Sequin Pillowcase Flower Girl Dress

So it seems like I am all about sequins lately, with my last few posts being sequin oriented. But truth be told, the sequin pillowcase flower girl dress you are seeing today was sewn more than a year ago! I am just now bringing it back home. It was first featured in the inaugural Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Spring LookBook last year, and the DIY can now be found hanging in their stores.  This dress is super fun, and perfect for those special occasions like weddings, or EASTER.

I wanted to appeal to a wider range of audience, so based the dress off of a classic pillowcase dress pattern – and then simply made easy alterations. Naturally you do not need to use sequin fabric for your version – I simply did because I wanted something sparkly for the photos. But trust me when I say…not every kid likes wearing sequins. My youngest loves it and will dress up like a princess any day of the week, on the other hand…my eldest prefers dresses to be more comfortable and in knit cotton. So knowing your child’s preferences before sewing a fancy dress is imperative.

Sew a Sequin Pillowcase Flower Girl Dress – DIY.

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MATERIALS:

• ⅜ yard sequin fabric
• 1 yard lining (satin, cotton, silk, or other basic color)
• 1.5 yard lightweight tulle sold by the yard
• 16” of ¼” elastic
• 2 yards of 2” silk Ribbon
• Scissors
• Pin or Clips
• large Safety Pin
• Matching Thread
• Sewing Machine, needles, etc.
• Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Shoulder Tie Toddler Dress pattern

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HOW TO:

1. Print out or draw the Shoulder Tie Toddler Dress Pattern to size. We will use this pattern for your basic lining.

2. Using your pattern pieces, cut (2) on the fold from the lining fabric.

3. Now cut your paper pattern pieces on the dashed line, or the ‘Cut Lining Here’ pattern line, for both the Front and Back pattern pieces.

4. From the new top bodice front and back pattern pieces, cut (1) Front on the Fold, and (1) Back on the Fold, of the sequin fabric.

5. Using the new bottom dress paper pattern pieces for length, cut (4) pieces of tulle (tulle panels) the same length by width of fabric. *Optional, for a fuller tulle skirt – cut more tulle panels.

6. Take (2) of the tulle panels and place them together, matching up all raw edges. Pin the top edges together, and sew a row of gathering stitches along the top. Gather top edge by gently pulling on the bobbin thread, until your tulle panels are the same length as the bottom of your sequin bodice. Place the gathered tulle edge right sides together with the sequin bodice bottom edge, pin together and sew. Repeat for other (2) tulle panels and back sequin bodice.

7. Place front and back sequin and tulle dress pieces right sides together, and pin the side seams of the sequin bodice only. Sew carefully using a sharp needle, going slowly with your speed so as not to break your needle when sewing over the sequins. Set aside for a moment.

8. Take your dress lining front and back and place right sides together. Match up the side seams, pin and sew. (*Do not sew arm curve together, just the side seam). Zig zag stitch along the raw edge to finish.

9. Turn the bottom hem of the lining ¼” towards wrong side and press. Turn again ½”, press and sew to hem.

10. Please pay careful attention to the following steps. The sequin dress AND the lining dress should both be RIGHT SIDE OUT. Slip the lining over the sequin dress, matching up the side seams and top edges of the bodice.

11. Pin together the top straight edge of the bodice front and back. Sew, once again sewing carefully over the sequins.

12. Pin the side arm curve together, matching up the side seam. Leave the top 1” open of the curve, where the curve meets the top straight edge of the back and front bodice. Sew around bottom curve.

13. Turn right side out, and gently press out edges using your fingers. Sew a straight line across 1” down from the top bodice straight edge on the front and back, creating a casing for your elastic in the next step.

14. Attach safety pin to one end of the ¼” elastic, and gently thread through the front and back casing in the bodice. Be sure to hold onto the opposite end of the elastic as you are threading through, so you don’t lose it inside the casing! Once all the way around, bring both ends of the elastic together and pin. Using a zig zag stitch, go back and forth over the ends to secure. Twist elastic so that the sewn ends are inside casing.

15. Wrap 2” silk ribbon around the waist a couple of times and pull tight. Tie in front or back.

And you are finished!

See below for more photos taken from this photoshoot, including me squeezing on the bottom portion of my wedding dress (It fit! That was a miracle in itself). As well as the super simple and easy ribbon I tied around my hair for a classic wedding hair accessory.

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Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!