Step-by-step - Young Look dress

This simple dress is ideal for our sewing novices.  Here, we guide you step-by-step to a successful conclusion – without any pattern whatsoever!
 

 

 

Cutting out

Measure the widest part of your body – generally the hips. For size 36, the measurement is 93 cm. Add on approx. 8 cm. This means that for size 36, you’ll be cutting out a rectangle 101 cm wide and 86 cm long, including seam allowances (the finished length of the dress is 78 cm).

You’ll also need the casing – for size 36, 101 x 5 cm including seam allowances – and the halter neck, approx. 80 x 4 cm, finished width 1 cm. Exceptionally, all seam allowances are included in this project.

 

 

Instructions

Neaten top edge. Turn under 4 cm to the inside ...

... and topstitch 3.5 cm from the edge.

Draw a line 32.5 cm below the top edge of the fabric and parallel to it on the wrong side of the fabric. Neaten casing along the long edges and pin wrong-sides-facing to the top edge along the line. Stitch both long edges to the dress.

Pull elastic through top edge and casing. For size 36, you will need about 84 cm in both cases, depending on the firmness of the elastic. Secure ends of elastic at the sides. Topstitch the elastic once lengthways in the centre to prevent it twisting.
Fold dress lengthways with right sides together. Sew side seam half-a-presser-foot’s width from the edge and neaten.  
Fold seam allowances of elastic to one side and stitch in place.   
Hem dress as for top edge.
Sew halter neck, threading on buttons as desired. Sew ends of tape to centre-front. The right length can be fixed with a knot.