I have made a committment to sew more for myself this year – and I am super excited to show you my new Simple Chiffon Maxi Dress!
I am taking part in the super awesome 30 Days of Sundresses series hosted by Melissa of Melly Sews! You’ll have to head over there – there are some darling dresses for women and girls already, and the series lasts the whole month!
So this is my contribution – this pretty new chiffon maxi dress!
I like to pair it with my denim jacket – it’s just a little too chilly here still for me to go sleeveless. Plus I have arm issues, so there’s that. ;)
You can see that’s a simple tank top, that is fully lined. The skirt is lined to the knee, so you have a pretty, sheer look to the bottom half of the skirt.
I have a semi-tutorial for you today. :) Which basically means I’m going to explain what I did, but I don’t have a pattern for you to follow.
I drafted the dress from a loose fitting tank top that I wear all the time – and then created patterns for the top from that.
The skirt is a basic a-line. I kept the waist measurement the same width as the bottom of the top, then flared out to the hem so that I’d be able to walk in the skirt. Always a good idea.
For fabric guidelines, I used about 3 yds of the main fabric and about 2 1/2 of the lining.
You will also need about 1 1/2″ cording, a small button, and enough 3/8″ elastic for your waist.
Once all your pieces are cut out, trace a small “V” on the lining of your top back piece. This should be about 3-4 inches long.
Cut a small piece of cording and create a loop that will fit over your button that you’ll use on the other side. Baste this in place, with the loop away from the “V”.
Sew up the side seams on your lining pieces, and your main fabric pieces. Place the top and lining, right sides together and match up the neckline and arm holes.
Sew together the front neck, the back, neck, and the two armhole pieces. Leave about 2″ on either side of the shoulder seams open for turning.
On the back neckline, sew the top and lining together, sewing down along the marked line. Cut down in the center of the v, almost to the point.
Turn the top right side out and press.
Place the main fabric shoulder seams, right sides together. You’ll need to move the lining out of the way. Sew the shoulder seam together, then repeat for the lining. Place the lining and main fabric right sides together and sew along the inside neckline seam. Fold the pieces back right sides out and press. Close the remaining side of the shoulder (the arm hole side) by hand sewing the opening closed.
Repeat for the other shoulder.
Sew a button on the opposite side of the back from the little cording loop.
Line up the hem of the top and lining and baste them together, just inside the edge.
Sew the side seams on your skirt – main fabric and lining fabric. Layer the two pieces wrong sides together. Baste the tops together.
Line up the seams for the top and bottom pieces. Place the top and bottom right sides together. Sew the top and bottom together, with a 3/4″ seam allowance.
Press the seam allowance down towards the skirt. Pin in place and sew 1/4″ from the edge, through all the layers.
Leave a 1″ space open at the bottom to insert the elastic.
Cut a piece of elastic 1″ larger than your waist measurement. Feed the elastic through the casing. I usually add a large safety pin to one end of the elastic to make it easier.
Once the elastic is in the casing, pin it in place and try the dress on. Make sure the waist fits well. Once you have the elastic the correct size, overlap the elastic and sew the pieces together.
Tuck the elastic into the casing and sew the opening closed.
Hem the lining towards the wrong side of the fabric and hem the skirt of the dress. And you’re all done!
I call this my, “did I just step on something?” pose. I need some modeling practice I think.
This dress is soooo comfortable!! I think I will be making another really soon.
You can check out all the other blogs participating in the series here. These girls are crazy talented!
Linking up at Sunday Scoop, Today’s Creative Blog, Met Monday, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Quilt Story, Shabby Creek Cottage, My Repurposed Life, 504 Main, and the other fabulous parties on the party page – make sure you check them out!
Looks nice!
So cute! Love that fabric, and that technique for a waistband is awesome, I’ve been making so many dresses like that this summer!
Cute dress!! Did you get me email about header?
Judy
I LOVE the fabric and this dress is the PERFECT use for it. So cute!!
You and the dress are adorable! Perfect fabric. I’m wishing I had bought more of those sheers at SAS.
that turned out great! I think I’m going to have a blast seeing everyone’s fabric come to life in the next few mosts
Bev, it’s lovely! You look beautiful! I’d totally wear that dress:)
Bev- that looks adorable and so light and comfy for summer. Thanks for the idea!
Love it! It’s so pretty!
~Jamie
What a great dress! Looks fab on you!
Gorgeous! Love the fabric, the style- it’s perfect.
Bev, I love the dress! It’s so beautiful! I love the sheer-ness of it, and it looks great with the jacket.
you need to click over to my blog, I did an encaustic art piece with flamingos, made me think of you :)
Bev, this is SO adorable!!! You are the cutest! Yay for modeling the dress! :)
And double yay for making something for YOU!!
Darling! You always make me wish I could sew :)
Adorable! This dress is so cute! Thanks for sharing!
so so cute Bev. i love the print and the dress looks stunning on you — even with your “i stepped in something” pose!!
Beautiful, Bev!
Bee-you-tee-ful! I bought some chiffon, too, but I’m a little intimidated by it. This looks pretty simple, though!
This is fabulous Bev! I love your dress, it looks gorgeous on you!!!
That is beautiful fabric and you look great in it.
This looks fantastic! I totally pinned it for me to do. I love the sheer and that’s it’s not a clingy knit!
Love, love it! great for any season and looks so comfortable!!
B
this is so pretty! and so very flattering on you. perfect use of that fabric.
Bev–love your dress. I’ve yet to sew any type of top!
This looks so good- great job on the dress and it looks wonderful on you. Looking forward to making this for the Australian summer
how do you handle chiffon when cutting & sewing…I don’t seem to have the knack for it……….
OK, this dress looks great, but you REALLY need to post a picture of the final dress without your jacket! I can make a maxi skirt, no prob, but from this tutorial, I have no idea what the main top part looks like.
Love the length of the top section – how long did you make yours? Love that it’s not exactly umpire or natural waisted. Looks very comfy and would love to try making this one!