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Underbust Pinafore Dress Tutorial
It's rated one scissor out of five, even though basic sewing machine knowledge is assumed. You're pretty much cutting out rectangles.

Posted by Max California from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia • Published See Max California's 26 projects »
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  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 1
    Step 1

    Gather your supplies. Sewing machine + my serger, pins, scissors, tape measure + some fabric. I cut up an old bed sheet :D

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 2
    Step 2

    Wow I'm a hot mess.
    Measure yourself. You're going to need the measurement around your body under your boobs.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 3
    Step 3

    As well as underbust, measure how long the straps will need to be. Measure over your shoulder to below your bust front + back ((use your bra as a guide))

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 4
    Step 4

    Write down your measurements and maybe do alittle doodle like i did for easier reference to what the heck you're doing. you're also going to need to measure yourself from your underbust to however long you want the dress.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 5
    Step 5

    These are the pieces you'll be needing. I've put the measurements of my pieces there as a guide for you to compare to.

    You're going to 2x Underbust bands, mine are going to be about 9cm high but I'm folding them in half lengthways. OR, a quick way that i did was only cut one underbust band, but placed one of the short edges on the fold of the fabric. That way you sew less! I did the same for the skirt piece.

    You'll also need two straps. Make the piece wide enough to be able to fold them in half.

    Cut two of the skirt as well, for front + back.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 6
    Step 6

    Cut your pieces out

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 7
    Step 7

    Mine was made from a sheet, so I cheekily used the hem on one of the edges as the hem for my dress!

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 8
    Step 8

    Fold your underbust piece in half. I made my piece one continuous piece of fabric instead of a defined front + back. Stitch along the long raw edge. I do 1cm seam allowances.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 9
    Step 9

    Right. Here's the fun bit! This is going to be hard to explain.

    What you're going to do is pleat/gather your skirt onto your underbust band. I'm going to show you the lazy way to gather.

    First of all I pin the far left edges together and the far right edges together. Find the exact centre of the underbust piece ((by folding it in half)) and mark. Do the same with the skirt piece. Pin these two centres together.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 10
    Step 10

    You're going to keep finding the centre of each section. So in between the dar left edge + the centre, find the centre of the underbust piece and mark it. The same with the skirt. Pin them together.

    Do the same with the other side.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 11
    Step 11

    Keep going, finding the centre of each little section. You may need to start just bunching fabric up and pinning little bunches down when the spaces bewteen pins get smaller. Don't make the bunches too big or your machine will have a hard time sewing over them.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 12
    Step 12

    Stitch it down. I sew over my pins, but if you're not that confident in your skills, or you really love your machine, take your pins out as you get to them. This is me bunching a little section to sew over it. When it's done it will be a cute little gather.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 13
    Step 13

    Stitching over the pinch.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 14
    Step 14

    Flip it the other way and you'll see your awesome 'gathering' skills!

    Serge ((overlock)) the raw edge + then topstitch it.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 15
    Step 15

    You're going to do the back of your dress now ((Almost done!)) Get the edges of your dress + serge them ((not together!))

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 16
    Step 16

    Make sure you serge the seam between the skirt + the underbust panel down towards the hem. You've already topstitched it down, this just helps it sit better + makes it more comfortable.

    This is the part where you put in a zipper. I havn't made a tute for that yet, so it'd be a good idea to consult a book or a website. I have a quick + easy way, which I'll link to later.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 17
    Step 17

    Straps!

    Fold your straps in half lengthways + stitch along the seam.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 18
    Step 18

    Turn them inside out + iron them. Ironing makes everything sit really nice so try to iron as often as you can after you've stitched something. Makes it so much easier!

    You can top stitch the straps if you like.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 19
    Step 19

    Try the dress on and mark/pin where you want the straps to go. I usually follow my bra straps as an easy reference guide. It's hard getting the back by youself, but a bit of twisting and a mirror gives a good enough job. Stitch the straps on, making sure you attach them strongly.

  • How to make a pinafore dress. Underbust Pinafore Dress - Step 20
    Step 20

    Embellish and you're done!

    NOTE:: if you're having issues with the lazy way of gathering, I have some additional photos. Just comment + ask + I'll put em up!

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Comments

Cat Morley
Cat Morley · London, GB · 1432 projects
It looks great. I love the bow!
Reply
Lunchboxx
Lunchboxx
THIS IS AWESOME!!! totally making it... I lost my old one Happy
Reply
kathleenserene
kathleenserene · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 40 projects
I just saw this project and was going to comment about how cute it was and whatnot and then I scrolled down through the comments and realized I already had. Go team. =P
Reply
Melissa W.
Melissa W.
My husband just bought me a sewing machine, I think this may be my first project. I made some pillow cases as a starting off point.
Here I go...
Reply
Cookiez777 D.
Cookiez777 D. · 4 projects
Awesome! Good instructions too. :] If I do ever make this, it's going to have to be WAY Shorter..(I'm short!) Tongue
Reply
morgan2moe m.
morgan2moe m.
Hot!!! SO CUTE!!!
Reply
Venturalily
Venturalily · Gisborne, Gisborne, NZ
HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would so wear that thankyou Happy
Reply
Yessica R.
Yessica R.
Wow! This is so cute! Thank you so much for posting this!
Reply
Trickypixie1208 P.
Trickypixie1208 P. · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 12 projects
this is super good and right on time..wonderful
Reply
Franisima c.
Franisima c. · Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, CL
i have the link from threadbanger in my favorites from this project !!!
thx !
Reply
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