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Gathered dress
Making this dress was as easy as it looks, only the bodice needs some kind of pattern and the bottom parts are just a pair of rectangles.

Posted by verypurpleperson • Published 22nd December 2009 • See verypurpleperson's 8 projects »

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Misty S. favorited Gathered Dress 28 Feb 04:15
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Jessika G. favorited Gathered Dress 23 Aug 02:57

Step 1
You will need:
- A sleeveless top or bodice pattern of your choice.
- Pattern paper
- Fabric for bodice part. You can use the same fabric or coordinating ones.
- Fabric for bottom part. My fabric is 120 cm in width and 2 m long. A bit goes for lining the top part and the rest goes to the bottom part.
Step 2
Bodice part:
- Fold your top along the vertical middle line, put the pattern paper over it and trace the top.
- Make sure you trace the neckline, armholes and the sides of both front and back pieces.
- Mark the bottom part of bodice on the pattern. Mine is about 3 cm below the armholes. Draw a straight line perpendicular to middle line.
- Check the sides of front and back pieces, make sure that the lengths are the same.
- To make the overlapped front, add 2.5 cm on the middle front lines.
Add seam allowances all around.
- Now you have the bodice patterns!
Step 3
Sewing the dress
- Cut fabric using bodice patterns. You will have 2 front pieces and 1 back piece.
- It is easier to line the whole bodice part. If you want to do this, cut another set of bodice pattern from lining fabric (I use the bottom part fabric). Sew the bodice pieces and linings.
- Cut the rest of your bottom part fabric in two.
- Sew to make a tube. Please notice that the selvedges are on top and bottom of the tube.
- Gather the top part to match the bodice pattern.
- Pin the bottom part to the bodice part, matching side seams together and sew all around. I put my bottom part on top of the bodice part to let the selvedge shown outside.
- You have a dress!
Share your dress in sew i do flickr group! ^.^
Step 4
Some ideas:
How many dresses can you make with this technique?
There are endless possibilities, depending on the fit of the bodice part, the cutting line, and the length and width of bottom parts. Add ruffles, sleeves, button, different variation of opening, or use stretch fabric. Instead of gathering the bottom part, you can also pleat them.

All of these dresses are made with this technique in different variation. Bodice part + a pair of rectangles can go anywhere!

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Comments

ely d. 6th July 2012

I love this dress! thanks for the tips I am new to this but eager to try it out.

Samantha N. 21st June 2012

Hey! I really love your dresses. Do you have a pattern or instructions for the short baby doll dress that you posted a pic of at the bottom of the instructions for this gathered dress?

Sandy C. 26th October 2011

This looks super easy. I'll try it for sure!
Thank you.

Pam M. · 1 project 27th May 2011

Amazin thanx for sharing!! i sure am gonna make a cute summer dress useing this tec!! .. wow again thanx for sharing!!

CO + K User

April 23rd, 2010

It looks so comfortable. I just want to snuggle up and read a book!

plumsong . · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 6 projects 28th December 2009

this is terrific, thank you!
i hope to get fabric in the future and make one...

verypurpleperson · 8 projects 24th December 2009

Well, the tutorial is for making a gathered dress, so it can be whatever you want. The dress I'm making in as an example is not supposed to be a night gown, but I think everything is up to the wearer