• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • main dish
    • dessert recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • sides/snacks
    • drinks
    • low carb
    • Recipe round ups
  • Sewing Tutorials/Patterns
    • Girls Sewing Patterns and Tutorials
    • Ladies Sewing Patterns and tutorials
    • Boys Sewing Tutorials and Projects
    • scarves/hair accesories/hats/etc.
    • Quilting Projects
    • Home Sewing Tutorials
    • No Sew Fabric Projects
    • Sewing Round-ups
    • Sewing Inspiration
  • Crochet/Crafts/DIY
    • Crochet Projects
    • crafts
    • Outdoor DIY/Home Projects
    • pets
    • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Shop My Equipment
    • About Me
    • Contact Info
    • Work With Me!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms, Conditions and Disclosures
    • Frequently Asked Pattern Questions
  • Nav Social Menu

scattered thoughts of a crafty mom logo

Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom by Jamie Sanders

Inspiring you to sew, cook and create.

  • Raglan Sweater Dress (Pattern Hack)
  • Free Pattern! Flutter Sleeve T-Shirt Pattern, size 3 to 10
    Flutter Sleeve T-Shirt Sewing Pattern
  • Free Faux Shearling Vest for Girls Sewing Pattern
    Video Sewing Tutorial For Faux Shearling Vest Pattern
  • Pattern Hack: Double Ruffle Capris (tutorial and pattern)
  • Easy Upcycled Tank Top (free pattern)
Home | Girl's Fashion Tutorials | Tank Sundress Tutorial (pattern hack)

Tank Sundress Tutorial (pattern hack)

Girl's Fashion Tutorials, Pattern Hacks, Sewing, sewing with knits, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

I have another pattern hack for you today!  This one is based on my Tank Top pattern from earlier this summer.


When I planned this dress, I was going for the Matilda Jane “look”.  I don’t feel like I quite hit the mark on that.  (I think the floral pattern on the skirt ended up being too big/too bold.)  I liked the fabric in the store, but once I put it together,  I could tell the look was wrong.  (I have plenty of fabric options, so I will keep trying till I get it right.)

I love the dress though…  It’s really cute in person and since the tank isn’t too “skimpy”, she’ll be able to wear it to school in the fall.

Girls sundress with a free pattern and tutorial. (size 3 to 8)

Follow these steps to make your little one a tank sundress:

Step 1:   Print and assemble the pattern and cut out pattern pieces. 

Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

Find the tank top tutorial here ==>> Tank top pattern and tutorial.  Trim off the bottom of the pattern about 3 inches below the arm hole  (for size 3, trim it 2 inches below the arm hole.)

Cut out the front and back pieces of the shortened tank top.

Cut 2 skirt panels to the dimensions below:

Size 3:  22” wide by 11” tall
Size 4:  23” wide by 12” tall
Size 5:  24” wide by 14” tall
Size 6:  25” wide by 16” tall
Size 7:  26” wide by 18” tall
Size 8:  27” wide by 21” tall

Cut 2 fabric strips (the contrasting bottom band) to the dimensions below:

Size 3: 22” wide by 6.5” tall
Size 4: 22” wide by 6.5” tall
Size 5: 22” wide by 6.5” tall
Size 6: 22” wide by 6.5” tall
Size 7: 22” wide by 6.5” tall
Size 8: 22” wide by 6.5” tall

Step 2:  Assembling the skirt.

Line up the 2 skirt panels, right sides together and sew along one side.  Finish this seam and press.  (If you are making a size 3, you will line up the 2 sides that are 11 inches tall, so you will have one fabric piece that is 43.5 by 11.)

Line up the contrasting bottom the same way and sew the two pieces together.

Fold the contrasting band wrong sides together and press.  (long-ways, the new dimensions will be the full width by 3.25.

Line up the raw edges of the contrasting band and sew it to the bottom of the skirt panel.  Finish this seam and press.

Fold the side edges of the skirt panel, right sides together and sew them together.  Finish this seam and press.

I decided to add decorative trim to the seam of the skirt and contrasting band.  I just used a bit of black bias tape, but you could use ribbon, ric rac or some other fun decorative trim.

Step 3:  Attaching the skirt

Sew a gathering stitch around the top edge of the skirt.  Gather the skirt until it is the same width as the bottom of the bodice.

Right sides together, line up the raw edges of the skirt and bodice and pin.  Sew or serge the skirt and bodice together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  (If you don’t have a serger, use a stretch stitch.)  Finish this seam.

That’s it, you’re done!

You have a few options if you would like to embellish your tank.  I made a flower using this fabric flower tutorial, but any of these options would be cute too!
ruffled flower
tuxedo ruffle
double ruffle (this would need to be attached before the binding
appliqued flower, cupcake or heart
Big bow
Stencil or any of these freezer paper stencil ideas

Like this post?  Don’t forget to pin it!    

My favorite fabric shop for knits:  Funkalicious Fabrics.
  1. My Sewing Machine: SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist
  2. My Serger: Brother 1034D 3 or 4 Thread Serger or you can just use Pinking Shears
  3. Rotary Cutter
  4. I love my large ruler and large cutting mat, but you may prefer to start of with a smaller Cutting set
  5. Dritz Dual Purpose Marking Pen and Fray Check
  6. Ball Point needles
  7. Singer walking foot or universal walking foot
  8. Blind hem foot.
  9. Wonder clips (I didn’t use these in the post, but they are just awesome!

Don’t miss any more posts! You can follow along on Feedly, Bloglovin’, via blogger using the Google Friend Connect widget, your favorite feed reader, or by signing up via email. Just click on one of the icons below:

 

July 18 · 17 Comments

Previous Post: « Easy Waldorf Salad Recipe
Next Post: Lesley Flutter Top Pattern (50% of this week!) and Giveaway »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Crystal Nell says

    July 18 at 10:50 pm

    Super cute dress!!

    Reply
  2. Kathy says

    July 19 at 12:50 am

    Adorable!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      July 22 at 4:21 am

      Thanks, guys!

  3. Bobbi @ 3GLOL says

    July 19 at 1:35 pm

    I always see the kinds of dresses that I would like to have but in kid versions. What does that say about me? I'm more into that style than the long ones they have at the stores.

    Very cute and so are your kiddos!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Just MJ says

      July 19 at 11:34 pm

      I agree! This is a really cute dress and I would love one for myself.

    • Jamie says

      July 22 at 4:23 am

      I'm sure you could make one! I have been perfecting my clear elastic/ knit fabric to woven fabric attachment. Cant wait to share it (makes all the difference in a more sturdy wearable garment.)
      ~Jamie

  4. Cindy DIYbeautify says

    July 19 at 2:16 pm

    Adorable!

    Reply
  5. Karen says

    July 21 at 9:54 pm

    This is so cute and will be perfect for my little girl. Thanks for sharing your great pattern!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      July 22 at 4:23 am

      Hope you make one!

  6. Anne Weaver says

    July 22 at 2:43 am

    I love the large scale print on the skirt!! Very eye catching! I've got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow evening that links to your tutorial:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-girls-tank-sundress/2014/07/22/
    –Anne

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      July 22 at 4:21 am

      Yea! Thank you Anne!

  7. Danielle Wagasky says

    July 22 at 4:25 pm

    What a fun project! I love this! I am always looking for guest bloggers on my website Blissful and Domestic. My blog is about creating a beautiful life on less and this post fits right in with that 🙂 Check out my blog and see if it would be a good fit for you. I'd love to have you!

    [email protected] Blissful and Domestic
    http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com
    [email protected]

    Reply
  8. Diane | An Extraordinary Day says

    July 25 at 1:03 am

    What a cute dress! Great job…I'll look forward to seeing your next iteration of it. 🙂
    Thanks for sharing with us at Project Inspire{d}!

    Reply
  9. Kimberly Lewis says

    July 28 at 11:13 pm

    Super cute! Pinned. Please join us tonight at 7 pm and party with us. We would love to have you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com
    Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply
  10. Marsha Wagner says

    August 17 at 8:01 pm

    When you attach skirt to tank top and use the serger, do you still need to run a straight stitch on sewing machine or is the serger enough.

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      August 21 at 9:31 pm

      Serger should be enough.

  11. Sheila Robson says

    August 17 at 6:29 am

    I’m such a huge fan! Used lots of your patterns and ideas. The only suggestion I would make for this tank sundress is this. If you are making it with a knit top and a woven bottom, and especially if like me you don’t have a serger, it’s a good plan when you gather the skirt either to use shirring elastic in the bobbin (which will automatically gather the skirt but still leave it stretchy) or attach some clear elastic with a zigzag stitch, stretching the elastic as you go.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Never Miss a project or Delicious new Recipe

You may share 1 photo and up to 3 lines of text, under the condition that proper credit is given to scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com.
(Must be a clear DO FOLLOW link back to my content & do not remove the watermark.) For more information see: Terms and Conditions.
Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to
earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  For more info, read full Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy 

Copyright © 2021 ·Farmhouse theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Farmhouse Theme by Restored 316