Perfectly easy dress

I made this sweet dress for my 4yr old a while back from Burda 9564. It is super simple and really cute so I made another one and took photos along the way. If you are a beginner sewer and want a simple yet cute dress to make, try this one and let me help you out!

I made View B and used a stretch corduroy fabric. The other one I made was a jersey. If you are a beginner, I recommend using something without too much stretch in it.

Cut out all pattern pieces in the correct size, pin to the fabric and cut out.

I use tailor's tacks to make my markings whilst other people prefer to transfer pattern markings using chalk or a washable marker. (I have to admit I don't always transfer pattern markings because I'm impatient, but things always come out better when I do, so it's good to get into the habit of doing it).

To make tailor's tacks, baste large loose stitches through the pattern marking and both pieces of fabric underneath.

Open up the fabric and cut the stitches in the center.

Pattern step 1 ~ pin the pleats down to the pleat line. You are folding the pleats inwards and into the center of the wrong side. When you have stitched up the pleats, make sure you iron them flat. Ironing your sewing will always give you a more professional looking finish.

Pattern step 2 ~ Put the back pieces with right sides together. Baste the center seam until you get to the marked line, then use a regular stitch. In this photo, I basted the center seam through the yellow pins and changed to a seam stitch for the white pins down.

Here you can see where my stitch changes.

Iron the seam open.

Snip the basting stitches all the way to where you changed stitch.

I serged the raw edges of this seam. You can also run a zig zag stitch down each side. This will stop it fraying.

Put the front dress piece onto the back with the right sides facing and pin at the shoulder seams. Stitch in place and finish the raw edges with a serger or zig zag stitch.

Pattern step 3 ~ fold your bias strip in half along the length and iron. Pin around the neckline with the raw edges matching.

Stitch, then trim the raw edges shorter, without cutting into your stitching.

Pattern step 4 ~ fold the bias strip over to the inside, pin and stitch in place.

Press the neckline so it looks flat like this.

Pattern step 5 ~ insert the invisible zipper into the back seam. This video tutorial explains really clearly how to put in an invisible zipper. It is very easy to do, once you get the hang of it. Don't be scared ~ try it!

Sew the side seams of the dress together.

Again, I finished the edges with the serger. You can also zig zag stitch.

Pattern step 6 ~ to hem my dress I went around the bottom with the serger, then pressed the seam up to the inside then went around the bottom with a straight stitch.

Pattern step 7 ~ You are now going to work on the sleeves. Baste 2 rows of stitches between the pattern markings. Next, hem the sleeves in the same way as you hemmed the bottom of the dress.

Where I serged the seams, you can also run a zig zag stitch along the edge, press to the inside with the iron and stitch with a straight stitch.

Pattern step 10 ~ Fold the sleeves in half length ways with the right sides facing in. Pin then stitch this seam.

Pattern step 11 ~ Turn the dress inside out. Turn the sleeve the right way out. Insert the sleeve into the armhole and pin together at the underarm seams, making sure the seams align. Match the pattern markings and gather the sleeve to fit the armhole by pulling on the bobbin threads of the basting stitches. This will gather up the fabric so that it will fit into the armhole. Make sure your gathers are even between the pattern markings.

Stitch all the way around and finish the seam allowances by trimming it and finishing with a serged edge or a zig zag stitch.

Sew the buttons onto the marked points. I only wanted 2 buttons on this dress instead of the 4 the pattern suggests. My mother in law gave me a bundle of these gorgeous ceramic buttons a while back for my birthday and I'm excited to have found a place to use a couple of them. Aren't they lovely?!

And there you go. If your model is slightly more compliant than mine, you may get a better photo than me! It's a cute and very easy dress. I hope I may have helped some of you make it.