Have you always wanted to wear a paper dress or skirt? Paper dresses are inexpensive, easy to make, and with confidence and charm, they can make you look très chic too. To make this dress, all you need is a sewing machine and lots of newspapers.
Steps
Step 1. Learn how to use a sewing machine
Method 1 of 4: Part 1: Bodice
Step 1. Lay three full sheets of newspaper on top of each other
Fold over a 1/2 inch edge. Make sure the fold is hard and defined.
Step 2. Refold the paper again in the same direction
The crease should be 1 inch this time. Continues. Make sure you measure accurately and keep the pleats straight - they will form the pleating of the dress.
Step 3. Flip the sheet over
Fold it so that it meets the original edge. A fold of approximately 1/2 inch should result. Make sure the fold is hard and defined.
Step 4. Flip the sheet over again
Make another 1-inch fold and squeeze well. Then, explain it lightly. Fold over another 1/2 inch so that it meets the 1/2 inch from the previous step.
Step 5. Repeat until you reach the end of the card
Then:
- Make a 1-inch fold
- Make a 1/2 inch crease on the opposite side to meet the crease on the other side
- Make a 1-inch fold from the opposite side
- Make a 1/2 inch crease from the first side to meet the opposite crease
- Repeat until finished.
Step 6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 to get 3 more pieces
Remember that each "piece" contains 3 full sheets of newspaper.
This bodice will fill a medium size. For larger sizes, add a pleated piece for every 8 inches of waistline
Step 7. Measure the center of two of your 4 pleated pieces
Use a pencil to draw a line along the folds. Take the other two sheets and measure 1 1/2 inches above the center. Draw a pencil line along the folds.
Step 8. Set the sewing machine to basting
Alternatively, you can set it to the longest point possible. Set the thread tension low. This will reduce the risk of your dress tearing.
Step 9. Sew along the pencil lines
Keep the pighettes closed while doing this. Backstitch at the beginning and at the end. If your pleated piece does not fit into the sewing machine, you may need to fold the end of the pleated piece before you start sewing.
Step 10. Place the sewn pieces in the center next to each other
Line them up, and then overlap them 1/2 inch. Sew them carefully together, making sure to sew a 1/4-inch line from the edge of the piece. Backstitch at the beginning and at the end.
Step 11. Take one of the remaining pieces (it should have the seam off the center)
Line up the seam with the two you just made, so that the top and end of the paper are off center. Overlap the pieces by 1/2 inch. Sew them carefully together, making sure to sew a 1/4-inch line from the edge of the piece. Backstitch at the beginning and at the end.
Step 12. Repeat the previous step on the other side with the other piece of off-center seam
(Do not sew the two back pieces together). Make sure the two pieces with the off-center seam line up with each other, but not with the centered pieces.
Step 13. Wear thin clothing or just underwear
Wrap the bodice around your body with the center in front. The back pieces of the bodice should be lower than the front pieces on your torso. Wrap a belt around your waist and button it up to keep the bodice in place. The center seam should rest on your natural waist.
Step 14. Press the pleats across your chest so that they rest snugly against your body
If you do it right, the pleats will tend to separate on your chest and widest parts, and will come closer (possibly to overlap) at the neckline.
Step 15. Use pins to hold the creases in place
Don't pin the newspapers on your clothes. Stand in front of the mirror to make sure it fits in a way that suits you. Continue until the pins hold the pleats against your body at the top of the dress. You shouldn't need to stop them with your hands once you're done.
Step 16. Use the pencil to draw the neckline you want along the top of the dress
Use a mirror to make sure it's straight.
Step 17. Sew along the neckline of the bodice 1/4 from the top of the dress
You can remove the pins as you go. Backstitch at the beginning and at the end. Then, retrace the neckline in pencil. Make sure it's even and symmetrical.
Step 18. Sew along the neckline a second time, this time 1/4 inch below the pencil line you just drew
Then, cut along the pencil line making sure you don't cut the last line of stitches you sewed.
Step 19. Sew two more times along the neckline
One line should be 1/4 inch from the top, and the other 1/8 inch from the top. This is to make sure the folds stay together.
Step 20. Put the bodice back on
Keep it in place with the belt. Space the folds along your hips so that the dress fits well. Draw a line on each side where the hole for the arms should be. It might be best to get help from a friend for this.
Step 21. Remove the dress
Space out the creases slightly. Sew about 1/4 inch from the edge, keeping them slightly apart. Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and at the end. The seam should go from the edge of the front piece to the end of each back piece of the bodice.
Step 22. Make sure the lines of the holes for your arms are even and the size you want
Sew another 1/4 inch seam below each line. Cut the holes for the arms, making sure you don't cut the seam.
- Put the bodice back on and check that the arm holes fit. Repeat the previous step if you need to make adjustments.
- Once you have the right size for the arm holes, sew a couple more times below the cut to reinforce them.
Step 23. Cut a piece of Velcro about 15 inches long
Take the soft side of the velcro and sew it to the edge of the inside surface of the right back of the bodice. Don't worry - it won't reach all the way to the end of the bodice.
Step 24. Put the bodice back on
Get help from a friend so that it feels snug but comfortable.
Step 25. Have your friend draw a line along the back edge of the dress, using the side with the Velcro as a ruler
Step 26. Sew the other side of the velcro to the right of the line drawn by your friend
Step 27. Measure 3 1/2 inches above the horizontal line you sewed on the pleated pieces
Draw a line along the folds and sew a seam around the entire dress. This will be the second seam for your waist.
The first seam should be your natural waistline. The other seam around the waist should be about the height of an empire waist. The two waist lines will help shape the card nicely
Step 28. Cut an even curve along the bottom edge of each back piece of the bodice
This will give a smoother transition from the shorter front part to the longer back part of the bodice.
Step 29. Cut out the suspenders
Take 3 newspaper sheets and stack them on top of each other. Fold the edge 1 inch over and squeeze. Fold over this edge and mark it again. Repeat 3 more times, remembering each time to create a clean and defined crease. Cut the folded part from the rest of the paper. Repeat for the second riser.
Step 30. Sew each riser 1/4 inch from the edge of the fold on each side
Also sew them once along the center to make sure they don't tear.
Step 31. Pin the suspenders to the edges of the front piece of the bodice
Get help from a friend who wears the straps over your shoulders and over the edge of the arm holes on the back of the bodice. Have your friend mark the height of the top behind the shoulder strap.
Step 32. Sew the suspenders to the dress front and back
They should be sewn into the bodice with more than one seam for added strength.
Step 33. Trim the excess length off the shoulder straps
Method 2 of 4: Part 2: Skirt
Step 1. Pile 3 newspaper sheets on top of each other
As you pass the sheets under the sewing machine, crumple the top. Make sure you sew 1/4 inch from the edge. The seam will hold the curl in place.
Step 2. Gently crumple the top 2 layers with your hands to add volume
Step 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 about 6 times
Step 4. Sew the bottom 3 layers of 2 panels together
Step 5. Sew the top parts together (curled part)
They should overlap 1/2 inch.
Step 6. Repeat until all pieces are fixed
Do not sew them in a full circle.
Step 7. Cut a 3 inch piece of Velcro
Put the skirt around your waist and mark where the edges meet. Sew the soft part of the velcro into the inside of the right edge of the skirt. Sew the stiff part of the velcro to the right of the line you drew so that the skirt closes properly.
Step 8. Reposition and curl as needed to add volume
Method 3 of 4: Part 3: Belt
Step 1. Get two layers of newspaper with two sheets each
They can be half lengths. See if you can find one of a different color from the rest of the dress (look for the color in photos and advertisements).
Step 2. Place the side from which you want the belt to look face down
Overlap the two layers by 6 inches from the shorter side.
Step 3. Sew a seam 1/4 inch from the edge of each piece
That means 2 seams in total.
Step 4. Keeping the outside face down, fold in 3 1/2 inches from the long side
Fold well. Use the parting to make sure it is straight and even.
- Fold over three more times, making sure to mark the fold each time.
- Trim the excess paper along the edge of the folded part (as with the braces).
Step 5. Sew along the two folded edges 1/4 inch from the fold
Attach a 3 1/2 inch strip of the soft side of the velcro along one side.
Step 6. Put on the bodice of the dress with the help of a friend
Wrap the waist around the waist. Have your friend mark where the velcro edge meets the rest of the belt.
- Sew the stiff side of the velcro along the line drawn by your friend.
- Trim the excess length from the waistband.
Method 4 of 4: Part 4: Put on the Dress
Step 1. Put on the skirt
Step 2. Get a friend to help you close the bodice over the skirt
Step 3. Put the belt on the bodice
Advice
- It will be easier to do this if you have a friend to help you with a couple of steps.
- Use glitter, stickers, or other craft decorations to embellish your dress.
- Use the ruler to keep the folds straight.
Warnings
- Stay away from the fire.
- If you wear such a dress in the rain or other bad weather, the dress will melt. Wear petticoats (like a short skirt and shirt) in case this happens so you don't find yourself wading around in underwear.
