I love this dress from Free People. I made a simplified version of it using some soft beige cotton lycra knit:
The dress pieces were so large it was hard to get a good photo of them so I’ve drawn several diagrams instead:
Step 1: First, I cut 2 large rectangles of knit fabric….
…..and then cut out the dotted lines to form the shape as shown below (the measurements are how I made mine):
Step 2: I cut 2 pieces for the bottom ruffle….you may need to sew multiple pieces together so it is long enough to attach to the entire bottom section of the dress once ruffled:
Step 3: With the right sides of the main dress pieces places together, I sewed the seams shown below closed:
Step 4: I turned the dress right side out again and used a coverstitch to hem the top of the dress. You can also use a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch as long as you stretch the knit as you so as to not “pop” any stitches when you put the dress on.
Step 5: To gather the knit ruffle, I added elastic thread to my bobbin (regular thread on top) to my regular sewing machine…..the elastic thread gathers the knit:
Step 6: I attached the ruffles to the bottom of the dress by stitching along the gathering stitch:
Step 7: To make the straps I cut three 3/4″ strips of fabric for each one…..
A straight stitch keeps both ends of the braid secure:
Step 8: I tried the dress on to get the placement of the straps perfect and pinned them in place in the front.
A few stitches to keep the strap in place:
I attached the back straps and voila! A finished sundress! (or maternity dress?)
I’ll post more as I make them….my next one needs to be a tad shorter I think:
So cute! I think I found myself a project for the day! Thanks for sharing…and CONGRATULATIONS on your news!!!!
Lovely! Thank you for this beautiful tutorial.
you are so good at simplifying everything 🙂 thanks a ton for the tutorial!
This is great, thank you so much!
Your dress is pure loveliness…and congrats on your exciting news!!!! What a blessing!
What a perfect sundress! I am 7 months pregnant and could use a comfy dress! This may be it!
Ashley, I love it! Looks cute & comfy … just right! Thanks for the how to!
this is my kind of dress! super comfy to wear all day! thanks for sharing!
For the top part taking your size as example how wide is it cut. And the armholes how much is cut out. I am so going to make me a few thanks for posting.
Great tutorial, and congratulations on our pregnancy Ashley!! What great timing I have (I’m expecting too!!) Gonna be gobbling up all the maternity tutorials 🙂
Love it!!! Thank you for the great tutorial!!<3
Fabulous! love it! Pinned this for later!
AWESOME!!! I think I *need* to make one for myself tomorrow or this weekend.. my belly needs space! I checked out the Free People site… I think you would look gorgeous in the FP ONE Wavebreak Smocked Tube Dress… so pretty! Thanks for the tutorial!!!!
Gorgeous!
Can I just pay you or one of your amazing seamstresses to make it for me? Pretty please? 😉
Those red shoes in the F.P. Ad are killer too. I loooove that dress. Reminds me of the square top plus a ruffle! Which I was able to whip 2 up before we left for Florida! Thx!
Very beautiful! The changes you made in the model, was much more appropriate.
I love this! I am going to make it this weekend. Thanks so much!
Perfect!!! This is just what I was needing for this hot and humid weather. I was wanting to make a cool summer dress and this is it!
I think it is so amazing that you can see something in a magazine and just whip it up like that! You’re my hero. *dreamy gaze*
Thanks for a tutorial on something for grown up girls!
i actually like the length! kinda sick of dresses that show to much skin [not from you, just in general], so the length is refreshingly modest. 🙂
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing how you did it!
Wanted to let you know this is on my fave DIY list on http://jessalynnedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/07/diy-top-5-fave-diy-on-pinterest.html. Can’t wait to show you my version. Thanks for the great Tutorial!
I bought 2 yards of grey stretchy knit this weekend to make this, I don’t think it will be enough now! Do you know approx how much you used?
I wanted this FP dress, it’s so cute! Where did you get the material for your dress? It is difficult to find fabrics that aren’t for quilting or kids.
Thanks!
Thanks so very much for the Cascading Ruffle Skirt – it is so wonderful of you to offer this to us. looking forward to making one this week. have the perfect young lady to make it for too. Thanks
Thanks so much! This is awesome! I am very excited to make one of these!!
I want you to know that you look awesome in that dress. Way better than the stick figure modeling the original.
Will elastic thread work in any sewing machine?
I just want you to know, that I like your version so much better than the original! Thank you for the inspiration. 🙂