How to make a pillowcase dress: A Pillowcase Dress is a perfect beginner sewing project! Learn how to sew a Pillowcase Dress with this free pattern & tutorial!
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(Looking for more free sewing patterns? Be sure to check out my free patterns and tutorials page .)
How to make a Pillowcase Dress
When it comes to sewing, I really like projects that are quick, simple and cute. A Pillowcase Dress is an excellent example of a “quick and cute” type sewing project!
I often refer to my style of sewing as “instant gratification sewing.” To me, there’s nothing better than spending an hour or two at the sewing machine and creating something my little girl will love (and look super cute in, lol.) I will say, I’ve learned (the hard way) to listen to her opinions and sew with fabrics she likes- nothing more disappointing that her refusing to wear something I made!
When I first got back into sewing, I remember being nervous about sewing without a pattern or having to make my own pattern. So, if you’re new to sewing or just picking it back up after many years, I know exactly how you feel! The good news is, for this tutorial, I’ve included a printable pattern for this pillowcase dress that you can download and print and step by step instructions (with photos) for you to follow.
Pillowcase dresses are designed to be kind of one size fits all and to grow with the girl (from a dress to a top.) I wanted this pillowcase dress to better fit a range of sizes, so there are two different pattern sizes: 2t to 5 and 6 to 8.
(My little missy was having such a good time tossing around all the blooms from Nana’s flowers. Good thing Nana wasn’t home to see it, ha ha…)
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a basic pillowcase dress with a ruffle bottom and give you a few options such as a contrasting top, a solid dress or banded bottom and a different tie/strap option.
Fabric requirements will vary based on the style you choose and size. For a bigger girl, (dress size 6 and up,) you might wish to add width to your pillowcase dress, which will double the amount of fabric needed.
Notice how our size 6 dress is kind of narrow in width? I opted not to use extra fabric and could only make the skirt as wide as the fabric, which was about 42 inches. Don’t worry though, I’ve included a little chart along with the tutorial to help you determine how much fabric is needed.)
Are you ready to learn how to sew a Pillowcase Dress?
Head over to page 2 for the Pattern Download or skip to page 3 for the pillowcase dress sewing instructions.
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Anne Weaver says
I love all the options for making the design your own! I've scheduled a link on Craft Gossip to go live tomorrow morning that links out to your tutorial.
leighlaurelstudios.com says
Finally! I've been searching around for a really good pillowcase dress pattern and tutorial and was just about to suck it up and devise one myself. And here it is in my Bloglovin' this morning. The variations are genius. Thank you! When I make one I'll put it on my blog (www.leighlaurelstudios.com) and of course link to you with all sorts of kind comments. 🙂
Cheers!
Karin
Cathy says
I love this dress – it is so versatile and so cute…. I have made these for my granddaughter and you just can't get too many of them with all thier design options… great tutorial….
Jamie says
Thanks, Cathy! Can't wait to see your version!
~Jamie
Life With The Crust Cut Off says
This looks awesome!!! We would love it if you would link up at our linky party Parrish @ Life with the Crust Cut Off
Linda Young says
So cute! Thanks for your clear instructions and my granddaughters will be happy to have a little dress or two! Your little models are very pretty and did a great job too!
Have a wonderful summer! Linda
A Thrifter in Disguise says
This is such a good idea. I love the ruffle. I'm totally going to do this! Your instructions and pics are amazing. Thanks so much! | Kristen
Theresa says
Hi Jamie, I love pillow case dresses. Yours turned out great. Visiting from DearCreatives.com Theresa Happy Summer
Marla says
Very cute! love the top with the leggings. My 5 year old has told me she no longer wants to wear pillowcase dresses…but maybe I could get her to wear one like that! 🙂
Faye Hadfield says
I love pillowcase dresses and I especially love yours with all the extra bits added in, a new dress every day! Fabulous! Thank you for sharing x
Rachel @ The Philosophers Wife says
Oh my gosh, this is fantastic! After our big move I will be making some of these for my daughter!
Heidi @ Happiness is Homemade says
These are fantastic! I might have to make a couple of these for my niece!
Jean Poylini says
What a lovely dress. Like it.
Lauren says
Thanks for this tutorial! I'm going to alter it a bit to have a ruffle on the neckline, but the rest of it is exactly what I was looking for! Glad your site came up in my google search 🙂
American Girl in Japan says
I am so thrilled that I found your site! Thank you for your tutorials. I'm making the chevron quilt now :). This pattern is just so cute for my daughter. Thanks again!
randi h says
A little bit of confusion here. When you take your ruler and measure the length of the dress, your cut out fabric shows it goes straight for about 6 inches and then angles outward. But the picture with the ruler shows that the dress is angled from the armhole. Could you clarify this please. Thanks so much.
Jamie says
Measure fom the bottom of the arm hole to get the correct measurement. But follow the shape of the bodice pattern and just angle the cut. The longer the dress, the more pronounced that angle will be. (My daughter is very tall) The design of a pillowcase dress is very flexible/forgiving so dont worry too much about it…
Good luck,
Jamie
ziemkes says
I had one question about attaching the contrasting band at the bottom. Are you to make a large circle as you show with the ruffle and then stitch it to the dress at the end? Or do you add the band one side at a time before sewing up the side seams? Thanks for your help!
ziemkes says
When you attach the contrasting band to the bottom of the dress, do you sew the ends together and attach at the end, as you do with the ruffle? Any help would be appreciated!
Jamie says
Hi, I attach the contrasting band to the main fabric before sewing the side seam. It makes it a bit easier this way. Let me know if you have any more questions.
~ Jamie
Carolyn Hueston says
What a great pattern! What size do you think I should make for a little girl about to turn 2? She lives overseas and I can't get measurements. Thanks!
Jamie says
Hi Carolyn, make the smallest size and use the approximate finished length measurements found in this chart:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-anuQarF1_sk/Uc3zc-hGaQI/AAAAAAAAQQg/vsNniI8BYfA/s1600/fabric+requirements.JPG
If you are adding a ruffle or contrasting band, don't forget to subtract out the height of the band/ruffle and add in seam allowances. (It always helps me to draw a little diagram. Good luck!
~Jamie
Richie Lou says
How much did you take off for the length of the shorter one, or do you have a pattern for the top/tunic length?
Kirsty says
Hi what material did you use?
Can you use poly cotton
Thanks
Jamie says
Definitely- almost any fabric will work with this style dress.
Veritable Lodge Southeast Alaska says
I used your tutorial to make a pillowcase princess dress for my daughter today. Thank you so much.
Christy Shields says
Im a little confused the width of fabric that would be what is across the dress soo 44″ across but folded in half so that would be 22 inches across is that correct 22 for the front 22 for the back? Now is that for a child whose age is 10 would that 22″ be wide enough?
Jamie says
The instructions state: “Fabric requirements will vary based on the style you choose and size. For a bigger girl, (dress size 6 and up,) you might wish to add width to your pillowcase dress, which will double the amount of fabric needed.
Notice how our size 6 dress is kind of narrow in width? I opted NOT to use extra fabric and could only make the skirt as wide as the fabric, which was about 42 inches.”
For a size 10 child, you will definitely want to double the amount of fabric used, so you can make a wider dress. This tutorial does not calculate the width for a size 10 dress. I found this pattern for sale on etsy that goes up to a girls size 14: http://tidd.ly/1d33879
Good luck!
Jamie says
At some point in time, I might redo this pattern to include larger sizes, but I have no plans to do this in the immediate future.