How to Sew a Cute Boat Neck Dress Without Using a Pattern

Tools and materials:

• Summer-weight fabric
• Sewing pins
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing machine

1. Make and cut the boat neck dress pattern

Start with two pieces of fabric measuring 90 x92 centimeters (35.4 x 36.2 inches) each. Put one piece on top of the other with the right sides facing down. You will be cutting both layers at the same time.

Fold the fabric widthwise so you have 92 centimeters (36.2 inches) along the folded edge and 45 centimeters (17.7 inches) along the short edge.

With the fold of the fabric facing you, mark every 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) along the left-hand short edge.

Now mark the right-hand short edge at 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) above the fold.

Along the top long edge, mark 22 centimeters (8.66 inches) in from the left side.

Draw a line from that 22-centimeter (8.66-inch) mark, down 15 centimeters (5.9 inches), and then go across to the right-hand edge so you have a 15 x 70-centimeter (5.9 x 27.55-inch) rectangle in the upper right corner of your fabric.

Cut out the rectangle.

Unfold the fabric and you will now have 2 T-shaped dress pattern pieces.

2. Finish the raw edges

Zigzag stitch around all edges of both pieces of fabric.

3. Assemble the dress

Place the front and back dress pieces together with the right sides facing in. Mark the top edge at 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) from each outside edge. The middle 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) will be the boat neck.

4. Sew the shoulder seams

Sew the 30-centimeter (11.8-inch) shoulder seams on both sides of the top of the dress.

5. Sew the neckline

Open the dress and pin the neckline edge under to match the shoulder seam allowance. Then topstitch along the long and short edges of the neckline.

6. Topstitch the seam allowance

Then topstitch the shoulder seam allowances down.

7. Sew the side seams

Fold the dress in half again, with right sides facing in. Sew the underarm and side seams.

8. Hem

Pin up a 2-centimeter (0.78-inch) sleeve hem and sew it in place. Repeat for the other sleeve.

Make a 3-centimeter (1.18-inch) bottom hem on the dress.

How to sew a boat neck dress

That’s it! Your DIY summer boat dress is all done. Now go out and enjoy the summer heat in this light, flowy, comfortable dress.

Don’t forget to leave me a comment to let me know if you liked this summer dress tutorial.