We have a fun and foxy sewing project for you all today! I’m going to show you How To Make A Little Black Dress! We have those dresses we pull out when we are feeling great and this is one of those for me. My old one had started to wear out and fade so I decided to sew a new one. I got this pattern from my sewing friend Debbie and I think it looks great. This is a simple dress to sew and the pattern helps you size this for the perfect fit. There’s nothing better than a cute flirty dress that you can go on a date or out on the town in. For this project, I used a combination of knit and woven fabric for the bodice and skirt sections. This made the dress super comfortable and I would have no trouble wearing this all day. This dress lives up to its name. Perfect for daywear covered with a jacket for business meetings. Throw the jacket off and take it for a spin on the dance floor!!
This dress is designed for the bodice to be made out of knit and the skirt to be made out of knit or woven. For the bodice, a 4 way 50% knit is recommended such as cotton lycra, double brushed poly. For the skirt, a light to medium weight woven fabric is recommended. You may also use the same fabric for the bodice on the skirt. Gather up your supplies from the list below and let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- 1 Yard Of 60″ Wide Fabric For Bodice
- 1.25 Yards Of Woven Fabric For Skirt
- Free Dress Pattern
- Matching Thread
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Fabric marker
- Bodkin or Safety Pin
Size Chart:
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Chest | 34 | 36 | 38 |
| Waist | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| Hip | 38 | 40 | 42 |
This pattern is drafted for a height of 5’ 4”- 5” 5”. Is this little black dress pattern missing the size you are looking for? Then check out our tutorial on How to Scale a pattern up and down.
Printing Instructions
This little black dress pattern has layers so that you can choose to print only the size you need. To achieve this Adobe Reader must be installed on your machine or device. Adobe Reader allows you to click on the layers icon which will show you each size with an eyeball beside it. Click on the eyeball beside the size you do not want to print.
Before printing check that your printer is set to No scaling or Actual size. Set the Page orientation to Auto or Portrait. And then print page 1. Measure the 2” test square to see if it measures exactly 2”. If it does, print the remaining pages.
Trimming Pages
Cut off the right and top margins of each printed page before assembling the pattern. You can use tape or school glue to adhere your paper pattern together.
Pattern Assembly
After the pages have been printed and trimmed as instructed above, use the quarter circles located at the corner of each page for perfect alignment. When done your pattern should look like this:
Pattern Pieces Checklist
- Once you have printed and assembled your pattern you will cut:
- Bodice Front – Cut on fold – 1 main, and lining
- Bodice Back – Cut on fold – 1 main, and lining
- Skirt – Cut 2 On Fold
Seam Allowance
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed.
How To Make A Little Black Dress
The first step in this how to make a little black dress sewing tutorial is to wash, dry, and iron your fabric. This helps preshrink your fabric and prepares it for washing later so that your stitches don’t pull out or fray the first time you wash it. Plus, it helps make the fabric super soft. Once you have done this, use your pattern to cut out your fabric pieces according to the cut list above.
Pin your main front bodice to the back bodice at the shoulders and sew using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Repeat for the lining.
Separate your main bodice front from the back and lay it right side facing up.
Separate the lining front from the back and lay it right sides together on top of the main fabric. Align and pin the neck hole. Sew the neck hole. Turn the bodice right sides out.
Lay the bodice with the front separated from the back and with one of the armholes facing you.
Roll the armhole closest to you towards the other armhole.
When you get to the other armhole, pick up the top fabric layer and hold it along with the roll. Flip the bodice so that the remaining layer is now on the opposite side.
Next on this how to make a little black dress sewing tutorial, place the loose layers together so that the roll is sandwiched between both layers. Pin and sew the two layers together at the armhole. Turn the bodice right sides out. Repeat for the other armhole.
Now we are now going to sew the side seams. The two layers that are immediately touching each other must be pinned together. You will continue to pin into the remaining two layers. Sew.
Next on this how to make a little black dress sewing tutorial, we will work on the skirt portion of the dress. Place your two skirt pieces right sides together, aligning the side seam. Sew and finish edges. Repeat for the other side.
Sew a gathering stitch in the waist of the skirt. Gather the skirt by pulling on the gathering thread and ensure that the skirt is the same width as the top.
With the right sides together, pin the skirt to the bodice. Sew them together with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
To finish this dress, double fold the hem by 1/2” and sew.
And that’s it! Now you know how to make a little black dress! This dress is great for date nights or just a night out with friends. If you have been wanting to make your own clothing, this is a fun dress to make. While technically it is called a little black dress, you could make this in any color and it would turn out great!
If you liked learning how to make a little black dress, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
How To Make A Little Black Dress
Sew your own fun and flirty little black dres! The flattering lines make this a keeper for anyone.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Use included free pattern to cut out fabric.
- Pin your main front bodice to the back bodice at the shoulders and sew
- Repeat for the lining.
- Separate your main bodice front from the back and lay it right side facing up. Separate the lining front from the back and lay it right sides together on top of the main fabric. Align and pin the neckhole. Sew the neckhole. Turn the bodice right sides out.
- Lay the bodice with the front separated from the back and with one of the armholes facing you. Roll the armhole closest to you towards the other armhole.
- When you get to the other armhole, pick up the top fabric layer and hold it along with the roll. Flip the bodice so that the remaining layer is now on the opposite side.
- Place the loose layers together so that the roll is sandwiched between both layers.
- Pin and sew the two layers together at the armhole. Turn the bodice right sides out. Repeat for the other armhole.
- We are now going to sew the side seams. The two layers that are immediately touching each other must be pinned together. You will continue to pin into the remaining two layers. Sew.
- Place your two skirt pieces right sides together, aligning the side seam. Sew and finish edges. Repeat for the other side.
- Sew a gathering stitch in the waist of the skirt. Gather the skirt by pulling on the gathering thread and ensure that the skirt is the same width as the skirt.
- With the right sides together, pin the skirt to the bodice.
- Double fold the hem by 1/2” and sew.
- Enjoy!
Recommended Products
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