Easy Formal Dress Sewing Tutorial With Free Pattern
My friend begged me to make her a graduation dress. She asked for a modest style with long sleeves, but I wanted to give her an elegant dress that she could wear to more formal occasions as well.
I drafted the dress directly on to the fabric so my formal dress pattern is free for you to use as well. The measurements given will fit European sizes 38 - 42.
Tools and materials:
- 88 inch (220 cm) crepe fabric
- Elastic
- Tailor's chalk
- Pins
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Drinking straw
- Safety pin or hair grip
- Sewing machine
- Serger (optional)
1. Draft the pattern
Cut a piece from your fabric 53 inches (135 cm) wide for the dress length and 56 inches (144 cm) long.
Fold it in half twice and lay it out with the folded edge towards you.
Mark out a rectangle 8 inches (20 cm) by 4 inches (10 cm) at the top left corner. Draw a curve where the lines join and cut out the shape, to make the armholes.
Put the cut off piece aside.
Move the inner two layers out of the way at the bottom left corner and make a cut 2 inches (5 cm) long at the fold, to mark the center front.
Mark 16 inches (40 cm) along the open edge from the top right corner on all layers, for the side splits.
2. Cut out the sleeves
Cut a piece of fabric 30 inches (76 cm) wide by 20 inches (51 cm) long.
Fold it in half with the folded edge towards you.
Place the piece you cut from the armhole at the top left corner and cut around it.
Repeat for the second sleeve.
3. Attach the sleeves
Open out the back piece with the right side uppermost. Pin one sleeve to each armhole, with the right sides facing.
Place the front on top of the back, with the right sides together.
Pin the sleeves to the front armholes.
Sew the sleeves in place. If you've ever wondered how to sew sleeves on a dress, this is a very easy way to do that.
4. Side and sleeve seams
Serge or finish all the raw edges.
Pin and sew the side seams together from the top of the slit to the underarm.
Pin and sew the sleeve seams.
5. Neckline
Serge or finish the raw edges of the neckline and the center front notch.
Fold the sides of the notch to the wrong side and sew in place.
Turn the top edge of the neckline in by 1 inch (2.5 cm) and stitch down close to the edge, leaving the short edges open at the sides of the notch to make a casing.
6. Side slits
Turn the edges of the slit to the wrong side by half an inch (1.2 cm) and stitch down along both edges and across the top of the slit.
7. Necktie
Cut a strip of fabric 59 inches (150 cm) wide and 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
Fold it in half with the right sides together.
Sew the short edges on the diagonal. Sew the long edge, leaving an opening in the middle.
Use a straw to push both ends through the opening, to turn the tie right side out. Sew the opening closed and press.
Thread the tie through the neck casing and tie the ends in a bow at the center front.
8. Gathered sleeves
Draw a line 8 inches (20 cm) from the end of the sleeve and turn the raw edge to meet the line.
Sew in place close to the edge, leaving a small opening at the seam.
Cut a piece of elastic to fit around your forearm.
Mark the depth of your elastic from the stitched edge.
Sew a second row parallel with the first and wide enough for the elastic to fit between them.
Thread the elastic through the casing. Overlap and sew the ends and sew the opening closed.
9. Hem
Turn up and sew a narrow double hem at the lower edge of the dress.
Formal dress pattern free
This makes the perfect graduation dress worn loose and an elegant formal gown when belted.
The neckline can be modest or almost off the shoulder. I love the gathered sleeves and the side slits. And of course, my friend was delighted with the dress!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to sew a dress. For lots more sewing ideas, please follow me on TikTok as well.
The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.
Comments
Join the conversation