Girl’s A-line Sheath Dress Tutorial and PDF Pattern (in sizes 3-7)
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Learn how to sew a simple A-Line Sheath dress with this free Girl’s A-line Dress Pattern and Tutorial!
A few months back, I was shopping at Joanne’s and came across this cute Madras plaid fabric. Madras is one of my favorite fabrics for boy/girl coordinating outfits. I grabbed two yards and (with the 40% coupon- madras is expensive…)
I figured 2 yards would be enough fabric for a simple pair of shorts and an A-line dress. I put off making the outfits all summer. I finally got them done in time for a back-to-school photo session.
I’m so glad I got these pictures done. I have a feeling this will be one of the last times I’ll be able to get them in matching outfits. (My 8-year-old son announced that this is “embarrassing”… ) You can see a couple more posts featuring brother/sister outfits here.
The final fit of the dress is absolutely perfect. I will say, I had a bit of trouble making the pattern. If my heart hadn’t been set on using this fabric, I would probably have scrapped the first dress and just started another. The dress is lined, so there was a ton of seam ripping going on.
The first error was just carelessness. I was working too fast and not really paying attention.
I had serged all four side seams of the dress before I realized I was supposed to flip the dress right side out before sewing the sides seams. I’m sure you know, it’s no fun ripping out serged seams.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to flip the dress right side out before sewing the side seams. 🙂
The second issue was a problem with the fit of the armholes. (They were too small and there was too much fabric across her chest.) I had finished the dress and top-stitched everything. I had to take apart the entire dress and re-cut the armholes.
The dress is a really nice fit now and I know she will still be able to wear it next summer.
What I love about this style of dress is that it’s such a great wardrobe piece to help transition to fall. It’s still so hot here, (I just checked out 8-day forecast, we will be over 100 for several days next week, but lucky us, they are predicting a cool down by next Sunday- it will only be 97. 
)
If and when the weather ever cools off, she will be able to add a cardi for the cool mornings and just take it off when the day warms up. (I have a gathered cardigan tutorial here.)
The free pattern comes in sizes 3/4, 5/6, and 7.
Ready to sew the pattern?
Let’s get started! First, download the pattern.
Girl’s A-Line Sheath Dress Pattern Sewing Instructions
Save this Pattern and tutorial by pinning here ==>> 
Materials needed:
- Size 5 and up: about a yard for the outer dress and about a yard for the lining
- Size 4 and down: about 3/4 yard of each.
- 6 to 8 buttons
- pattern
- iron/spray starch
- Ruler/measuring tape and other basic sewing supplies
Pattern printing and fit tips:
- When printing the pattern, download it to your computer, open it in adobe reader and print from there, turning off all scaling.
- Keep in mind, our kids all range in height, so I recommend comparing a dress you have or taking a measurement to ensure your dress is the right length.
- If you need a pattern size I did not include, it’s super simple to create your own pattern. I included the instructions for making a pattern. (Click this link to see the picture below much larger and in a new window.)
A-line Sheath Dress Instructions:
(Seam allowances are 1/4 inch unless otherwise specified.)
Step 1: Printing and assembling the pattern.
Create or print your pattern. Assemble and tape together. If printing, I recommend printing twice and cutting out a separate front and back pattern piece.
Step 2. Cut out the pattern pieces.
Fold the fabric, so the selvages meet in the middle. (For the larger sizes, you will probably need to adjust the placement of the pattern based on the width of the bottom of the skirt.
– cut two front pattern pieces (on the fold.) One from the lining fabric and one in the main dress fabric.
– cut four back pattern pieces (not on the fold.) Two from the lining fabric and two in the main dress fabric.
Step 3. Assembling the dress.
Line up the shoulder seams of the main dress fabric (right sides together) and sew at the shoulders. Repeat for the lining.
Line up the main dress fabric and lining, right sides together, and sew around the neckline, stopping 3/4 inch from the center back seam. Sew around the armholes, leaving a 2-inch opening on both arms to turn the dress.
Cut notches around the curves of the neckline and armholes. (Just be careful not to cut into the seam line.)
Flip the dress right side out by pushing the pattern through one only one of the armholes. (picture shows two, sorry…)
Pull the lining away from the dress and line up the side seams right sides together and sew along the edge.
Fold in the extra seam allowance at the opening in the armhole.
Pin the opening in place and press all the seams flat.
Step 4: Finishing the seams and topstitching.
Fold/tuck the center back seams (lining and main dress fabric) 1/4 inch in towards the inside of the dress. Press using spray starch, taking care to line up the edges, so the lining does not show. Do both sides and pin it in place.
Do the same thing at the bottom, folding about 1/2 inch. Press, use spray starch and pin in place.
Topstitch around the entire dress: both back seams, bottom, neckline, and both armholes.
Layout the dress, overlapping the back pieces by about 1/2 inch. Using a fabric marker, mark the placement of the buttons.
Create the buttonholes, sew on the buttons, and you are done!
If you end up making one of these, please come back and share your finished dress on my facebook page or tag me on instagram!
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Hi! I’m making this for my niece. How would I cut/sew it so the buttons are only going halfway down the back?