How to Sew a Fancy Girl's Dress – Ready-Made Patterns and Photo Tutorial

For this model of dressy girl's dress, it is recommended to use satin, silk, sateen, or crepe.

You will need

• main fabric – for 1.5 m fabric width, 2.2 m is needed;
• lining fabric – solid chintz or thin calico – 0.8 m by 0.5 m;
• invisible zipper – 60 cm;
• thread matching fabric color;
• fusible interfacing – 0.8 m by 0.5 m;
• decor materials – lace ribbon, flowers, bows.

How to sew

First, prepare the pattern.

Ready-made patterns are provided for girls aged 8 (size 128), 9 (size 134), 11 (size 146), and 12 (size 152) years.

Main measurements:

8 years – chest=61-65 cm; waist=57-59 cm; hips=66-70 cm;

9 years – chest=64-68 cm; waist=58-61 cm; hips=69-73 cm;

11 years – chest=70-74 cm; waist=62-64 cm; hips=75-80 cm;

12 years – chest=74-76 cm; waist=64-65 cm; hips=79-83 cm.

Print the patterns at full size (100% scale).

Wash and press the cotton lining fabric to preshrink it. Simply iron the silk fabric.

Mark all bodice pieces from lining fabric and cut them out with 15 mm seam allowances: 1 front piece on the fold, 2 back pieces, 2 sleeve pieces. Along the waist edge, you can increase the seam allowance to 20-30 mm to allow lengthening if needed.

Baste the pieces and try them on the child. Although the pattern is fairly precise, adjustments may still be necessary. Make any required corrections to the pieces.

Next, cut out the skirt pieces. Cut the upper skirt fully according to the pattern; for the lower skirt, measure the desired length from the waist plus 15 mm for the hem fold. It can be made as a single full-circle piece or with side seams. Cut a slit along the center back line for zipper insertion.

Interface the bodice lining with fusible interfacing, sew the princess seams, and insert the sleeves. Leave the side seams unsewn for now. Also, stop sleeve stitching 15 mm before the edge—this slit will allow neat lace insertion.

Stitch the main fabric bodice pieces together, likewise leaving an opening for the lace.

Press the princess seam allowances toward center, trim the seam allowance to 0.7 cm, and press again.

Press open the sleeve insertion seam allowances.

Sew a lace strip along the edge of the neckline cutout and sleeve tops.

Sew the zipper into 2/3 of the back length. Insert the rest after attaching the skirt.

Align top edges of lining and main fabric, then sew together. Trim seam allowances to 5-7 mm and edge-stitch 1 mm from the seam.

Sew lining and main fabric along the armhole lines.

Stitch lining and main fabric together with a single continuous stitch along the side seams.

Sew lace onto sleeves, fold the seam inward, letting the lace extend outward.

Fold the sleeve lining edge under and blind-hem by hand.

Now move on to the skirts. Sew side and back seams (stopping at the zipper opening).

Finish the hem of the upper skirt with lace.

On the lower skirt, make a double hem fold at the bottom and topstitch.

Gather the top of the skirts to match the lower edge of the bodice.

Baste, then stitch the bodice to the skirts.

Finish sewing the zipper. Optionally embellish the dress with ribbons and flowers.