Give Your DIY Dress Beautiful Puff Sleeves

8 Materials
$5
1 Hour
Medium

Here, I’m going to show you how to make a simple puff-sleeve dress that is perfect for the summer. Let’s start.

Tools and materials:

  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
  • Clips
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron 
  • Elastic
  • Safety pin
Cutting fabric

1. Cut fabric

First, cut your fabric. You need two main dress pieces, two ruffle pieces, four pocket pieces, and two sleeve pieces.

Marking

2. Mark position of pockets

To add the pockets, measure down 13 inches (33cm) from the top of the dress, mark that point, and place the pockets on the dress, right sides touching.

Sewing pockets on

3. Sew the pockets on

Sewing sides

4. Sew sides of dress

Place the front piece of the dress on top of the back piece and sew along the sides.

Gathering ruffles

5. Sew and gather ruffles

Sew the two ruffle pieces together at the side and then go ahead and gather the material.


Gather the ruffle until it is the same size as the bottom of the dress.

Progress shot

Once it’s gathered, sew it to the dress, and this is what your dress will look like.

Sewing sleeves

6. Sew sleeves

Fold the sleeves in half and sew them together at the side seams.

Ironing fabric

7. Create channels

Then fold over 0.25 inches (0.6cm) and then 0.5 inches (1.3cm) to create a channel for your elastic.


Do this to the bottom and top of both sleeves and iron the fabric down.

Adding elastic

8. Add elastic

Sew along the channels, leaving an opening to insert the elastic. You need two pieces of elastic per sleeve.


For the shoulder elastic, the length is the measurement of your shoulder elastic, and for the bottom piece, it’s the measurement of your bicep.


Insert the elastic into the channels using a safety pin, then sew the ends together or tie a knot.

Sewing sleeves to dress

9. Sew sleeves to dress

Take the side seam of the sleeves and line them up with the side seams of the dress. Then sew the sleeves on.

Give your DIY dress beautiful puff sleeves

Give your DIY dress beautiful puff sleeves

Here is the finished look. I love this dress so much - the puff sleeves give it a cottagecore vibe.


If you found this post helpful, leave a comment down below. For more sewing content, follow me on TikTok:  @kenjahb

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
See all materials

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