhole, on both the dress and the lining so that the raw edges are facing together. Pin and sew, first the dress then the lining.

Match the dress and the lining at armhole, pin together and sew on the seam you just made before, when sewing the armhole towards the inside. Then do another stitch as close to the edge as possible.

Measure 7: down the armhole and make horizontal marks on the dress. This will be the waist. Then pin all the way around the waist making sure to catch both the dress and the lining.

Fold the dress inside, following the pins mark, then remove the pins and pin a shown below

Make sure the dress and the lining are aligned at the hem before proceeding to the next step.

Sew a 1/4″ seam all around the waist following the pins mark, leaving a 2″ opening.

Thread the elastic through the waist, using a safety pin, then sew the opening closed.

Your waist should look like this now. Spread the gathers nicely so they’re even all around the waist line

Now all you have to do is make the hem on both the dress and the lining. Because the fabric was so thin, I wanted to make a narrow hem and I used this method here.
Add the button and you’re done! Enjoy your beautiful summer dress!

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Petro

Hi, I'm Petro, author and founder of Easy Peasy Creative Ideas. Sewist, crafter, avid DIY-er, foodie, photographer, homemaker and mommy to one. I'm an expert at coming up with quick, clever sewing tips, recycling crafts and simple, easy recipes! You can find my ideas featured in reputable publications such as Country Living, Good House Keeping, Yahoo News, WikiHow, Shutterfly, Parade, Brit & Co and more. Thanks for stopping by and hope you'll stay for a while, get to know me better and come back another time. Stick around for real fun projects!

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Women’s Gathered waist summer dress pattern

Gathered Waist Dress Pattern