How to Easily Make a DIY Convertible Dress You Can Wear 5 Ways

Tools and materials:

• 240 centimeters (95 inches) of stretchy fabric
• Tape measure
• Fabric marker or chalk
• Sewing pins
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing machine

1. Make the pattern

Fold your fabric in half to a 150 x 120-centimeter (59 x 47-inch) rectangle and place it on your work surface with the folded edge on the left.

Grasp the top left corner of the fabric and fold it down in a triangle so the edge of the triangle lines up with the folded edge of the fabric.

From the top corner of the triangle, measure and mark a 30-centimeter (12-inch) arc on the fabric.

Now, measure and mark a 120-centimeter (47-inch) arc from the same corner. Since the width of your folded fabric was 120 centimeters (47 inches) to begin with, the arc should start at the right bottom corner of the triangle.

2. Cut the fabric

Cut the fabric along both of your curved lines.

From the bottom of the fabric, measure and cut a 9-centimeter (3½-inch) wide rectangle all the way across.

3. Pin and sew

Open the half-circle skirt and, with the wrong sides facing, pin the center point of the rectangle to the center top edge of your half-skirt

Fold over the bottom edge of the rectangle and then fold the whole rectangle lengthwise so the small, folded edge meets the top of the rectangle, pinning it all in place as you go.

Sew along the top edge of the waistband on the wrong side of the skirt. 

When you get to the extended lengths of waistband fabric, just fold them in half lengthwise and sew along the edge, so they become ties.

4. Snip

Snip the corners at the ends of the ties and pull the ties right-side out.

5. Topstitch

Now, on the right side of the skirt, fold over and topstitch the other side of the waistband in place.

How to wear the convertible dress

1. Maxi skirt

Just wrap the waistband around your waist from back to front and close it with the ties.

2. Duster

Put the half-circle on from your back to your front and tie the straps at the front. 

Then flip the straps over your head to the back of your neck and you have a flowy long vest.

3. One-shoulder dress

Wrap the half-circle around you from back to front under your arms, putting one strap over your shoulder.

Bring the other strap around your front, under your bust, and bring the strap at the back to your side. Tie the front and back straps at your side.

Gather up some of the fabric from the open fold and tuck it into the ties for a more flouncy wrap edge.

4. Halter dress

Wrap the dress from your back to your front. Criss-cross the ties twice in front and then pass them over your shoulders.

Then bring the ends of the straps around your waist to the front and tie them at the front.

5. Strapless dress

Wrap the dress under your arms from front to back. Cross the straps at the back of your waist and bring them to the front. Tie the straps at the front. 

DIY convertible dress tutorial

There you have it! One simple half-circle skirt and 5 beautiful styles. This is surely going to be your most versatile wardrobe piece!

Leave a comment to let me know how you like your DIY convertible dress and if you found any new ways to wear it.

To see more of my DIY sewing tutorials, follow me on TikTok  @tugbaisler.