Dress a Girl Around the World – Sun Dress instructions

Materials

Woven 100% cotton fabric or pillowcase- must be clean, stain free and not transparent Elastic; width approx ½” – ¾”/ 2cm Bias binding; width 1”/2.5cm Safety pin; for threading elastic Sewing thread

Instructions

1. Select size to make from size sheet

2. Cut main fabric rectangle to the dimension’s given

3. Sew a French seam; place wrong sides of fabric together and sew a 1cm seam along the short edge. Press and trim seam back to 0.5cm. Place right sides together and now sew a 1cm seam to hide the first seam and raw edges. Press.

4. Draw armholes; With garment right side out and seam at one side lay fabric flat and draw in arm holes with tailor’s chalk, using the template for the size you are making. (refer to size sheet).

5. Create top hem; Press 1cm to wrong side and a further 2.5cms and pin. Stitch a hem to leave a channel remembering to back stitch at either end. Repeat on back

6. Thread elastic; Cut elastic to required length for size (refer to sizing sheet). Using a safety pin thread through front channel. Secure at each end with machine stiches for strength. Repeat for back.

7. Attach bias binding; Cut 2 lengths of bias binding. Press in half to find the centre point and line this up with the underarm seam. With the bias tape open, pin raw edge to the raw edge of the armhole. Attach with a machine stitch in the fold line. Press binding in half lengthwise (tucking in each end) and then top stitch it closed to secure the ties and bias binding to the armhole.

8. Make a pocket – Cut a pattern for your pocket the size and shape you want plus seam allowance. Pin this on to a double layer of cotton fabric and cut out. Pin the two pocket shapes right sides together and sew all around leaving a gap at the centre of the top edge. Trim corners, turn through to right side and press. Close the gap with a machine top stitch along the top pocket edge. Pin pocket into position on the dress and sew down along three sides. (leaving the top open) www.aliceandginny.co.uk