Simple summer dress pattern for women

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

Simple summer Dress Pattern

I love dresses, especially in summer when the weather is too hot to bear! This simple summer dress pattern for women is both cute and 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 womens summer dress pattern 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!)

More women’s patterns you will love:

And it’s so incredibly easy to make! This gathered waist dress pattern is basically an A line dress with a slightly gathered waist. I wanted to make my simple summer dress pattern as easy 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 couldn’t do anything about eliminating the lining because my fabric was pretty sheer so that part involved a bit of an effort but nothing to worry about!

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

If you like my dress and decided to give it a try, you can purchase my pattern here, available in sizes 4 to 18.

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

Directions:

Prepare the fabrics

Start by washing and ironing your fabric and lining.
Download and print the pattern from here.
Cut the fabric and lining pieces, on the fold, making sure to add 1/4″ allowance and about 2″ for the hem.

Sew the dress pieces

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 & insert back loop

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 dress right side out

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

Trim the corners then gently push the out .

Top stitch 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.

Sew the armholes

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.

Make the gathered waist

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

Finish hem & button

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!