Tutorial: The Ella Dress {with Free Pattern Download}

Last week I gave you a preview of the dress I made for lil' punkette.  I had such fun making this dress!  I absolutely fell in love with the fabric and am definitely going to buy some more.  I'm thinking the lining for her winter coat this year might need this wonderful print! 

Anywho... I can't wait to share the pattern with you so you can make one too!  It's so easy!  I'm beginning to see how complicated they can make commercial patterns...why? I wonder....It doesn't have to be that hard people!  You can download the pattern for the bodice here or at the end of this tutorial I created a button with the link  :)  

Ella Dress Materials List

for size 2/3T

1 yard cotton fabric

1 package 1/2" pre-made double fold bias tape

(or you can make your own)

Coordinating thread

Step 1 ~ Cut your material

~Cut 2 Bodice (download button at bottom of post)

~Cut 2 Skirt pieces 22" x 13" (basically that is the width of the yardage(44") off the bolt where it is folded...just cut it on the fold and you have 2 22" pieces)

~Cut 2 Ruffle pieces 18" x 3"

~Cut 2 Strap pieces 17"x 4"

Step 2 ~ Gather your skirt

Stitch a basting stitch 1/4" away from top edge along the top of one of the skirt pieces (the 22" side) and pull to create a gather.  Repeat with other skirt piece

Step 3~ Create the Ruffle

Take one ruffle piece and iron lengthwise WST (wrong side together).  Run a basting stitch along the raw edge about a 1/4" away from edge

Pull bottom threads to create a gather.  Repeat with other ruffle piece

Step 4~ Sew ruffle to bodice

Pin one ruffle piece to the bodice RST (right sides together). 

Start the seam about a 1/2" down from the top (see pic below) Stitch with a 1/4" seam
Please forgive the change in dresses here... I realized with the first dress I did not document this part well, so I made another one

REITERATION TIME!

  LOOK AT ABOVE PICS

Keep about a 1/2" free at the top.  In other words, start the stitching down of the ruffle 1/2" away from the top.  Repeat with other bodice/ruffle set 

 

Now take the two bodices and pin them RST at the top shoulder seam...This is where that free 1/2" is pinned together. Use a 1/4" seam. 

Keep the ruffle tucked away so it is not sewn together yet!

Now turn that shoulder seam right side out and you will be looking at the wrong side of the ruffle.  Pin the ruffle together and sew with a 1/4" seam

So this is the right side of the shoulder and the wrong side of the ruffle showing sewn

Press the seam allowance of the sewn ruffle towards the back of the dress

Turn the ruffle to the right side and topstitch the seam allowance down

Now take and pin the rest of the ruffle to the shoulder strap ( it will only be a few inches that needs to be sewn together now) and use a 1/4" seam

Step 5 ~ Attatch skirt to bodice

Take your gathered skirt and pin it to the bodice RST.    Make sure to gather/let out your skirt and adjust it to fit the bodice.  Sew with a 1/2" seam here.

Press the seam up towards the bodice.  Sew the seam allowance to the bodice by edge stitching the bottom of the bodice about 1/8" away from the seam.  Repeat with the other skirt/bodice pieces

Step 6 ~ Sew Bias Tape to neck

Now take your bias tape and pin it to line up with the raw edges of the neck opening.  Sew it on by sewing right in the crease closest to the raw edge (approx 1/2")

Now turn the bias tape up and over the raw edge and pin in place.  Make sure to pin it so it is easy to remove the pins as you sew... in other words, the head of the pin is facing you when you have your fabric in the sewing machine).  Sew as close to the inner seam as much as possible, just make sure you are catching the inside of the bias tape on the wrong side of the dress

Voila!....so far

Step 6 ~ Waist straps

Take your waist straps and iron them RST and sew a 1/4" seam around one end and the long side edge, leaving one small end open.  Turn right side out and press

Pin each waist strap to the raw edge of the dress.  Line up the strap right where the bodice and skirt seam meet.  Baste in place.

Step 7 ~ Sew dress together

Working with the wrong side, turn the bottom hem up 1/2" and press.  Turn it up again 1/2", press and pin in place.  Sew in place close to the top of that pressed hem.  Repeat on other dress piece so hems match up.

Now pin the sides together, making sure to match seams and bottom hem and sew a 1/2" seam.  Repeat on other side.  Turn dress right side out.

Step 8~ Sew Bias Tape to arms

Pin a piece of bias tape to the armhole.  You are working RST and using the raw edge of the armhole as your guide.  Stitch in the crease closest to the raw edge as before.  Remove pins and turn the tape to the inside

Pin in place using method as before, removing pins as you sew and making sure you are catching tape on the underside. And you're done!

Click on the button below for your size 2-3T pattern

                                          

 Pic on the left is sweet girl before we left for the event.  Pic on the right is in full break-down mode (notice cute little matching hair accessory is missing) on the outside church bench in a time-out...but she still looks cute  :)

Here's a close up of some of the details...{I love Picnik!}

And here is our family in a rare formal picture...well, as formal as you can get with little missy shoving that dorito in her mouth  :)

Now, go make your punk a few and always post to our Flickr group so we can check out your handi~work

I am sharing this dress pattern at all these linky party's

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