How to Make a Pillowcase Dress

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Learn how to make a plain pillowcase dress using your sewing machine. These are popular and super cute a great way to use up small cuts of fabric. Embellish with ruffles, trim, embroidery, etc.

by Moira Anderson

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Step 1 of 22

Measure and cut fabric: 18 inches for size 12/24 months. 20inches for size 2/3T. 22 inches for size 4/5.

Step 2 of 22

Cut off the printed selvedges.

Step 3 of 22

Zigzag with your sewing machine or serge the raw edges...

Step 4 of 22

....like this.

Step 5 of 22

Fold over 1/2- 3/4 inches. You can pin or press if you like....

Step 6 of 22

But I just use the markings on the throat plate of my machine.

Step 7 of 22

Fold the dress in half, right sides together. The bottom hem needs to match up, it isn't as important at the top.

Step 8 of 22

Sew or serge the side seam, then lay the dress flat with the seam on the right (reverse this if you are cutting lefty!)

Step 9 of 22

Fold the left to the right like this- now the fabric is four thick, with a seam and a fold on top of each other on the right.

Step 10 of 22

At the top right corner, cut a notch for the armholes, about 1x4 inches. Exact measurement isn't important. Cut through all four layers so your armholes are even and symmetrical.....

Step 11 of 22

...like this.

Step 12 of 22

Serge or zig zag your raw armholes.

Step 13 of 22

Then, working from the wrong side, fold in 1/4- 3/8 inch of fabric and stitch down....

Step 14 of 22

....so it looks like this.

Step 15 of 22

Serge or zigzag the raw top edges.....

Step 16 of 22

...Then fold and stitch down about an inch for your ribbon casing.

Step 17 of 22

Cut and seal 2 pieces of ribbon- each about a yard long.

Step 18 of 22

Attach a large safety pin to feed through casing.

Step 19 of 22

Feed ribbon through both casings at the top front and back of the dress.

Step 20 of 22

Embellish your dress with applique....

Step 21 of 22

...ruffles....

Step 22 of 22

...and/or trim. Enjoy!

You're Done!

Start over

This guide was made by:

Moira Anderson

Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Leave a Comment

I just made a pillowcase dress from a Simplicity pattern. I like your directions and pattern better. Thanks for sharing.

Sandy Dunning last year

Thanks this makes it seem so much easier than I was thinking :)

Pretty Princess Bowtique last year

Good job!

Jane From KY last year

Cute

Caiti Godley last year

I don't use real pillowcases for these- it is just a piece of pretty fabric as you see in the first 2 pics

Moira Anderson (author) last year

I cannot videotape by myself- my little ones can't hold it yet:). My fabric is 100% cotton. Woven is easier to work with for beginners, so quilt weight fabric. Also your serger is supposed to cut- mine did as I was serging up the edges of the fabric in these pictures. You wind up with a piece of fabric that is neatly sealed and a strip of waste on the other side of your blade:)

Moira Anderson (author) last year

Can you also videotape some of the steps? Sometimes seeing the work in action ends up giving some of us that light bulb that we don't always see when just seeing still pictures/words. My granddaughter just turned 2 in March. Do you purchase sateen or what ct cloth? Std or king? Thank you so much for finally coming out to teach! The sewing machine scares me... I'd rather make art than clothing on it (sewing machine) I HATE it when blasted thing gets thread all 'puckered' up. I own a serger. It cuts. I thought it was supposed to sew like in your picture. But it cuts the fabric

Heidi Feldman last year

1/2 yard fabric

2 yards 7/8 or larger washable ribbon

Sewing machine

Ruler, scissors basic sewing tools

Lighter for sealing ribbon

Applique, ruffles, trim (optional)

Optional serger

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