Saturday, June 14, 2014

The sewVery Sunny Dress Tutorial

I'm really excited about the project I'm sharing with you today as part of Melly Sews' (30) Days of Sundresses Series!  The sewVery Sunny Dress is quick and easy to sew and simply perfect to wear on a hot, sunny, southern summer day!  Oh, and did I mention that it's adorable on your little one and may promote smiles and hugs, too?!  And guess what?  I actually digitally graded this into a pattern and have it available to download for FREE!  


The (30) Days of Sundresses Series is one of my favorites! This year, I wanted to offer up another fun, whimsical dress, and again, I found my inspiration in the Kelly's Kids catalog!  I even found this patchwork plaid fabric, similar to the one used in their photo shoot, at my local fabric store.


My goal was to make a dress pattern and tutorial that is quick and easy. Plus, there are no buttonholes or zippers in this pattern design!

The sewVery Sunny Dress is an A-line style halter dress that includes a simple neckline ruffle trimmed with a piece of bias binding.  The front of the dress is partially lined on the upper bodice eliminating the need for any hemming on the top. The neck ties run through loops on the back and then are tied in a knot or bow which helps keep the back of the dress from sagging.  The dress is very comfortable to wear, especially for little girls who like to run, jump, climb, and swing!





Right now, I'm offering the free downloadable pattern in sizes 5, 6, and 7, but I hope to someday have it be a fully graded pattern.  When and if that happens, I'll be sure to let everyone know!

UPDATE
The sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern in sizes 2T-12 is now available for purchase in the sewVery Pattern Shop!


This pattern has been tested by a group of wonderful volunteers, and in the next few days, I'll be sharing their creations with you!  The designing, drafting, grading, and testing process has kept me busy and taught me a lot of new things! Plus I've met a few more of my sewVery fans!

Are you ready to sew up a sewVery Sunny Dress?  Then let's get started!

First, download the FREE sewVery Sunny Dress Pattern in sizes 5, 6, and 7 at Craftsy. (affiliate link). The tutorial for constructing the dress is below.

Supplies:
  • Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 yard of 44" wide fabric 
  • 3/4" wide elastic
  • Normal sewing supplies:  sewing machine, scissors, thread, pins, etc.

Consult the sizing chart below to determine the best size to fit your child.


Print out the pattern pieces and assemble them according to the instructions found in the download. Cut out your fabrics.  You should now have the following:

  • 1 front piece
  • 1 lining
  • 1 back piece
  • 1 back casing piece
  • 1 bias binding piece
  • 1 neck ruffle piece
  • 1 loop piece (that you will cut in two after pressing)
  • 1 piece of elastic
  • 2 tie pieces


Assemble the Back and Attach the Loops:

Assemble the Ties:

Attach the Ties to the Front:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Assemble the Neck Ruffle:

Attach the Neck Ruffle to the Front:


Attach the Bias Binding to the Neckline:

Sew the Side Seams:

Step 1:

Step 2:


Step 3:

Create the Elastic Casing:



Hem the Dress:

Your sewVery Sunny Dress is now complete!  Try it on your beautiful model and criss-cross the ties, run the ends through the loops, and tie in a bow or a knot on the back!



Come back soon to see the great pattern tester versions of the sewVery Sunny Dress and to see some variations of the pattern that I am developing.  I hope to offer for sale a fully-graded version of the pattern along with these other variations within a few weeks!


Want to enter a giveaway and see all of the free sundress tutorials posted in the days before mine, them be sure to visit Melly Sews.  We aren't even half way through the month of June, so there are lots more sundress tutorials coming up!

Be sure to check out my free Girl's Halter Top Sundress Tutorial I made for the series last year.  In fact, I think it's time I make Ella a new one!


Thanks for stopping by today!  I'd love to hear what you think of my sewVery Sunny Dress Pattern, so please leave a comment below!  And be sure to check back soon for more variations of the sewVery Sunny Dress!

Have fun sewing!

46 comments:

  1. Your pattern looks lovely and the tutorial is clear. However the link to the pattern isn't working for me.

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    1. I'm checking on it now! Thanks!

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    2. I can't find it , did you get this pattern yet, can you send me the link also.

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    3. The link isn't working for me either :(

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    4. Not sure what type of problem you may have encountered, but BJM posted later down in the comments that after you click the link in my post above, you'll see something that shows number of times the pattern has been viewed. She suggests clicking that link which will take you to a page that has a download the pattern button. I'm sorry for the trouble. It appears that only a handful of people (to my knowledge) have had this issue, and I don't know the reason why. From what I can tell, it is not related to anything on my end. If this does not work for you, please let me know!

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  2. A great dress for Summer, Veronica. It's a bit cool here at the moment, but I've pinned for next Summer.

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  3. Love the dress, Veronica!! The ruffle accent at the neck is adorable!!

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  4. Love your pattern and your fabric. I'll be making it in a size 4 for my granddaughter, so have a little work ahead of me.
    Thank you for sharing this.

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  5. So cute Veronica! Thanks for sharing and sewing along during the series!

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  6. oh that is so cute!! thanks so much for sharing the pattern!! Pinned!! Can I ask what you use to digitalize and grade your patterns? I'm wanting to start doing this more as I create tons of patterns but don't really want to spend a ton of money of software ;o) thanks! Emily@nap-timecreations.com

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    1. This info will be in a post in the next few days. Glad you like the pattern!

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  7. Veronica, I really like this cute pattern, but when I click on the Craftsy link, I get a blank page. Maybe I just don't know where to go from there? I use a Mac; maybe that could be a problem. I've tried several times using both Safari and Chrome :(. Thank you for your help!

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    1. Thanks for letting me know. I'll look into the situation and try to get it resolved later today. Away from my computer while I spend time with my family today.

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    2. Just thought of something. Try searching on Craftsy for the sewVery Sunny Dress and see if it shows a download link instead if using my affiliate link. When I click the link above on my phone, it works and I can download it. It might be a Mac issue, but I'm no expert. I'll continue to research the problem and see if I can get it fixed. Thx!

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    3. I had the same problem with the blank page. I am also using a Mac. At the top of the window, there was a thing that said how many times the link had been viewed. When I clicked on hide information, the link to the pattern shows up.

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    4. Thanks so much for letting us know how you got it to work! I appreciate your patience with me while I'm still learning.

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  8. Cannot get pattern. I just love this dress. The affliate link is not working for me--page is blank.

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    1. Thank you! I'll try to figure out what's wrong later today. Out with family right now.

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  9. Pretty!! I've got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that links to your tutorial:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sewvery-sunny-dress/2014/06/15/

    --Anne

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  10. Veronica, just enjoy your day- patterns can come later :). I did want to tell you, though, that I tried what BJM suggested- clicking on "hide information" that is at the top of the blank Craftsy page. It worked and the pattern then appeared, so anyone else having a problem should try this. Thanks! And have a happy Father's Day!

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  11. Thank you for the adorable pattern!! BTW...I just clicked through on the link and had no trouble.....on Windows 8. :)

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. I was having the same problem and I do not have a Mac. I did what BJM suggested and it worked for me. It took me to My Craftsy page and I was able to download the pattern there. Thank you.

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    1. Great! I'm grateful for BJM sharing how she resolved the problem with the download.

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  14. This is the perfect little sun dress. My list of dresses to make my daughter is now expanding. Thanks! You won't see me again until next year. I'll be in the dungeon sewing 15 different sun dresses.

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  15. It's such a cute dress. Many thanks to share it with us. Now I have a fortnight to find the fabric and sew it before my little one goes on holidays.
    Kind regards from France

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  16. bonsoir,

    j'aime beaucoup votre robe, elle serait parfait pour ma fille, mais je n'ai rien dans le lien du patron?

    merci

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    1. Hope I translated the French correctly! Thank you. After you click the download link above, click the link that shows how many times it has been viewed and then the download button should appear.

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  17. I have just made this dress for my daughter, it's the first real thing I have made (clothes wise) and the first pattern I have followed and I'm so pleased with the results :-)
    Ok I left the ruffle out which made it easier but I just wanted to say how easy it was even for a novise.
    Thank you for this free pattern

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    1. This makes me feel so good! Thank you for telling me about your experience with my pattern. A version without the ruffle is actually something I'm working on for the fully graded pattern I am developing. I'd love for you to share a photo of your dress on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/sewvery

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  18. Hi Veronica,
    I was wondering if it is best to cut the fabric on the bias. It appears that it has been done both ways. Also, do you have any suggestions for making a toddler version of the pattern? I am going to attempt a size 2. I can't wait to try it out. Thank you so much, it's precious!
    ~Mary

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    1. Hi, Mary! It's not necessarily "best" to cut on the bias, but that is what I did for the patchwork version because I was trying to duplicate the look of the one from Kelly's Kids catalog that inspired me to design the pattern. It is the only one I have made cut on the bias.

      I am working hard to get the fully graded pattern in sizes 2T-12 ready for sale. I'm almost ready to begin the next round of testing, but I'm afraid the full pattern won't be ready for sale until mid to late July.

      Thanks for commenting! You are welcome!

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  19. Once again many thanks for this perfect tutorial. I was very pleased to finish it just before my daughter goes on holidays. Unfortunately, here in North of France, we are obliges to put a Tshirt with it.
    I've published pictures on my blog here but I do not know how to send them to you
    http://www.dododhalatte.net/article-dans-la-serie-je-veux-du-soleil-124133028.html
    Hope your summer is a true summer ...
    Kind regards from France

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    1. I read your blog post and the dress is beautiful! Did you buy your fabric pieced or did you sew all the squares together? If you don't mind, I'd like to share a link to your post on my FB page! Thanks for letting me know how much you like the pattern and the pictures!

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  20. Hi, thanks a lot for the compliment. This is a fabric I found in the store and I had a "coup de coeur" as we say in French. I don't if you share the post, one day if I go on Facebook I'll see it with pleasure.
    My daughter is really happy with the dress and now she's on holiday in South of France she can profit without the Teeshirt.
    Kind regards

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  21. the link brought to me to a blank page, can you send me the link for the sunny dress please, it didn't work for me.

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  22. I made this dress about a week ago. I made it without the ruffle to show off the back even more (and to make it simplier without the bias). Really a great dress, it has become the favourite dress of my daughter. If the weather would always be so sunny in Belgium, I would make a bunch of them. It is on our group blog, but afraid it is in Dutch. http://kreatuurkes.blogspot.com/2014/07/zomers-kleedje.html

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  23. Just made this dress for my 4 year old g-daughter. She had to put it on as soon as she saw it! I posted a picture of her in it on my Pinterest page. Thank you so much for taking the time & effort to post the pattern & directions. Found it easy to follow & such a cute dress.

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    1. I never tire of reading these types of comments! Thanks for letting me know you made the dress and found it an easy pattern to use. And I'm especially glad your granddaughter loves it! Can you email me the link to your Pinterest page? I'd love to see it! sewvery(at)gmail(dot)com Thanks!

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  24. I just made size 5 this morning. Fun and easy pattern to make and instructions are good! Thank you!

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  25. Great tutorial! What are the final dimensions of the loops? I'm a bit confused where it says to stitch open end but pic looks like they are stitched on 2 ends

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    1. Each loop has a finished length of 2", and yes, each short end of the loop is stitched down so you can feed the tie end through it. Hope this helps!

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Please feel free to leave a comment! I love reading what you think about my post!