Baby Dress - Free Sewing Pattern and Tutorial

Inspired by my tiny pink baby dress, I wanted to create one in a similar style in a larger size. When giving baby gifts, I like to give larger sized clothing as well as newborn.

I couldn't find a free pattern for what I was after. I can't really afford to buy lots of girls patterns, seeing as I have two boys and will never get much use out of them.

Here is the dress I came up with.

Instead of puchasing a pattern, I decided to have a go at making one myself. This style really only needs a simple bodice pattern.

I handsewed on a line of ric rac and a ric rac flower. I love this dress! :)

The book I used to draft this pattern can be found on Book Depository*, I think it is really good. I got lazy on the final dress, but I originally planned to have the back of the skirt to open completely with buttons. Here is a practice dress, that I ended up gifting to a friend because it turned out to be a good fit.

I will be releasing more free patterns too! I will be putting the pattern testing call out on the Sew Jereli Facebook page, so come over and like the page for updates :)


Click the link to download the free baby dress pattern.

Note: I tried this on my 16month old and it did still fit, though getting on the snug side :) It was more of a tunic length haha.

Also! Please check out my free Pajama Pants Pattern in sizes 18months to 5 years. It would be a perfect gift for an older brother or sister of the new bub :)

Baby Dress Tutorial Size 6 - 12 months

Cut list:

• 1 front bodice on fold - main fabric
• 1 front bodice on fold - lining fabric
• 2 back bodice - main fabric
• 2 back bodice - lining fabric

• 1 piece main fabric for skirt - 14.5" by the width of fabric

• 2 strips interfacing 2" x 6.5"

Depending on the option you choose:

• Button placket skirt - 2 strips light fusible interfacing 1" x 13"

or

• Part opening skirt with placket - Piece of main fabric measuring 7" by 2.5"

Seam allowances:
Hem and button placket 1" double fold
Top of skirt and bottom of bodice 1/2"
Rest of the bodice, 3/8" or 1cm

Directions

There are two options for the skirt, please choose one.


Skirt Option 1 - Button placket opening

• Iron the 2 short sides of the skirt in 1inch. Fold and press again for a double fold 1" placket. Place the 1" strip of interfacing glue side down in the crease guide that you just made, refold and press to adhere. Sew the placket closed, close to the edge.

Skirt Option 2 - Part opening

• Sew the two short ends of the skirt piece together with your preferred seam allowance, stopping and back stitching approximately 3.5" from the top. This will form a tube. You can leave this seam as is, simply pressing the seam allowance flat, and attaching the bodice. Or alternately, you can follow this great tutorial and make a placket, similar to the one featured on this baby dress.

Skirt Hem

• Make a double fold hem for the bottom of the skirt by ironing up 1" twice, same as the placket. Sew the hem. Sew gathering stitches at the top of the skirt ready for later. Alternately, you can fit approximately eight 1inch pleats, 4 in front and 4 in back.

Bodice

• Sew the shoulder seams, lining to lining and main fabric to main. Press seams open. Press the bottom of the bodice up on the wrong side about 3/4" or 1cm, this is just to make a nice crisp guide to use later on when attaching the skirt and enclosing the seams.

• Place the lining and main fabric bodice right sides together. Sew around the armhole seams (not the side seams). Starting and ending 1/2inch from the edge, sew up the center back, around the neck and back down the centre back. It is important to start and stop 1/2" short on the center back seams, because we will attach the skirt here.

• Clip curves, trim seams and turn right side out. Iron.
  
• To close the armhole, open up the two sides and match right side together, lining with lining, main with main, sew.

Attach Skirt To Bodice

• Gather the skirt or create pleats, so that the skirt length matches the length of bodice. Move the lining of the bodice out of the way, sew the skirt to the bodice main fabric, right sides together. In the picture you can see I am holding the lining back and matching the bodice to the skirt.

• Turn the skirt seam allowance up under the lining fabric. Here is where the guide you ironed earlier should come in handy. Pin the lining fold over the seam line you just sewed. From the outside, sew the lining closed. You can do this by carefully stitching in the ditch, or with a top stitch. You can also hand sew the lining to the skirt.

• Sew the buttons and buttonholes. Add any trims you want. You are done :

If there are any issues that come up please do not hesitate to contact me by email at sewjereli@ymail.com

Please do not copy or redistribute this pattern, but direct others to this page.

:) x

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