I came across some fabric I absolutely love and I just had to sew a new dress. I can’t wait to show you How To Make A Slip Dress With Free Pattern! This is a simple dress that is also fun and flirty! When my sewing friend, Debbie, showed this pattern, I immediately thought of this fabric and knew it would be perfect. The thin straps and curvy cut of this dress make it flattering on anyone. I made my own bias tape for this dress but you could use store-bought bias tape and it would still look great. Bias tape is easy to work with and makes your edges look nice and finished. You will be getting asked where you bought this dress everytime you wear it and you’ll be able to take pride in answering that you made it yourself. This is a great addition to your diy wardrobe. I love dresses and skirts and I especially love having clothing that fits so well.
Gather up your sewing supplies from the list below and let’s get started!
Looking to sew more dresses? Then you want to see our 35 free dress patterns that you can sew.
What You’ll Need:
- 1.5 Yards of 60″ Wide Fabric – Woven or Knit Fabric – cotton blends, crepe de chine, lightweight linen, challis, georgette
- 2 yards 1/2” double folded store-bought bias tape or cut 2 yards bias strip fabrics 2” wide
- Free Slip 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”. Wanting to sew this in smaller size or a bigger size? Then check out our post on Pattern Grading.
Printing Instructions This slip 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:
- Front Bodice – Cut one on fold
- Back Bodice – Cut one on fold
Seam Allowance
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed. Where applicable, sew all knits with a stretch stitch such as a zigzag or a lightning stitch. Always use a ballpoint needle when sewing knits. Finish all raw edges with a serger or zigzag stitch.
How To Make A Slip Dress With Free Pattern
Start this how to make a slip dress with free pattern sewing tutorial by washing and drying your fabric. I like to begin all my clothing sewing projects like this. It 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.
Pin front and back bodice right sides together and sew at the side seam.
Next, we will start working with our bias tape. You can use store-bought bias tape or you can make your own using 2 inch wide strips of fabric. You will need two yards of either option. Open your bias tape and place the right side of the bias tape against the wrong side of the armhole. Align the raw edge of the bias tape to the raw edge of the armhole. Pin and sew.
Flip the bias tape to the right side of the garment, concealing the raw edges. Pin the bias tape and sew 1/8” from the folded edge.
Trim the bias tape. Repeat these same steps for the other armhole.
Now on this slip dress pattern sewing tutorial, find the center mark of the back of the dress.
Fold the end of the bias tape wrong sides together by 1/2”.
Pin the bias tape to the end of the neckline of your slip dress. Try on the dress and get an idea of how much strap length is needed, or use your bra strap as a guide. From this point continue pinning the bias tape to the entire front neckline. When you get to the other armhole, mark off the armhole measurement again until the entire neckline is complete as shown.
Overlap the two bias tape ends by 1/2” and then trim off any excess.
Sew the bias tape to the neckline.
Flip the bias tape to the right side of the garment, concealing the raw edges.
Pin the bias tape and sew 1/8” from the folded edge to finish out the straps.
For the last step in this how to sew a slip dress with free pattern tutorial, we just need to finish the hem of the dress. Double fold the hem 1/2” and sew with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
And that’s it! Now you know how to sew a slip dress with free pattern! We hope you enjoyed this fun sewing project tutorial. I love sewing my own dresses and have built up quite the DIY wardrobe. This dress is a great place to start your clothing sewing journey so you can enjoy perfectly fitting clothing every day.
If you liked learning how to sew a slip dress with free pattern, 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 Slip Dress With Free Pattern
Sew this cute and simple slip dress. Great for a night out!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Use pattern to cut out fabric pieces
- Pin front and back bodice right sides together and sew at the side seam.
- Open your bias tape and place the right side of the bias tape against the wrong side of the armhole. Align the raw edge of the bias tape to the raw edge of the armhole. Pin and sew.
- Flip the bias tape to the right side of the garment, concealing the raw edges. Pin the bias tape and sew 1/8” from the folded edge.
- Trim bias tape.
- Repeat for the other armhole.
- Find the center mark of the back of the dress.
- Fold the end of the bias tape wrong sides together by 1/2”.
- Place the right side of the bias tape against the wrong side of the armhole. Align the raw edge of the bias tape to the raw edge of the armhole.
- Pin the bias tape to the end of the neckline .Try on the dress and get an idea how much strap length is needed, or use your bra strap as a guide.
- From this point continue pinning the bias tape to the entire front neckline.When you get to the other armhole, mark off the armhole measurement again until the entire neckline is complete as shown.
- Overlap the two bias tape ends by 1/2” and then trim off any excess.
- Sew the bias tape to the neckline.
- Flip the bias tape to the right side of the garment, concealing the raw edges.
- Pin the bias tape and sew 1/8” from the folded edge.
- Hemming the dress Double fold the hem 1/2” and sew.
- Enjoy!
Recommended Products
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