How to Easily Sew Your Own DIY Maxi Dress Without Using a Pattern
This DIY maxi dress with a gathered ruffle and sleeve is so pretty and comfortable! If you’ve been wondering how to make a maxi dress even if you’re new to sewing, this DIY maxi dress pattern uses just your own t-shirt as a template and is super simple to make!
You’ll use just 2 stitches: a gathering and a straight stitch to make this beautiful DIY maxi dress. Let’s get started!
Tools and materials:
- 2.2 yards (2.5 meters) of fabric
- ¼-inch elastic
- Your own t-shirt with sleeves
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Pins
- Washable marker or tailor’s chalk
- Safety pin
1. Make the pattern
Fold the fabric in half and then again in half lengthwise.
Use your own top that fits you well but loosely. Tuck in the sleeves completely so the armhole is visible to use as a template. Lay your top on top of the fabric, carefully pinning it in place so it doesn’t move when cutting.
Measure from the very top of the shoulder to about 4 inches above your knee measurement on the fabric. Cut the fabric right there.
Cut around your top, leaving a 1-inch seam allowance.
Cut along the length. Remove the pins from your top and set it aside.
Extend the neckline front and back by 3 inches.
Trim the front neckline to be about 2 inches lower than the back. Pin the shoulders together.
2. Make the sleeve pattern
Double fold the fabric. Open the sleeve on your top and lay it across the fabric, about 4 to 5 inches away from the folded edge.
Carefully cut around the curve of the armhole.
Measure your desired length of the sleeve. In this tutorial, I measured from the shoulder to the wrist. Cut this length across the fabric.
Create a curve along the length of the sleeve by drawing it freehand with your chalk or marker. Make the bottom of the sleeve a bit wider for a bell or balloon finish.
Cut out the curve on the sleeve, following your drawn guide.
With the fabric folded, trim the corner on the fold to mark the center top of the sleeve.
3. Make the ruffle pattern
Measure the length from just above your knee to above your ankle. You will need to cut 2 pieces of fabric to this measurement.
Cut the first piece and use it as a guide to cut the second piece.
4. Make the belt pattern
Cut the fabric 6 inches wide across the double-folded fabric.
5. Sew the DIY maxi dress
Pin the shoulders together and sew with a straight stitch.
Add a gathering stitch at the top of the sleeve. Pull the threads to gather.
Position and pin the sleeve to the dress armhole, right sides together. Stitch all along the sleeve to the armhole.
Sew one side seam of the ruffle so it’s one long piece. Add a gathering stitch to the ruffle piece along the top.
Position it in place along the bottom of the main dress, right sides together, distributing the gathers evenly. Pin in place and stitch across.
Pin and sew the side seams of the dress and the inner sleeve seam.
At the edge of the sleeves, fold in and pin about ½ inch to make a casing for the elastic. Measure your wrist with the elastic and cut to your measurement.
Sew the casing across, leaving about 2 inches unsewn to insert the elastic. Attach a safety pin to the elastic, insert into the space, and tunnel it through.
Once the elastic edges meet, stitch the elastic ends together. Push back into the casing, distribute the gathers evenly, and stitch the 2-inch opening closed.
Hem the bottom of the dress with a ½-inch fold.
Fold the belt in half right sides together. Sew along the length and one short side. Use the unsewn end to turn the belt right side out and then sew the open edge closed.
6. Attach a neck facing
Cut a 1-inch wide strip of fabric that measures the circumference of the neck. Pin in place, right sides together. Stitch close to the edge.
Once that’s sewn, fold the strip twice into the neckline and topstitch.
DIY maxi dress tutorial
You’ve made a beautiful DIY maxi dress! Let me know in the comments what you think of this tutorial and the final results. Thanks for joining!
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The end result beautiful! The directions totally confusing. Don’t know how anyone could follow! Is it only me?