Start by cutting the fabrics for the Bodice: 2 times 12" x 20" - Fabric 1

Cut 4 piece of 13" x 4" - Fabric 1

Then cut 2 pieces of 24" x 13" for the skirt - Fabric 2 (if you want to make the skirt longer add an inch or two to the height)

Put bodice fabrics together facing wrong side

Decide which one is going to be the outer bodice

On the "outer" bodice fabric draw a circle for the neck using the measurements in the photo above.

Leave a 4" slit in the back.

Cut out the circle and cut down the slit.

Put the bodice fabrics right side together

Take the lace, elastic, ribbon etc piece and make a loop

Place the loop in between fabrics, on the slit, as close to the top as possible

Sew the fabrics together with 1/8" seam allowance, around the hole and line.

Clip around the circle as shown here.

Turn the fabrics right side out, finger press and iron press

Serge the top and bottom edges of the bodice. If you don't have a serger, use the zig-zag stitch on your machine to finish seams or fold fabric in twice, 1/8" each fold (note: this works well on thin to medium fabrics only)

Take the sleeve fabrics pieces and use something round like a bowl to round off the edges

Cut along the line

Put 2 fabric pieces right side together

Sew all around, leaving an opening on the straight side of the fabric, to turn the fabric right side out

Turn the fabric right side out and top stitch to close the sleeve opening

Finger press and iron press

Gather the sleeve using a loose stitch setting on your machine. Back stitch at one end, where you start sewing the loose stitch. When finish stitching, leave at least 6 cm = 2" long thread out. Pull fabric with one hand and on one thread with the other hand. Gather as much as you like.

Repeat for the other sleeve

Take your bodice, place the sleeve in between outer and inner bodice fabric, with the outer right side out, pin the sleeve centered on the hole for the neck and sew in place

Place the outer bodice over and stitch all the way through, stopping 1" before the ends

Take your skirt fabrics and serge on all sides or fold fabric twice as indicated above to finish the seams. If you use a serger, fold fabric twice only on the hem. Sew 2 stitches on the hem.

Gather the skirt fabrics so that they match the bodice' width

Take bodice and place right side out

Place gathered skirt fabric right side out in between bodice fabrics and stitch to the inner bodice fabric.

Place outer bodice over and stitch again