Abbey Baby Dress

The Abbey Baby Dress is a pretty, girly dress to make for your baby to wear with her Mary Jane Pleated Slippers. These free sewing patterns for babies are not only easy, but they're stylish too!

Materials:

• Fabric
• Sewing Supplies
• Piping
• Elastic
• Button
• Pattern

Note: To make the pattern, make two rectangles that are the measurements you want. For most infants I make the size as detailed in the picture above. For the bodice: I make a rectangle that is 3.5 X 4.5 inches. Then marking in 1.5 inches from the top and 1 inch up from the bottom I cut in a curve for the neckline. All of these measurements can be adjusted for any size you are making. For the Skirt: I make a rectangle that is 8.5 inches by 9.5 inches. Then I angle one edge slightly and on the other side I cut a small curve for the arm opening so I measure one inch over and one inch down and curve between them. The two (and only) pattern pieces should look like the basic shapes in the picture above. The measurements can be adjusted to any size you need.

Instructions:

1. To cut them out cut 2 skirt pieces on the fold along the straight side. Then cut 4 of the bodice piece with the fold on the short side. Then you will cut two of the bodice pieces in half. So you will have the pieces shown above.
   
   
    
2. For the dress I am doing the tutorial for I used piping, This is optional and I have made many without piping. So you can skip that if you want.
    
3. First sew the front bodice piece to two back pieces at the shoulder seam. You should make two of these with all out bodice pieces.
   
   
    
4. Then if you are using piping sew that all along the neckline and the edge of the back pieces. Sew it to the right side of the top with the flap of the piping toward the outside edge.
   
   
    
5. Then sandwich the other bodice piece on top so right sides are together. (do this with or without piping) sew along the back slit and neckline. Clip the curve and then turn right side out.
   
   
    
6. Top stitch along the neckline. Then turn the side edges in and sew together.
   
   
   
    
7. Then again if you are using piping sew it along the bottom of the front bodice piece. Fold over the edges so it has a finished edge.
   
    
    
8. Then on the back skirt piece make a 2 inch slit down the middle. (along the top edge which should have the notches in it)
   
   
    
9. Then sew piping along the slit. (if you are not using piping you can skip this and finish the slit as I show you with the arm openings below).
   
   
    
10. Then turn the piping flaps to the back side and top stitch in place.
    
    
     
11. Sew the front and back skirt pieces together at the side seams. The notches should match up creating to U shaped dips on both sides of the top. I also serge or zig zag stitch the seams since if they are left unfinished they tend to unravel.
    
    
     
12. Then cut out a small rectangle of fabric that will overlap the arm opening and sew along the opening. (right sides together)
    
    
     
13. Then turn the rectangle over to the back, and fold under all the edges.
    
    
     
14. Then sew along the turned under edges and you have a finished edge for the arm opening. (this is how you can finish the slit in the back if you skip the piping).
    
    
     
15. Then matching the middle of the front bodice with the middle of the front skirt piece make small pleats out towards the edge until the ends meet. Sew in place.
    
    
     
16. Then I serge or zig zag stitch that edge and then top stitch it so it lays flat against the bodice. Then do the same for the back. (sorry I don't have a picture of that but it should make sense).
    
    
     
17. Then Hem the bottom if you are using piping as I did then sew the piping around the bottom turn it over and top stitch. If you are not using piping just roll the hem under and sew in place.
    
    
     
18. Then I sew a small elastic loop on the inside of the back flap.
    
    
     
19. And lastly a button on the other side. Then done.