Simple Pillowcase Dress

I am so excited to share this fun tutorial with you all!  

When my fellow co-hosts & I decided on 'sewing' as our theme this month for Pinspired & Rewired, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. 

I made a pillowcase dress last year.  It was one of my first sewing projects ever, but I really loved how simple it was to make.

When I came across this adorable dress by Simple Simon & Co. I knew I definitely wanted to try it out.  And having two little girls at our house who absolutely adore dresses, I knew it was a perfect fit.

We have a really awesome sponsor this month, Fashionable Fabrics, who generously sent my co-hosts & I some beautiful fabric to use.

I chose the Art Gallery Oval Elements & the Andalucia Mod Blooms in Tangerine by Patty Young 

By the way, with one yard of each of these, I was able to make two dresses. 
So if you are just making one dress, you could get by with 1/2 yard of each fabric, or one yard total if you are just using one fabric.

First you will need to cut your fabric.
This dress is for my almost 4 year old.

Main piece--fold the fabric in half, then measure & cut.  You want to be able to sew one seam in the back. 
Bottom Ruffle--Cut 2 strips (8x22).  You will attach them together to make one very long strip of fabric.
Straps--Cut two 3x11 strips

Now let's get started:

With the main piece, place right sides together & stitch.
Fold open your seam & iron flat.

At the top of your main piece, you will need to fold under 1/2 inch & press, then fold under again, leaving enough room for your elastic to slide through.

Then stitch along the bottom of your casing, leaving a hole to thread the elastic through.

For the elastic--you will need to measure the chest area of whom you are making the dress for, then add 1 inch.

Pin one end of your elastic to the seam at the top part of your casing. Then place another pin at the other end of the elastic to use as your guide through your fabric.  Then slide through.

Once you have threaded the elastic all the way around the top of your main piece, stitch the two ends together, then place back in your casing.
Then stitch close the top of your casing.

For the straps--
Place right sides together & press.  Then stitch a straight line down them.  Line your pressure foot up with the edge of your fabric for the correct spacing.
Press the seam open.
Place a safety pin at one end of the tub & thread through so it is right-side out now.
Press again.
Set aside until you are done with the next part.

To create the ruffle--
First make sure you have connected the two long strips together
(right sides together & stitch, then press open)
Set your machine to the longest stitch with the highest tension.
Sew all the way down
Then gently pull the top thread to create a ruffle

Pin to the bottom of your main piece
Now stitch them together & remove pins.

To figure out the correct spacing for the straps, have the person whom you are making the dress for, try it on.  Then pin the strap to the top of the dress, and stitch together.

And that is it!  It's a really simple dress, but so very adorable.
 I love the length of it as well!

Here is the back view, you can see how I lined up all the seams to give it a clean look--or at least tried to. :)
Don't you love the hand on the hip pose??  This little girl of mine, cracks me up!