How to Sew an Overall Dress Without a Pattern in 6 Simple Steps
I am really excited today to show you how to sew an overall dress. I have all this black denim that my friend gave to me last year and I want to upcycle it for this project.
I already made a pair of summery DIY short overalls in a previous tutorial, so I knew roughly the method I needed to make this.
Let's get making a DIY overall dress!
Tools and materials:
- Black denim fabric
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Tailor’s chalk
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Overall fasteners and buckles
- Hammer
- Serger (optional)
Here are a few of my inspirations images.
Here's the plan and it’s going to be super easy. I want to make mini-skirt overalls and the skirt is going to be slightly oversized. So, you know, you can pull it on and off.
So, I need a front panel and a back panel, plus straps.
1. Take body measurements
For this overall dress tutorial, I started by taking my measurements.
I added 4 inches to my waist measurement to get to 30 inches as well as my hip measurements to get 38 inches, as I want to leave room for what I wear under the overalls.
I also factored in seam allowance. My skirt is going to be A-line, so I took that into consideration when measuring too.
2. Cut out the pattern
I took my waist and hip measurements and divided them in half because I wanted to fold my fabric so that I would have a symmetrical piece.
Then, I transferred all the measurements to the fabric and freehanded the curve at the armhole. I cut out two pieces in the same shape: one for the front and one for the back.
3. Sew and serge
With both pieces cut out, I sewed them together at the side seams and then folded the seam open.
I also serged all the edges to make them all nice. I kept my serger thread white, and it kind of looks cool. I decided I didn't like it though so folded all the edges under and stitched them down.
When I was sewing down the edges I decided I wanted the back to be a little lower so cut that down a bit too.
4. Add a pocket
Then I added a pocket big enough for my phone, my wallet, and my Chapstick.
5. Make the straps
Next came the straps. I loosely measured from the back to the front and added a couple of inches onto it.
My strap measurements ended up being about 21 inches with some seam allowance. So I made them 26 inches.
I cut out two long strips and finished. I also folded them under the hem.
6. Add the snaps and buckle
Finally, to finish my DIY overall dress, I put the snaps on them. I just followed the directions for putting snaps on. You get a nail part and a top part, then you hammer them on.
You only get one shot at putting the snaps on so be sure to work carefully. I added the snaps to the front piece...
...and then the hooks to the ends of the straps.
How to sew an overall dress
The overalls turned out so cute! I hope this tutorial on how to sew an overall dress helps you if you want to make one too. I highly encourage you to because it was so simple.
Let me know in the comments what you think of the results!
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Love this! You nailed it!
That's beautiful. I was going to my overall short in a much longer version with African print to make it longer.