Underbust Pinafore Dress

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• 

  Step 1

  Gather your supplies. Sewing machine + my serger, pins, scissors, tape measure + some fabric. I cut up an old bed sheet :D

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  Step 2

  Wow I'm a hot mess.
  Measure yourself. You're going to need the measurement around your body under your boobs.

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  Step 3

  As well as underbust, measure how long the straps will need to be. Measure over your shoulder to below your bust front + back ((use your bra as a guide))

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  Step 4

  Write down your measurements and maybe do alittle doodle like i did for easier reference to what the heck you're doing. you're also going to need to measure yourself from your underbust to however long you want the dress.

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  Step 5

  These are the pieces you'll be needing. I've put the measurements of my pieces there as a guide for you to compare to.

  You're going to 2x Underbust bands, mine are going to be about 9cm high but I'm folding them in half lengthways. OR, a quick way that i did was only cut one underbust band, but placed one of the short edges on the fold of the fabric. That way you sew less! I did the same for the skirt piece.

  You'll also need two straps. Make the piece wide enough to be able to fold them in half.

  Cut two of the skirt as well, for front + back.

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  Step 6

  Cut your pieces out

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  Step 7

  Mine was made from a sheet, so I cheekily used the hem on one of the edges as the hem for my dress!

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  Step 8

  Fold your underbust piece in half. I made my piece one continuous piece of fabric instead of a defined front + back. Stitch along the long raw edge. I do 1cm seam allowances.

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  Step 9

  Right. Here's the fun bit! This is going to be hard to explain.

  What you're going to do is pleat/gather your skirt onto your underbust band. I'm going to show you the lazy way to gather.

  First of all I pin the far left edges together and the far right edges together. Find the exact centre of the underbust piece ((by folding it in half)) and mark. Do the same with the skirt piece. Pin these two centres together.

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  Step 10

  You're going to keep finding the centre of each section. So in between the dar left edge + the centre, find the centre of the underbust piece and mark it. The same with the skirt. Pin them together.

  Do the same with the other side.

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  Step 11

  Keep going, finding the centre of each little section. You may need to start just bunching fabric up and pinning little bunches down when the spaces bewteen pins get smaller. Don't make the bunches too big or your machine will have a hard time sewing over them.

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  Step 12

  Stitch it down. I sew over my pins, but if you're not that confident in your skills, or you really love your machine, take your pins out as you get to them. This is me bunching a little section to sew over it. When it's done it will be a cute little gather.

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  Step 13

  Stitching over the pinch.

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  Step 14

  Flip it the other way and you'll see your awesome 'gathering' skills!

  Serge ((overlock)) the raw edge + then topstitch it.

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  Step 15

  You're going to do the back of your dress now ((Almost done!)) Get the edges of your dress + serge them ((not together!))

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  Step 16

  Make sure you serge the seam between the skirt + the underbust panel down towards the hem. You've already topstitched it down, this just helps it sit better + makes it more comfortable.

  This is the part where you put in a zipper. I havn't made a tute for that yet, so it'd be a good idea to consult a book or a website. I have a quick + easy way, which I'll link to later.

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  Step 17

  Straps!

  Fold your straps in half lengthways + stitch along the seam.

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  Step 18

  Turn them inside out + iron them. Ironing makes everything sit really nice so try to iron as often as you can after you've stitched something. Makes it so much easier!

  You can top stitch the straps if you like.

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  Step 19

  Try the dress on and mark/pin where you want the straps to go. I usually follow my bra straps as an easy reference guide. It's hard getting the back by youself, but a bit of twisting and a mirror gives a good enough job. Stitch the straps on, making sure you attach them strongly.

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  Step 20

  Embellish and you're done!

  NOTE:: if you're having issues with the lazy way of gathering, I have some additional photos. Just comment + ask + I'll put em up!

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Posted by

Veronica B.

Comments

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Cat Morley · London, GB · 1432 projects 29th August 2012

It looks great. I love the bow!

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Lunchboxx 28th April 2011

THIS IS AWESOME!!! totally making it... I lost my old one

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kathleenserene · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 40 projects 13th April 2011

I just saw this project and was going to comment about how cute it was and whatnot and then I scrolled down through the comments and realized I already had. Go team. =P

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Melissa W. 11th September 2010

My husband just bought me a sewing machine, I think this may be my first project. I made some pillow cases as a starting off point.
Here I go...

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Cookiez777 D. · 4 projects 23rd August 2010

Awesome! Good instructions too. :] If I do ever make this, it's going to have to be WAY Shorter..(I'm short!)

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morgan2moe m. 21st August 2010

Hot!!! SO CUTE!!!

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Venturalily · Gisborne, Gisborne, NZ 21st August 2010

HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would so wear that thankyou

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Yessica R. 18th August 2010

Wow! This is so cute! Thank you so much for posting this!

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Trickypixie1208 P. · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 12 projects 17th August 2010

this is super good and right on time..wonderful

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Franisima c. · Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, CL 15th August 2010

i have the link from threadbanger in my favorites from this project !!!
thx !

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