A sundress is an indispensable item in every woman's summer wardrobe. It is during this period that lightness and comfort are especially valued in clothing. You want to look beautiful, but at the same time simple and tasteful. Despite the huge selection of clothes in stores, it is not always possible to find the desired style, color, or style. In this case, it will be useful to know how to sew a sundress yourself. This will require a little time, effort, and effort. Even an inexperienced dressmaker will be able to sew a summer sundress for herself, which will successfully complement light summer looks.
Materials and tools
The first step is to choose the right material. Since it is hot in summer, it is worth giving preference to light fabrics. Natural textiles are a priority.
You should avoid synthetic fabrics that do not allow the skin to breathe in hot weather.
The most popular materials include:
- guipure, silk, satin, satin, chiffon - suitable for creating an evening dress;
- a sundress made of knitwear, linen, cotton, jeans is suitable for office models;
- a chintz sarafan, as well as cotton and staple ones, is suitable for everyday wear;
- Chiffon, openwork lace – most often used when sewing beach clothes.
In addition to fabric, the following tools and materials are needed to sew a dress:
- sewing machine;
- tailor's scissors;
- measuring tape;
- pencil;
- pins;
- decor (zippers, buttons, elastic bands).
Beginner dressmakers are better off working with satin, staple, chiffon, linen, and cotton. These fabrics do not require special practical skills and are not difficult to work with, which cannot be said about silk, satin, and denim.
Necessary measurements
Before you start cutting out summer dresses and sundresses, you need to take measurements. You should be extremely careful, because the final result of the work will depend on this. It is important to follow several conditions:
- when taking measurements, you need to stand in front of a mirror and keep your back straight;
- there should not be any extra clothing on the body;
- An elastic band is tied around the waistline for reference and accuracy of measurements.
The pattern of the sarafan is based on the following measurements:
- desired length of the product;
- half neck girth;
- half chest circumference (at the most prominent points);
- shoulder length;
- width, length along the back;
- half waist circumference;
- semi-hip circumference.
Depending on the style, additional measurements may be required. For example, if the dress is planned to be made with a sleeve, then you need to measure the half-girth of the arm in two places. Wrap the tape around the place up to the elbow and below, divide in half.
Basic pattern and modeling
When creating a simple pattern of a sundress with your own hands for beginners, after taking all the necessary measurements, you need to make a drawing. Based on it, you can then model various styles. When constructing a pattern, you should take into account the features of the figure, the fabric used, and the desired silhouette of the dress. For example, slender girls can wear both fitted and loose models. Tight-fitting styles are not suitable for overweight ladies, as they will highlight existing figure flaws.
For several seasons now, items with open shoulders have not gone out of fashion. The pattern of a sarafan with a frill on the shoulders assumes the presence of 4 parts: 2 for the base of the dress and 2 for the frill. The length and width of the sarafan depend on the initial measurements obtained. The size of the frill is determined taking into account its draping.
Sundresses for plump women can be made in various styles with your own hands. A wrap-over sundress will help hide figure flaws and emphasize its advantages; the pattern for it should be made using the same measurements. For convenience, you can use a T-shirt of the appropriate size. You need to outline its contour; it will act as a base for constructing the sundress.
For pregnant girls and women with large breasts, the front of the dress should be made a little longer.
The pattern of a women's sundress with straps is quite simple. The basis is the distance from the armpit to the ankles, knees or calves, and the width of the product (equal to the circumference of the hips). The straps can be made from the same fabric or you can buy a wide tape in the store. You can sew them on in two ways: make strong stitches, hiding the ends of the straps behind the edge of the sundress, or attach small decorative rings to the dress through which the straps will be threaded. This style is ideal for pregnant women who want to hide their interesting position. The pattern may suggest the presence of a button fastening in the front of the dress.
A sundress with an open back can also be sewn using a simple pattern. A rectangular fabric is taken as a basis. The width is equal to the hip circumference. The length is measured from the armpits along the figure. The parameter can be varied depending on the model. When the base is ready, they begin to determine the lines along which the elastic will go.
The simplest version of a do-it-yourself dress that does not require a pattern is a sundress with an elastic band and an open back.
You can also sew a sundress for the office with your own hands. It is important to choose a model that will fit your figure and have a moderately fluffy skirt. A dress with a V-neck will look good with elegant blouses and T-shirts. It is best to model sundresses using a basic pattern, this will help to avoid mistakes.
The sarafan with an attractive yoke has a complex cut, but the product helps to emphasize a beautiful chest and neck. To create a model, you need to take several measurements. The waist, hips, neck, and chest are measured. All measurements are transferred to the basic pattern. The model can have a flared, fitted bottom or a half-sun skirt.
Nuances of cutting
One of the important stages in sewing a sarafan is cutting. How the garment will sit on the figure depends on its correctness. In some cases, a cut along oblique lines is used. It is suitable for light and draped materials, namely: satin silk, chiffon, viscose, cotton cambric, muslin. This type of cutting gives the garment good stretchability, which is not typical of fabric with a shared cut.
Before you start working, you need to prepare the fabric. To prevent the sarafan from shrinking after the first wash, decatizing is done. This treatment is important for fabrics that are prone to shrinkage, namely linen and cotton. Silk can also shrink, but decatizing is not advisable for it. In most cases, processing the material before cutting involves soaking, drying and ironing. The nuances of the decatizing process depend on the selected fabric, you must be familiar with them before starting work.
The order of processing and assembly of parts
Before you start assembling the parts, each of them is processed. The darts of the back and shelves need to be stitched before they are connected along the side and shoulder cuts. When all the parts are processed, you can proceed to their assembly, which occurs in the established sequence.
Processing elements:
- Prepare the finishing details and then iron them.
- Finish the darts and folds on the back and front.
- Process the folds of the darts and cuts on the skirt.
Assembly of the product:
- The shelves and back are connected along the shoulder cut.
- The neckline and fasteners are sewn.
- The side cuts of the back and front panels are stitched together.
- The bottom of the dress is being processed.
- The entire sarafan is ironed.
- Decorative details (buttons, pockets, flowers) are sewn on.
The above steps can be supplemented and changed depending on the chosen style of the product. You cannot skip any points, as the appearance of the sarafan will depend on this.
Stages of making simple models
A simple version of making models for the beach and on an elastic band will take only 2-3 hours of personal time. Every novice dressmaker can sew a sundress without preliminary patterns. The main rule is to follow the instructions in the master class.
Beach without sewing
You can quickly sew a sundress for the beach with your own hands. You will need to measure the hip circumference, decide on the desired length, and take into account the allowance for the width of the wrap. The pattern for a summer dress is rectangular.
- The upper corners on the sides are cut into a semicircle.
- The armhole line is created. The semicircle-shaped cutouts are overlocked, turned inside out, and sewn. It is necessary to leave space for the straps.
- Next, you need to make straps from bias tape, insert them into the formed armholes and secure the place where they are connected with a machine stitch.
It is worth giving preference to light fabrics. Even a regular large scarf may do.
On an elastic band
For the summer, you can sew a simple model of a sarafan with an elastic band. For this you will need:
- measure the hip circumference, desired length, seam allowances, take into account the free fit;
- to prevent the sundress from appearing baggy, on the folded rectangle you need to mark the narrowing towards the waist at the top and gradually return the line to the edge in the hip area;
- process and connect the cuts on the sides, hem the bottom;
- fold the top edge to the width of the elastic band, taking into account the allowance, stitch, leaving room for the elastic band;
- put in the rubber bands.
A loose-fitting sundress is an ideal option for those who prefer minimalism. To sew a beautiful dress for yourself, it is not necessary to complete a dressmaking course. The main thing is to have desire, patience and the necessary tools at hand. Having figured out the technology of sewing a summer sundress, you can then create any models.
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