How to sew a dress in a day – DIY dress for beginners (2024)

Yes, you can make your first ever dress! Karoline Dahrling-Hughes' easy jersey dress is a great first dressmaking project as you don't need to worry about messing around with pattern cutting – you can make it using your favourite top as a size guide.

We're going to talk you through how to make a dress for beginners, every step of the way. We've included some information on how long it will take to sew a dress as well as some fabric tips to help you feel fully comfortable with this project.

We've also created a handy YouTube video to help you learn how to sew a dress! You can watch our video below.

Ready? Let's sew a dress together!

How long does it take to sew a dress?

Our how to sew a dress pattern takes one day to sew. This is because it requires no pattern cutting and so taking measurements is not needed. These steps often take a whole day to organise but the tracing method we've used is much speedier!

Every dressmaking pattern takes a different amount of time and it all depends on the complexity of the pattern. For example, if your dress includes ruffles or complex stitching like french seams, it will take much longer to sew.

As a general rule (if you're using a pattern) it roughly takes three days to sew a dress.

Tips for sewing with Jersey fabric

Our how to make a dress tutorial uses jersey fabric. Jersey fabric is a brilliant, easy-sew material and is ideal for beginners.

To help you get to grips with the material, we created a how to sew jersey fabric tutorial. It includes advice on calculating stretch, what sewing machine settings you need and much more.

Feeling inspired to start sewing?

Check out Simply Sewing Magazine! It's packed with beautiful sewing patterns to make and helpful guides from sewing experts! Check out the latest issues or subscribe today.

How to sew a dress in a day – DIY dress for beginners (1)

How to sew a dress

Notes

To make this project simple we traced directly onto the fabric so there is no paper pattern to draw, cut and trace.

We traced directly on the fabric and cut it out.

If you are unsure whether the dress will fit, then cut it with extra seam allowance all the way around so you can adjust it if necessary.

A dress up to a UK size 16 will fit on a fabric width of 140cm (45in) for larger sizes. For a longer-length dress you may need to purchase wider fabric or increase the amount needed to 2m (2¼yd).

Use a 1cm (38in) seam allowance throughout. If you're new to sewing, read our sewing for beginners guide to learn all the basic stitches

How to sew a dress in a day – DIY dress for beginners (2024)

FAQs

Can you make a dress in one day? ›

Every dressmaking pattern takes a different amount of time and it all depends on the complexity of the pattern. For example, if your dress includes ruffles or complex stitching like french seams, it will take much longer to sew. As a general rule (if you're using a pattern) it roughly takes three days to sew a dress.

Can a beginner make a dress? ›

Knits are a popular choice for beginners – take a look at the selection of knit dress patterns for beginners here. From Tilly and the Buttons is a simple to make pull-on dress with scoop neckline and elasticated waistline. The plain skirt version is perfect for those new to sewing.

What is the easiest piece of clothing to sew for beginners? ›

Leggings. Leggings are both casual and comfortable to wear, so they're a real wardrobe staple. The good news is that they're really easy for beginners to sew!

Can you sew a dress without a dress form? ›

Well, if you sew your own clothing you can try the clothing on the dress form to see how it fits and make adjustments to the clothing using pins. Without a dress form, you either depend entirely on measurements you have taken of your body, and/or you regularly try on the garment you are making.

How fast can a seamstress make a dress? ›

So if you want to know exactly how long does tailoring a dress take – here is the thing, depending on the skill of your tailor, complexity of the dress, and style of the dress, it can span from a few hours up to 4 weeks to get it finished up and ready to wear.

What is the easiest fabric to sew a dress? ›

Sandwashed Cotton & Effortless Cotton Poplin

Our Sandwashed Cotton and Effortless Cotton Poplin are two of our easiest fabrics to sew because they have a super stable weave, meaning that they don't stretch out easily.

What is the first thing a beginner should sew? ›

One of the first things most sewers will learn to make is something simple like a cushion cover. This is a great project to try, because it allows you to practice basic sewing skills and whip up your first pattern very quickly.

What is the hardest clothing to sew? ›

Sheer fabric include batiste, chiffon, gauze, muslin, organza, organdy, , sheer nylon, sheer polyester, sheer silk, silk and voile.

Can you stitch a dress by hand? ›

You don't need much, not even a sewing machine.

"Some people actually hand-sew entire garments," she says, "and that's amazing. I don't have the patience to do that, but hand-sewing is honestly a really useful skill to have."

Can you make a dress out of a yard of fabric? ›

If you're making a short dress with short sleeves for a child, 1 yard should be the right amount of fabric. For a longer adult-size dress with long sleeves you will need a minimum 2 to 3 yards of wide fabric. You also need to take account of the width of the fabric.

Do you need a sewing machine to make a dress? ›

In theory, no. After all, people managed to do dressmaking for hundreds of years before the invention of the sewing machine. In practice, yes. Sewing clothes by hand takes ages – fine if you enjoy it and have the time.

How long does it take to make a custom made dress? ›

Designing your custom dress with us typically takes 6-9 months to craft your perfect custom gown with A. Cherie Couture, including consultations, custom sketches, design approvals, production adjustments, and delivery.

Can you hem a dress in a day? ›

How quickly can a tailor hem a dress? It's possible to hem a dress in a day depending on the time of day and season.

Is it hard to make a dress from scratch? ›

Dresses are one of the more complicated projects to start with, and are easiest when made using a dress pattern. Patterns are the specific measurements and shapes the different parts of your dress will need to be cut in. These are available for free or for a small price online or in fabric/craft stores.

How long does it take the average person to dress? ›

The average time it takes to get dressed, is 17 minutes. Who knew?!

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