DIY Baby doll summer dress (Button front, puff sleeve, ruffle hem) | Step by step sewing tutorial
DIY Baby doll summer dress (Button front, puff sleeve, ruffle hem) | Step by step sewing tutorial
Welcome or welcome back to my channel. My name is Jess and I love doing DIY, making clothes in a "simply but pretty" way.
In today's tutorial, I'm going to share with you how I made a Baby doll summer dress. This dress comes with button front, ruffle hem and middle length puff sleeve. It brings such a perfect vibe for summer.
That's why I hope you like it and try it out soon. So let’s get started!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
2.5m of boil fabric in white color
Pattern paper
Sewing machine
Pins
Scissors
Ruler
Long stick
Buttons
MAKING THE PATTERNS
Here’s the pattern for the project. To get a clear understanding of all the measurements needed for the pattern, watch the video from 0:23 to 10:15.
Remember, you can adjust these measurements to fit your own dimensions!
THE BACK BODICE PATTERN
Draw a straight line cutting the edge horizontal line first.
From the end of the straight line, mark up 9 cm, which is the half width of the neck that's wanted.
Then, draw a perpendicular line from that mark. The width of this line will be 4 cm, which is the depth of the back neck.
Then, draw a straight line from the end of the perpendicular line to cut the edge horizontal line.
From the cutting point, connect it to the first mark on the first straight line.
Then, mark in the middle of the new slanted line.
After that, connect this middle mark to the end of the perpendicular line.
Then, mark in the middle of the new slanted line.
Draw a curved line from the first mark to this middle mark and finish it at the end of the second straight line to create the neckline for the back bodice.
From the end of the first straight line, mark up 18 cm, which is the half width of the shoulder size.
Then, draw a perpendicular line from that mark. The width of this line will be 3.1 cm, which is 1/10 your shoulder size minus 0.5 cm.
Then, connect the end of the perpendicular line to the top of the neckline to create a shoulder line for the back bodice.
From the first straight line, keep drawing another straight line at 24 cm away from it. It is the quarter of your bust size plus 4 cm.
From the end of this line, mark up 24 cm, which is a quarter of the bust size of the dress that's wanted. It is also a quarter of your bust size plus 4 cm.
After that, continue the perpendicular line at the shoulder to cut the bust line.
From the cutting point, mark to the inside 1 cm.
Then, connect this mark to the end of the shoulder line. After that, mark in the middle of this new line.
So, a curved line can be drawn from the first mark on the bust line to this mark and finished it at the end of the shoulder line to create a sleeve line for the back bodice.
From the first straight line, draw another one at 50 cm away from it. It is the length from the shoulder to the hip.
From the first straight line, keep drawing another one at 65 cm away from it. It is the length of the dress minus the length of the ruffle hem.
From the end of the hip line, mark up 30 cm, which is a quarter of your hip size plus 7 cm.
Then, connect this mark to the end of the sleeve line to create the side line of the back bodice.
At the end of the side line, mark up 3 cm.
Then, connect this mark to the end of the horizontal line.
After that, make this line a big curve to finish the ending line of the back bodice.
Add 1 cm for seam allowance after that, except the edge horizontal line.
You will need to cut this pattern in folded fabric at the edge horizontal line.
THE FRONT BODICE PATTERN
Copy the back bodice pattern first.
From the first straight line, mark down 11 cm on the edge horizontal line. It is the depth of the front neck from the shoulder to above your breast.
Then, connect this mark to the top of the shoulder line by a curved line to create the neckline for the front bodice.
From the cutting point of the perpendicular line and the bust line, mark the inside 2 cm instead of 1 cm like was done at the back bodice.
Then, connect this mark to the end of the shoulder line.
After that, mark in the middle of this new line.
So, a curved line can be drawn from the first mark on the bust line to this mark and finished it at the end of the shoulder line to create a new sleeve line for the front bodice pattern.
To create the button and the buttonhole area, draw another horizontal line at 4.5 cm away from the first one. It's 1.5 times the width of the button area that is wanted.
Then, continue the ending line and the neckline to the new horizontal line.
Add 1 cm for seam allowance at the new drawing lines after that.
You will need to cut two pieces of this pattern.
THE SLEEVE PATTERN
Use the folded paper to create it.
From the folding line, draw a horizontal line at 7 cm away from it. 7 cm is the half width of the gathering fabric at the top of the sleeve that is wanted.
Then, draw a straight line to cut this horizontal line after that.
From the cutting point between them, mark to the right 11 cm, which is 1/10 your bust size plus 3 cm.
Draw a slanted line with 24 cm width to connect this mark to the straight line. It is the half width of the sleeve line at the front and the back bodice.
After that, divide the slanted line into three equal parts.
From the middle of the first two parts, draw an outside perpendicular line with 2.5 cm.
At the third part, mark in the middle first, then draw an inside perpendicular line from it with 0.5 cm later.
So, a curved line can be drawn from the mark on the straight line to the end of the inside perpendicular line to the end of the outside perpendicular line and finished at the mark on the horizontal line. It will create the sleeve line of the sleeve pattern.
Also, continue the sleeve line to the folding line as well.
Make sure to bring the top of the sleeve 1.5 cm higher than the original one.
From the top of the sleeve line, mark down on the folding line 55 cm, which is the length of the sleeve that is wanted. It's the length from the shoulder to above your wrist.
Then, draw a straight line from that mark.
After that, draw a perpendicular line from the end of the sleeve line to cut the straight line to create the inside sleeve line for the sleeve pattern.
At the ending line, draw another one at 5 cm inside it. 5 cm is the width of the cuff of the sleeve that is wanted.
Add 1 cm for seam allowance after that, except the folding line.
After cutting, move one inside sleeve line 1 cm inside the other one. Then, redraw the sleeve line for a half of the sleeve pattern to create a front sleeve line. And the sleeve pattern will be ready after cutting.
Make sure to use the right pattern when cutting the inside sleeve and the outside sleeve.
SEWING THE DRESS
THE BODICE PART
Start with the bodice part first by connecting the back and two pieces of the front bodice together at the shoulder and two side lines.
THE SLEEVE PART
Moving to the sleeve, connect two insides together with pins first.
At the end of the inside sleeve line, mark up 11 cm, which is the length of the placket sleeve that is wanted.
Then, sew the rest together.
To finish the placket sleeve, fold the end fabric inside two times with 0.5 cm each time and sew.
At the end of the sleeve, make two loose seams first.
Then, create the gathering fabric there.
The final width of the gathering fabric will be 22 cm, which is the width of the cuff of the sleeve that is wanted.
Cut a rectangle with 12 cm length, which is two times the length of the cuff that is wanted plus 2 cm for seam allowance, and 24 cm width, which is the width of the cuff that is wanted plus 2 cm for seam allowance.
Connect one width line of the rectangle to the end of the sleeve first.
Make sure to keep one singular seam allowance at two ends of the rectangle for sewing later.
After that, fold the length of the rectangle together in half right at the extra seam allowance that was kept before.
After sewing, turn them to the inside to hide the seam.
Then, finish the other width of the cuff by folding it inside 1 cm first.
Then, keep folding it to the first seam and make the second seam right there.
At the top of the sleeve, make two loose seams first.
Then, create the gathering fabric there.
The final width of the gathering fabric should be the same as the bodice part.
And the gathering fabric should be at the top of the sleeve.
CONNECT THE SLEEVE TO THE BODICE
The next step is connecting the sleeve to the bodice at the sleeve lines.
THE RUFFLE HEM PART
To make the ruffle hem, measure the width at the ending line of the front and the back bodice first.
Then, increase that width to two times for each part of the ruffle hem.
After cutting, connect the back ruffle hem to two pieces of the front ruffle hem at two sides and sew.
At the top of the ruffle hem, make two loose seams first.
Then, create a gathering fabric there later.
The final width of the gathering fabric should be the same as the total width at the ending line of the bodice part.
Make sure to not gather fabric at the button and the buttonhole area at two pieces of the front ruffle hem.
CONNECT THE RUFFLE HEM TO THE DRESS
Then, connect the ruffle hem to the dress.
THE NECK AND THE BUTTON AREA
To finish the neck of the dress, cut a bias rectangle with 3 cm width, which is three times the width of the binding that is wanted, and the same length as the neckline of the dress.
Connect one length of the bias rectangle to the neck first. Make sure at the button and the buttonhole area, you fold them in place first before adding the binding.
Then, make the first seam.
After sewing, make the understitching seam together on the end fabric to one side.
Then, fold the other length of the bias rectangle over it to hide it inside and make the second seam.
At the button and the buttonhole area, also fold the end fabric inside 1 cm first. Then, keep folding it to the inside 3 cm, which is the width of the button and the buttonhole area.
Then, sew to finish it.
The last step is adding the button and making the buttonhole.
Don't forget to add the button and make the buttonhole at the cuff of the sleeve as well.
DIY Baby doll summer dress (Button front, puff sleeve, ruffle hem) | Step by step sewing tutorial
And I finished this DIY. Here’s my final result!
This dress is so cute and super comfy, with a spring vibe that’s also perfect for summer.
I hope you found my step-by-step guide helpful and inspiring.
If you’re interested in making your own, give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Until then, happy sewing!
