There are many types of dresses that you can make, but if you are a beginner and want to create something very versatile, an infinity dress is a great start. This type of dress only needs a single seam and can adapt to many different styles. It can be an elegant dress for a wedding or more informal for an outing with friends. The pattern is easily adaptable to make dresses of any size and length.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Purchase and Cut Out the Material
Step 1. Purchase a stretchy, knitted material
You will need a stretchy material for your dress. It is a fundamental element for the creation of an infinity dress. While there are many types of stretch material, knitted fabrics that contain elastane are generally the easiest to use, ideal for beginners in sewing.
You can technically buy any kind of fabric for the skirt, but stretch material is absolutely necessary for the suspenders and waistband
Step 2. Cut the material for the skirt
Take the measurement of the waist at the narrowest point, then subtract 8 cm: it will be the measurement of the waist of the dress. The skirt is in a circle, so you will have to cut it from a roll of fabric at least as wide as the waist measurement from side to side, in addition to double the length you have established for the skirt. It's not difficult: just draw a large circle to have the length of a cocktail dress. However, if you want your skirt to be longer, you will need to divide the circle into four parts.
- Make a circle in the center of the fabric for your waist measurement. Starting from the same center point, draw a wider circle for the actual skirt; at the end you should have two concentric circles. Cut out the center circle that will go around the waist.
- The space between the waist and the edge of the larger circle corresponds to the length of the skirt.
- It is a good idea to test on large sheets of paper first and then work on the fabric.
- If you divide the skirt into four parts, don't forget to leave a seam allowance between them when cutting them, at least along the waistline.
Step 3. Cut the material for the belt
Take the same waist measurement you used for the skirt and use it to make the waistband. This will have to be cut to that same length, with a height of about 35-50 cm.
Once cut, you will need to fold it so that the two reverse sides touch each other. At the end you should have a strip of fabric folded in half approximately measuring waist size x 25cm (or less)
Step 4. Cut the material for the suspenders
Measure your height and multiply it by 1, 5. The straps should be this length. The width depends on the size of the breast (for small breasts calculate 25 cm, for medium breasts 30 cm, for large breasts 35 cm). Work on a single piece of fabric that is at least this length. The ideal would be to cut the straps lengthwise rather than crosswise, to reduce the tendency to curl.
- This is a long, unbroken piece of fabric, so there will be a lot of leftover. However, if the roll of fabric you bought is large enough, you should have enough material for two more suspenders, which you can use to make another dress.
- Be careful: cutting the suspenders is not easy. It is difficult to work with fabric of that length. Try folding the fabric back and forth, as if you were folding paper in a zigzag pattern. Arrange the pile of fabric so you can pull it from the top towards you and block when you don't need it. Only work with a length you can master, then measure and cut one section at a time, pulling out more fabric as you need it.
Part 2 of 3: Sew the Dress
Step 1. Adjust the straps and pin them to the skirt
Align the straps so as to apply one end of each of them to the edge of the waist. The straight sides of the fabric on the skirt and the straps should touch. Now comes the hard part. You will slightly overlap the straps and angled them in a V, so that they overlap in a small triangle (the base of the triangle on the waist and the vertex facing down towards the edge of the skirt). Pin these parts together once they are in place.
- The amount of fabric to overlap depends on the shape of your body. In general, the triangle should measure approximately 12-18cm from base to top.
- This overlap is what keeps the breasts covered. You can avoid overlapping the two parts, but in this case you will make a very low-cut dress and you will be forced to wear something underneath.
Step 2. Adjust the belt and secure it with pins
Now, with the belt folded up, start pinning the raw edges to the waist so that the straight sides are outside. It is a good idea to place the center of the belt at the center point of the overlap of the shoulder straps; in this way, the seam that joins the two ends of the belt will be hidden. Once all the edges are lined up, pin them together.
Step 3. Sew the waist
There is only one mandatory seam in this dress and it is as follows. You will go to sew a continuous circle all around the waist; in this way, you will join all three parts of the dress. Easy, right? You choose where to start on the circle - although a side point should be easier to hide. Slide the machine forward, then back slightly, then back and forth again. This way, you will secure the stitches of the seam. Now go all the way around the circle until you reach the point you started from. Do the backstitch again to complete the work.
Step 4. Hem the skirt
If you want, you can hem the skirt for a more elegant and tidy edge. However, you don't have to - some types of fabric are capable of generating a finished edge without the need for processing. A good example of this type of fabric is jersey.
Part 3 of 3: Making Other Outfits
Step 1. Make a dress from a pillowcase
By adding a rubber band to a pillow case you can make a quick and easy tube dress. To complete the work, simply add a belt or some other accessory around the waist. It will come in handy when you want a Carnival outfit or to practice your sewing skills (or just to make good use of an old pillowcase).
Step 2. Sew an empire style dress
An empire style dress is a fitted dress only under the bust. You can make a simple one by adding a self-made skirt to one of your tops or a top you will purchase. It is easy and has a very feminine and refined look.
Step 3. Make a summer dress from a sheet
You can use an old but pretty sheet to make a beautiful dress; you just need to know some basic sewing techniques. This is a fantastic project, if you want to make an eccentric dress starting from the sheets of when you were a child (with the image of your favorite cartoon character).
Step 4. Make a dress from a skirt
You can make a really simple dress by sewing a top over your favorite skirt. This is a quick method and is ideal for a beginner. Just turn the shirt inside out and line up the bands at the waist (the skirt will be inserted into the shirt).
Remember that it must be a tight skirt without a zipper, as you will not be able to use it once the work is finished
Advice
- Use thick fabrics, otherwise you will have to join two layers.
- If you use lace, apply it to the fabric.
