Babydoll Dress Pattern

GAH!!! I cannot believe we are back to school shopping already! I know much of the country is already back in school, but here in Virginia Beach – we have a later start in September. (We also get out much later in mid – late June, so no worries – all is fair in the school system – ha!). But this gives us a late Summer together, with hot Summer beach nights and long sleepy mornings. I kind of love it and hope this never changes. But as we start to wind down and think back to school, the shopping or sewing begins.

As well as the shock. HAVE MY KIDS REALLY GROWN THAT MUCH IN JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS?!! Say it isn’t sooooo….time could seriously stop. Like. NOW!!!! In an effort to prepare them with as much handmade sewing love as possible, I like to make at least one handmade item for them each child to wear back to school.

Child #1 – the babydoll dress pattern. A comfortable dress, with a nice, loose bodice, comfortable waist and sleeves, and most important – breathable fabric.

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Babydoll Dress ePattern

sizes 2T thru 10

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This was a paid content post first seen on Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Creative Spark blog. Jo-Ann paid for the post content to be published on their website. All instructions and photos are my own. Thank you!

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Skill level: Advanced Beginner (familiar with sewing knits)
Time Needed: 2 – 3 hours

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Download the babydoll dolman dress pattern HERE
• 2 yards midweight knit fabric (ponte, jersey, slub knit, etc.)
• Fat quarter of contrasting woven fabric for the pocket
• Universal Ball Point sewing needle
• Coordinating thread
• Rotary cutter / fabric scissors
• Pins
• Iron
• Measuring tape
• Knit stay tape (optional)
• Sewing machine

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEWING THE BABYDOLL DRESS PATTERN:
Cut out pattern pieces as indicated. Tape pattern together, and cut out size needed. Cut out pattern from fabric as indicated.

1. Fold the side and bottom edges of the pocket pattern piece ½” towards the wrong side and press.
2. Finish the top raw edge of the pocket with a serger, zigzag stitch or pinking shears if desired. Fold top edge 2 ¼” towards the right side of the pocket and press.
3. Fold top edge of pocket back up and over, towards the back (wrong side), leaving a 1” band along the top edge. Press. Sew a rectangle around the upper band to secure in place.
4. Place pocket on top of bodice front as indicated on pattern markings, pin around the side and bottom edges. Sew in place, using a ⅛” seam allowance to secure.

5. Place bodice front and back right sides together, matching up shoulder seams. Pin and sew.
6. Measure around the circumference of your neckline and subtract 1”. Cut a 1 ¾” W strip of knit fabric along the bias, this measurement long. Fold bias strip in half, wrong sides together, matching up the long outer edge and press.
7. Unfold bias tape and place 2 short ends of bias tape wrong sides together, pin and sew using a ¼” seam allowance. Match the bias neckline seam with the center of the back bodice, and pin bias strip to neckline, stretching the bias strip to match the neckline width. Sew around using a serger, zigzag stitch, or stretch stitch as you sew.
8. Fold outer edge of bias tape towards the inside of the neckline, and pin in place, making sure to cover up the seam as you pin. Sew around using a long straight stitch or double needle to secure in place.

9. Fold sleeve cuff in half, matching up the outer edges (the edge opposite the fold line). Pin and sew. Fold sleeve in half, enclosing the raw seam, and press.
10. Sew a gathering stitch along the top ¼” edge of each skirt panel. Gently pull bobbin threads to gather the skirt, making sure the gathers are evenly spaced. Continue until the skirt is the same width as your bodice.
11. Pin the gathered edge of the skirt to the bottom of the bodice, right sides together. Sew using a ¾” seam allowance. Repeat for both front and back skirt panel.
12. Fold dress in half, right sides together, matching up the side seams. Pin and sew.

13. Slip sleeve cuff over the dolman sleeve of the dress, matching up the cuff seam with the side seam of your dress, as well as all raw edges. Pin in place and sew around, using a serger, zigzag stitch, or stretch stitch. Press seam up and edge stitch seam in place to secure, using a long straight stitch or double needle when sewing.
14. Hem the bottom of the dress, using knit stay tape if desired. Iron the dress for a nice, professional, clean finish.

And you are done!

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Different ways you can style this dress to last through Fall / Winter:

Pair it with a denim jacket or vest…

 

Pair it with a ¾ sleeve crop top or sweater…

Pattern used: Mingo & Grace Crop Set
Fabric used: Simple Luxuries Apparel Fabric-Laser Scuba Blue

Or both!

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

Happy sewing!