How to sew a dress for a 1-2 year old girl
What can you sew from 50 cm of cotton? A dress for a girl for hot weather, of course. I suggest a simple model that even beginners can handle. The advantage of this outfit is its comfort; it doesn't restrict active movement, and the use of natural material ensures it breathes well and absorbs moisture. A dress with a ruffle is a great option for the beach or vacations; it is easy to put on and take off, and you can sew a sun hat or a bandana from the fabric scraps. Check out the step-by-step instructions on how to sew a simple children's dress.
The Cut.
A piece of fabric measuring 40 by 40 cm or slightly larger will be enough. Fold it in half lengthwise and mark it with chalk according to the pattern. On the front of the dress, make a slit from the center of the neckline about 7-8 cm deep.
It is designed for a child aged 1-2 years. You can draw the pattern directly onto the fabric, adjusting the depth of the front and back necklines as needed.
For the ruffle, you will need a strip of fabric 1.5-2 times longer than the width of the front and back pieces. Cut the piece in half. You can choose the same fabric or a coordinating one for the dress.
You will also need bias tape—either store-bought or cut from fabric. We will use it to finish the neckline and armholes. You can measure the length in advance and add 30 cm.
Sewing
Place the front and back pieces right sides together and sew the shoulder seams. Finish the edges and press the seams open.
Finish the armholes with bias tape—this dress is sleeveless.
To finish the neckline, you will need bias tape with extra length for ties. Slightly ease the dress fabric while attaching the bias tape.
Start sewing the ruffle. Fold the bottom edge of both pieces and sew a topstitch. Press with an iron. Along the top of the ruffle, sew a stitch with a long stitch length and low thread tension to gather the fabric until it matches the width of the front and back pieces. Sew the ruffle to the dress. Alternatively, you can make evenly spaced pleats or sew on lace.
The final step is sewing the side seams and finishing them.
All that's left is to iron the garment and tie the ribbons at the neckline.
For children’s clothes, pre-wash cotton fabric before cutting so the finished dress does not shrink after the first wash.
If you sew for babies and toddlers, you may also like the guide on sewing a reusable waterproof changing mat.
