Sewing Easy base dress tutorial with optional easy frills (pic heavy)

Hi everyone!

My friend showed me a really easy dress to make. I kind of just ran with it and I've made all kinds of different styles of these dresses, and I figured I'd share a tutorial on how to make one of them. There are many ways to do it, so I will include some photos of ones I've done using this basic pattern. ^^ I'm also including in the tutorial how to make the base of the dress as well, just in case anyone needs it! This also works with different sized dolls! I have yet to try it with any over YoSD sized, though. ^^

My Camera isn't the best, either, so some of the pictures are kind of dark. I tried to keep using daylight, but I took a break and it didn't last, and I was hoping to finish it by tonight! x) So some of the pictures may have flash!

Anyways, here we goooo!

Materials:

DSCF9089 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr
Volunteer
Fabric
Scissors
Lace trim
Ribbon
Thread
Needles
Lighter (not pictured)
Velcro (not pictured)

Lovely Luna, up closer (she was too cute not to snap a photo!) Also, the dress she is wearing is one I made using the base:

DSCF9090 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Top part of the base of the dress:
Measure your fabric around your doll:

DSCF9091 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Pin it in the back, leaving a little extra for the hem; don't cut all the way down, just to about right above the butt:

DSCF9092 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9093 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9095 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Unpin it, flip your doll over and cut right under the belly button. It's okay if it's not perfectly straight, you can fix that later:

DSCF9099 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9100 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Bottom of base of dress:
Take another larger piece of fabric and measure the top of the dress across twice and add an inch and cut down it. Measure it against your doll and cut it the length you want it to be:

DSCF9101 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9102 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

 

DSCF9103 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9104 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Hem the top and the bottom of the dress pieces:

DSCF9106 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

With the outter pieces of the dress facing each other, pin the bottom corners of the top to the top corners of the bottom:

DSCF9108 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9110 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9112 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9114 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Now to make the pleats. On the side by your left hand, make two like so:

DSCF9115 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9116 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9117 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9118 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Then do two nearest your right hand:

DSCF9119 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

 

DSCF9121 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr


DSCF9122 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Do them the rest of the way across, from left to right:

DSCF9124 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr


Sew it:

DSCF9125 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Add ribbon:

DSCF9126 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Add lace trim to the bottom, sew it with matching thread:

DSCF9128 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr


DSCF9130 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Fold it in half, and sew from the bottom up, till the top pin, don't go too far, because it won't fit over their butt! Maybe. x):

DSCF9131 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Turn it out right, here is where I like to add the clasp, I used velcro:

DSCF9138 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9139 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9140 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr


Measure out ribbon for straps and pin in place carefully! Remove to sew!:

DSCF9142 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

 

Cut the ends of the straps and use a lighter to keep the ends from fraying:

DSCF9145 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

DSCF9147 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Add the lace up top, sewing in the middle and the back, leave spaces for arms to go in:

DSCF9149 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

All done!:

DSCF9151 by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Examples of other styles:

Luna - collage of dresses by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

Examples on a bigger size:

Rinia - collage of dresses by Omnomimmamonster, on Flickr

I'd love to see photos of what you guys do! Please share them! If you have any questions, just ask!

Cass

 

It is. ^^ I love it too. I've been making all kinds of dresses with it. It also works for skirts as well. Just use the hips instead of the chest. ^^

 

You're welcome everyone, and thank you! ^^ I was nervous to post this at first, hehe! I'm glad it has helped. ^^

 

Aw, thanks Ballet! Mhm, I was a beginner sew-er when I learned how to make it! It was actually my first thing. x3

 

Thanks everyone! Y'all should share pictures! I'd love to see them! I'll add more pictures to this part later as I have new examples. Happy sewing!

 

I'd love to see what y'all make, BandGeek and pukituki! I love seeing what other people come up with. It's a lot of fun!

 

Wow, those look great! I love DollZone Wendy, I wish I was able to get her.

Anyways, I'm glad y'all like the tutorial.

It's definitely really easy to modify it into a skirt! I do it often.

 

You're very welcome! I machine sew everything now, it's much different! XD

Looking back at this tutorial this is when I first started sewing, I have improved so much! I still use this as the way to make my sundresses, hehe.

 

You're welcome! Also, this should totally work fine with a PKF. The doll I used is also a 16cm tiny. :3