How to Make a Sexy Sequin Dress

The DIY Designer
by The DIY Designer
6 Materials
$40
2 Hours
Medium

Hi guys. I made a sexy sequin dress that I wore to a friend’s wedding and wanted to show you how easy it was to sew. I found this gorgeous green sequin fabric and I knew it would be perfect for what I was looking to make.

Let’s learn how to make this green sequin dress.

Tools and materials:

  • Fabric
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • Needle and Thread
  • Sewing machine 
  • Seam ripper
Cute sexy cut-out dress

My inspiration piece is a cute sexy cut-out dress. 

Green sequin fabric

Here's the green sequin fabric I used.

Taking measurements

1. Take measurements for the top

Taking measurements


Taking measurements

Measure from the bottom of your neck, under your arm, to your back and stop at the point your strap will end. My measurement was 15 inches. 

Taking measurements

Next measure from the bottom of your neck to the point you want your top piece to end. Mine was 14 inches. 

Taking measurements

With those two measurements, we can simply connect those points when cutting our fabric to achieve a diamond shape.

Cutting the trim

2. Cut the trim

Cut off the velvet trim framing the green sequin fabric which you will use for the drawstring straps.

Measuring the top

3. Measure the top

Fold your fabric in half.


The 15-inch measurement will be the two sides of the top that run from your neck to your back, plot this on the raw edge of the fabric.

Plotting the length

Now plot the length of the top, my 14-inch measurement, on the fold.

Cutting

4. Cut the top out of the fabric

Now, you are going to connect the 2 measurements with your scissors. 

 

Diamond shape

Leaving you with a piece of fabric in a diamond shape.

Cutting

Exaggerate the bottom point of the top by cutting along the edge of the fabric but towards the end slope the cut up. 

How fabric should look

Your piece of fabric should look like this.

Measuring the skirt

5. Measure the skirt

To make sure you have enough fabric, fold it in half at your widest point.

 

Cutting

5. Cut the skirt

Cut that piece out of the fabric.

Cutting

Start cutting your fabric from the raw edge to the fold. 

Cutting from center of back

In the above picture, I start cutting where the center of my back will be. 

Curving scissors upward

As I start to reach my hip bones I begin to curve the scissors upwards towards my belly button. 

Tab

Ending up with a tab, center-front.

Measuring

Measure your smallest point. For me, it was my waist which was 19-inches. 

Cutting

Cut the fabric part way down from that measurement and gradually go back into the skirt.

Example

After cutting, I flipped the fabric over, so the front is now on the left in the picture but you should end up with a piece that looks like this.

Laid out pieces of sequin fabric

6. Make adjustments

Make sure all the points of the fabric are flattened out since these will fold over to become the casings for the drawstrings.

Laid out pieces of sequin fabric

Angle this area a lot more to make a distinct diamond shape.

Where to cut notches

For a better fit between the skirt and top, cut notches at the points where they will connect.

Where to add drawstrings

7. Make casings for your drawstring

Fold down and tack the top, left, and right points of your diamond. Your drawstring will go through these and lace up. 

Cutting the lining

8. Cut the lining

Use the green sequin fabric as a template to cut out the second version of your pattern.

Pinning lining

Pin the lining and fabric face to face, leaving the little notch at the bottom open so that you can flip the top right side out.

Cutting

Cut out the lining for your skirt.

Sewing the lining and fabric together

9. Sew the lining and fabric together

Using a zigzag stitch, sew the top pieces together, leaving the bottom notch open so you can turn it right side out.

Fabric flipped inside out

When I flip it inside out not only is it lined but it's clean finished. 

Sewing the lining and skirt closed

Sew both the lining of the skirt and sequin skirt closed in the back. Now put the skirts inside each other with their wrong sides touching.

Pinning

Pin them together at the top and sew. 

Fabric flipped right side out

Flip them right side out, ending up with two separate pieces that are only attached at the top. 

Pushing lining into the skirt

Push the lining into the sequence skirt. 

Making the sash

10. Make the sash

Hand stitch over the casing you tacked down where the drawstring will go through.

Making sash

Fold over your velvet edge and use your sewing machine to stitch a seam.

Attaching sash

To attach your sash, feed it through the top casing, cross it over and pull each end through the side casings.

Attaching top and skirt

11. Attach your top and skirt together

Place the notches of the two pieces together and sew across. 

Removing sequins

12. Remove sequins

Use a seam ripper to remove sequins that now lie on the inside of your fabric. They should be on your casing tabs and where you attached the two pieces of your sexy sequin dress together. 

Completed sexy sequin dress

Sexy sequin dress

Here is my final green sequin dress. I tied the sash in the front.

Completed sexy sequin dress

This is the back.


I hope you enjoyed learning how to sew this sexy sequin dress. Please let me know if you decide to try it out.


And, if you want more dress DIYs, check out my other tutorial on How to Create Two No-Sew Red Carpet Worthy Dresses!

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
See all materials

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