Pillowcase Dress Pattern Variations and Options
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Want more options for the Free pillowcase Dress Pattern?
Here are five adorable options to switch up a Pillowcase Dress!
Option 1: Solid color.
Just measure from the armpit to where you want the dress to end and add .75 inches. Follow all the steps from the original tutorial, but instead of adding a ruffle, you will create a narrow hem on the bottom of the dress by folding the bottom edge over 1/4 inch and ironing. Folding over another 1/4 inch, ironing again, and sewing along the fold.
Option 2: Contrasting band.
Cut a strip of fabric 8.5 inches tall, selvage to selvage. Iron the fabric strip in half (like the ruffle fabric strip in the original pillowcase dress tutorial.)
Lay your main skirt fabric out right side up, and line up the raw edges of the border fabric and the raw edges main fabric. Pin and sew.
Finish this seam with your preferred method. Iron flat with finished seam pointing up and topstitch along the edge.
Option 3: Contrasting top:
Cut a 4-inch strip, selvage to selvage, from your contrasting fabric. Line up the strip with your main fabric (be sure to even up the edge of the main fabric) and sew the two together. Finish this seam with your preferred method and press.
Look at the bodice pattern; you’ll see a line marked “contrasting fabric line.” Line up this line on the seam of the two fabrics and cut out the pattern pieces as directed in the original pillowcase dress tutorial.
Option 4: Fuller skirt for big girls:
Instead of cutting the front and back pieces from one width of 44-inch fabric, you will need to double the amount of fabric needed for the main skirt. (and contrasting band or ruffle fabric.)
Fold the fabric in half and place the bodice pattern on the fold. Measure down from the armhole and mark the desired length, then measure 16.25 inches from the fold for the width of the skirt. Use these marks to cut out a fuller skirt. (If you are working with a 60 inch wide knit fabric, I would go with 60 inches.)
If you add a contrasting band, the width must be 65 inches. If you add a ruffle, the ruffle strip must be 113.75 inches wide before ruffling.
Option 5: Double bows and contrasting bias tape armholes.
Additional materials needed: About 105 inches of 1/2 double-fold bias tape. (store-bought or homemade)
Instead of finishing the armholes with single-fold bias tape, open the double-fold bias tape and “sandwich” the armholes with the double-fold bias tape.
Pin the bias tape in place and sew along the edge. Cut off extra bias tape. Create the casing as shown in the original tutorial.
Sew along the edge of the remainder of the bias tape. Fold it in half and cut it into two pieces.
Thread the bias tape through the casings and tie knots in the end. That’s it; you are done!
Option 6: Tiered Version
This one has its own post and tutorial. See it here: Tiered Pillowcase Dress Pattern
Now have your model try on the dress and get some pictures!
If you make a pillowcase dress with my pattern, be sure to return and share your finished dress on my facebook page or tag me on instagram with #scatteredmompatterns!
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I sewed a lot of pillowcase dresses in years past, but I now have a new reason for sewing them. Our city is home to Congolese refugees who came her with nothing. Our church has furnished a house for them and supplied them with much needed goods. The children, however, still need clothing. It is my pleasure with your pattern to make a bunch of pillowcase dresses for the girls. Thank you so much.