Summer Dress for Emersyn

I saw this style dress on Pinterest and thought I could do one like it.  Once I figured out my fabric combination, ALWAYS takes longer than the actual work, I started out with measuring and figuring out yardage for this little dress. So I took raw photo's of what I came up with and will share here what I can.

Using a dress that I bought from Old Navy, I measured the chest area across the front. Multiplied that by 2 plus an 1".  That was the top of the dress.   My measurements were 18.5"X5".

 I ironed this in half lengthwise so I would have a crease as a guide.

Next I cut my fabric for the skirt which was 22.5"X11", twice, so you have a front and back. Or you can cut it once on the fold. I had to cut mine twice to get the nap going the way I wanted it.   

The fabric I used is a favorite brand that has absolutely the best designs out there, to me, .  This is a floral collection called Flower Sugar from Lecien fabrics.  As you can see this one has borders which makes it look like you have layers of ruffles.

Sew both sides of your skirt and gather it to the measurements that you need to match the chest measurements.  This dress was 18" around.  Once it is gathered to that, then take your upper bodice piece and open it up to the full 5" and sew your ends together. Always remember you stitch pretty to pretty.  Attach the bodice to the skirt like in photo

Pin well all the way around and take to your machine and stitch together.  Remove pins and if you have a serger, take your folded guide and bring it back to the edge.  Making it nice and neat.

 Photo is after you finish stitching and before serger.

Once it is serged then I turn on to the pretty side and do a topstitch on the outside to help keep it down.

 I also added the bow from the skirt fabric.(measurements: 10.5X4.25".)  Sew pretty to pretty lengthwise of the bow fabric.  Turn inside out and make a long tube.  Next stitch your ends together. ( I serged mine). Put the end toward the middle so it won't show up when stitching it down.  Gather your bow in the middle and use a small strip of fabric for the center.  Wrap it around the bow making sure you make it as tight as you can to complete your pretty bow.  I hand stitched the bow onto the bodice.

Almost done.  Now I take my hem sashing and stitch the ends and iron in half and attach to the bottom of the dress. As you can see from the photo, I again serged my sashed hem to the dress. 

Last is attaching the straps.  I made my straps narrow, but you can make them as wide as you would like.  I think mine were 2X7".  Again, stitch pretty to pretty lengthwise and turn your tube.  I tucked my ends and sewed them to the dress at the top of the dress in front.  I added button  holes in the back and placed buttons on the straps.  You can also velcro, snap, or make your straps longer and knot the ends.  Photo shows straps looking too short, but they were knotted in back through the button hole just for picture purpose. 

Now you have your completed Sun Dress for a little one.  

Hope you will give this a try and if you are intimidated to try you can always buy a pattern.  McCalls has something similar. It really is a very easy dress to make with or without the pattern.  Enjoy and let me know if you did make one.