Pillowcase (but not really) Dress Size 6-12 months

Having a girl is ridiculously fun, and so is making this dress. (I made it in about an hour while the little ones were napping) This dress claims to be 6-12 month sized, but looking at it finished, it's really more of a 12 month dress.

Start by cutting two 18 x 12.5 Inch pieces of fabric

Then cut two 18 x 7 inch pieces of coordinating fabric

sew one small piece to the one big piece and repeat, now you have a front and a back. (I used a serger, but you don't need one, you can finish the edges with a zig zag stitch)

Sew the front piece to the back piece at the sides matching the seams but stop 4 1/2 inches from the top of the dress (these are your arm holes). You can mark them with a ruler and a fabric marker like I did. I also like to put a pin in right where I am supposed to stop. I've been know to have to do some unpicking before :)

Fold the fabric in around the arm holes about 5/8 inch and press

Then Fold the edge under another 1/4 inch and press

as shown above.

sew close to the inner pressed edge , repeat on both sides and both arms.

should look something like this (but probably better)

Now fold the top of your dress down about an inch and a half, then fold the raw edge under 1/4 inch (I cheated and surged the edges so I wouldn't have to turn it under)

Then sew close to the edge of the inside fold (or right along your serging) to create a casing for your ribbon. Repeat on the both the front and back of your dress

now thread a ribbon through the casing with a safety pin

like so

once you come out the front casing with the ribbon just go straight into the back casing. This way you create a little strap

should look something like this

To finish: pull ribbon tight and tie it in a bow leaving plenty of length so it will fit the child it was made for. Then burn the edges or the ribbon with a wood burning tool, or paint it with clear nail polish to keep it from fraying.

To hem the bottom:

finish the edge with a serger or a zigzag stitch , then press it up about an inch toward the inside of the dress. Then simply slipstitch it to stay. (this looks much better than just sewing it with a machine)

Oh, and don't forget a little headband to match!