How to Cut & Sew a Chanel-Inspired Sleeveless Turtleneck Maxi Dress

Marigood Suns
by Marigood Suns
8 Materials
$30
30 Minutes
Easy

In this sewing tutorial, I’m going to show you how to cut and sew a turtleneck dress. The dress I’ll be making was inspired by the gorgeous maxi Chanel dress that Kristen Stewart wore to the premiere of the film Personal Shopper.

Tools and materials:

  • Sleeveless top and long skirt (or a sleeveless maxi dress)
  • ½ yard of rib knit jersey
  • 1.5 yards of stretchy fabric
  • Pins
  • Chalk
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Sewing machine
Tracing clothes to make the dress pattern

1. Trace the dress

First, fold your stretchy fabric in half. Then line the top and skirt to form a dress and pin them on top of the fabric. Proceed to trace the outline of the dress, leaving a 0.5cm (0.2-inch) seam allowance.


When I got to the bottom of the dress, I widened the shape slightly for ease of movement.

Cutting out the DIY turtleneck dress sewing pattern

2. Cut

Next, cut out the traced pattern.

Measuring pockets for the dress

3. Cut the pockets

From the same stretchy material, draw and cut out a square for the pocket. My pocket measured 7 inches (18cm) on each side. Then use this piece to cut out a second pocket.

Sewing the pockets

4. Sew the pockets

Fold the pockets in on each side and sew them. You want to sew them in by 1 inch (2.5cm) on one side and ½ inch (1.3cm) on the other side.

Attaching the pockets to the dress

5. Attach to dress

Place the pockets on the front piece of the dress, then pin and top stitch using a straight stitch.

Sewing the side seams of the dress

6. Sew the two sides together

Place the two pieces of the dress one on top of the other with the right sides touching. Pin them to each other and then sew with a zigzag stitch. 

How to make a turtleneck dress

7. Trim the neckline

This next step is optional, but I trimmed the neckline to make it a bit wider.

How to sew a turtleneck dress

8. Cut the knit fabric

Fold and cut the knit fabric so that it is the width of the neckline. Then fold it in half again and place it inside the neckline of the dress (while the dress is turned inside out). Sew it in place. 


Finally, hem the bottom of the dress as well as the armholes, and you are done!

How to cut and sew a turtleneck dress

How to cut and sew a turtleneck dress

Here we have our finished Kristen Stewart-inspired Chanel dress. This was really easy to make, and I love the finished look. It has a very stylish and flattering silhouette.

DIY turtleneck dress

I also think that the turtleneck adds a nice bit of extra detail, and I like the contrast between the two types of material. I hope that you’ll make this dress for yourself!

Suggested materials:
  • Sleeveless top and long skirt (or a sleeveless maxi dress)
  • ½ yard of rib knit jersey
  • 1.5 yards of stretchy fabric
See all materials

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