How to Turn an Old Pillowcase Into a Cute Summer Dress
In this tutorial, I will show you how to make an adorable summer dress out of a pillowcase! You might be able to pick up some perfect pillowcases at your thrift store.
Depending on the pillowcase you use, you might have a ready-made trim for the bottom of your new DIY summer dress, or you might want to make a trim yourself. If you’ve got a half-hour, that’s all you’ll need, so let’s get started right now!
Tools and materials:
- Pillowcase (preferably with a lace trim)
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Sewing pins
- Shoulder tie ribbon
- Decorative trim
- Thread
- Sewing machine
1. Prepare your pillowcase
Turn your pillowcase inside out and trim off the top edge seam. Then slip the pillowcase over your head to make sure it’s the right size for you.
Most pillowcases just have one seam down the length of it. Make that seam the back seam of your dress. Press the pillowcase with the back seam in the center to create creases on the sides.
2. Make armholes for your summer dress
Cut armholes into the pillowcase freehand. Cut on one side, then fold the pillowcase in half lengthwise and cut the other side so they match exactly.
Double-fold and press a ¼-inch hem around the armholes.
Pin the armhole hem in place and sew it down. Repeat for the other armhole and then press your armhole hems to give them a clean, crisp look.
3. Make a neckline casing
Press in a ½-inch hem on the front neckline edge of your summer dress.
Fold in and press again, but this time making a 1-inch hem. Pin the hem in place.
Repeat this step to make a back neckline casing.
Sew the front and back neckline casing along the open edge.
4. Add decorative trim
My pillowcase already had great lace trim on it, but I wanted more embellishment. You can use any trim you like. Pin it in place on your summer dress, starting at the back center seam.
Topstitch the trim at the bottom and top of the trim.
Where the trim meets, join it with a zigzag stitch.
Then give your decorative trim a final press.
5. Add shoulder ties
Choose your dress tie material and use a safety pin to feed it through the neckline casings. Use separate pieces for the front and back casings and gather your neckline as you go. Then tie the shoulder ties at the top to fit.
How to make a dress out of a pillowcase
That really couldn’t be any easier, could it? And this DIY summer dress from a pillowcase is just about the coolest summer dress you could have. Try it for yourself and let me know how your summer dress turned out.
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Might make a nice "house dress"
Yes actually I remember using a black one for a Halloween costume from my son one year 💜. Recycle, reuse and share. Trying to raise good stewards of our planet.