Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Instructions for pillowcase dress
Update: Great tip about bias tape from reader Carol has been added to the instructions.
Talitha and I went to a thrift shop to find colorful, sturdy, excellent-condition pillowcases to make dresses for little girls at the Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center.
When they’re ready, we’ll send them to the following address, for shipment in a container that’s being prepared for shipment to the rescue center:
Debbie Woodward
1500 Jackson St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Talitha made the very first of our dresses. She’s a relatively new seamstress and we recommend this project for others who are new to sewing.
Here are instructions for making a pillowcase dress. I adapted these from Freshly Picked, a really cool handwork website/blog I found. You can go there to see step-by-step illustrations.
Before you start work, I’d recommend washing your pillowcase, whether it’s new or used.
Supplies/Tools Needed
1 pillowcase
2 yards of wide bias tape (my preference over the quilt binding tape–too wide–used on the dress in the photo)
12-14 inches of 1/2-inch-wide elastic
2 large safety pins
scissors
measuring tape or yard stick
Standard Dress Lengths for Little Girls
(The Rescue Center can use any size, but has most need for smaller sizes.)
6 – 9 months: 14 inches
12 months: 15.5 inches
18 months: 17.5 inches
2T: 19.5 inches
3T: 21 inches
4T: 22 inches
5/6: 24 inches
7/8: 26 inches
Directions
The open end of the pillowcase will be the hem of the dress.
Measure from the open end (because many pillowcases are not symmetrical and you want the hemline to be even). Add 1 inch for the casing fold.
For the arm holes cut a ‘J’ edge, along the side seams that is about 3 nches high and about 3 inches wide.
Next you will iron the casing for the elastic in the front & back of the pillow case. Starting at the raw edge, iron down a 1/4-inch fold. Then fold again & iron a 3/4-inch fold.
Sew the casing closed. Sew as close to the edge as possible, leaving a 3/4 inch casing. This step does not have to be perfect. The gathering of the elastic will hide a multitude of mistakes.
Now you will feed the casing with elastic. Cut your elastic into 2 pieces, each 6-7 inches long, one for front, one for back of dress. Attach a safety pin to either end of the elastic for feeding purposes.
Feed the elastic through the casing. Then sew all four raw edges of casing to fasten each end the elastic into the casing.
Cut the bias tape into 2 lengths of 1 yard each.
[Here's a tip from reader Carol for making the bias-tape sewing easy and attractive: packaged bias tape is folded not quite in half lengthwise. When you get ready to sew it on make sure the narrower half of the tape faces up. That way you will be sure you are always catching the underside of the tape, even around curves. That little tip totally changed how I feel about using bias tape!]
Now pin the bias tape to both arm edges, centering it lengthwise so there are equal amounts on each end for shoulder ties.
Starting at one end of the bias tape, begin sewing the tape closed. Continue sewing, binding the edge of the armhole with the tape. Make sure you give yourself enough room to catch the edges of the tape on the inside and outside of the dress.
Finish off the end of the tape on the diagonal with a close zig zag stitch.
15 Responses to “Instructions for pillowcase dress”
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Such a great idea! My sister made those for her pastor’s 3 daughters adopted from Ukraine…and for our granddaughter adopted from China. I think I will try to make some. Good job, Talitha!
Those are beautiful! Thank you so much for the instructions.
It reminded me a bit of the swim suit cover ups my mom made us when we were kids. Two hand towels with the bit of the corners sewn together at the top and some ribbon added to cinch and tie the waist once it was on.
Wonderful job, Talitha. My daughter and I need to be doing this, as well. Thank you for the links and the reminder.
Blessings,
Patricia
Wonderful, practical, applicable follow up to your questions in earlier post. Thank you.
I love the idea!! Thanks so much for sharing this. I hope to make some with my daughter as well and send off to Haiti.
Talitha is a beautiful example of a young lady who gives to others and loves beyond herself. I share her pics and stories (what you share) with my 13 year old and it truly inspires her. I know you, Noel, are the driving force behind it all and YOUR example is spreading to so many! Thank you. Thank you. God is good.
Love to you and your family.
Adorable! Great job!
Skillful, industrious and creative work!
Here’s a tip for making the bias-tape sewing easy and attractive: packaged bias tape is folded not quite in half lengthwise. When you get ready to sew it on make sure the narrower half of the tape faces up. That way you will be sure you are always catching the underside of the tape, even around curves. That little tip totally changed how I feel about using bias tape!
Wonderful tip. I’ve added it to the instructions. Thanks!
This was a fun project and very useful to those in the need. Tabitha looks like she enjoyed doing this as well. I am so glad you posted this request for the Haiti Rescue Center. I have already placed mine in the mail.
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wher can I mail my dresses?
[...] number and way you can help. I will give information to Debbie as I receive it.If you have finished sewing projects for Haiti, Debbie will try to take them when she goes. Please mail them as quickly as possible [...]