Follow Along With My Easy Maxi Dress Sewing Pattern Tutorial

Today, I’m going to show you how to sew a simple maxi dress from my Demi maxi dress sewing pattern, which you can get from my Etsy store.

Please learn from my mistake and wash your fabric before cutting out the pattern! I didn’t, and my dress shrunk on the first wash so it’s now really too short for me.

Tools and materials: 

• Maxi dress sewing pattern
• 2 - 3 yds (2 - 3 m) lightweight stretch fabric
• Paper for pattern
• Sticky tape
• Fabric marker
• Scissors
• Pins
• Twin needle (optional)
• Sewing machine
• Serger (optional)

1. Cut out the fabric

Print and assemble the pattern sheets and cut out the pieces in your size. Check that you’re printing it at actual size and note that the pattern includes a half inch (1 cm) seam allowance.

I prefer to trace my pattern onto the fabric first.

You need to cut one back, one front, one each of the back and front facings and two sleeves.

Transfer all markings from the pattern to the fabric.

2. Attach the facings

Overlock the lower edge of both facings, using a serger or an overlock or zigzag stitch on your sewing machine.

Join the facings at the shoulder seams, with the right sides together.

Join the shoulders seams of the front and back sections of the dress, also with the right sides together.

Open the dress out flat, with the right side uppermost.

Place the facings on top with the wrong side uppermost, matching the shoulder seams.

Sew them together around the entire neckline.

I’ve used my overlocker for most of the sewing, but if you don’t have one I’d advise finishing all the raw edges on your sewing machine to stop them from rolling.

Push the facings through the neckline to the wrong side. You could top stitch around the neckline if you wish to keep it flat.

3. Insert the sleeves

Open out the dress with the right side uppermost.

Pin facings and the dress to the sleeve head, with the right sides together. Use as many pins as you need to keep the fabric flat.

Make sure to align the pattern notches on the sleeve head and the armhole, so the sleeves are the right way around.

Sew in place and repeat for the second sleeve.

4. Close the side and sleeve seams

Place the front and back of the dress together with the right sides facing.

Align the sleeve seams at the armholes and pin the side and sleeve seams outwards from there.

Make sure you include the sides of the facing pieces in the seams and sew in place.

5. Hem the sleeves and dress

I prefer to use a twin needle for the hemlines.

You could also use a zigzag stitch or any other finishing technique you prefer, as long as the edge remains stretchy.

When using a twin needle you need to sew from the right side of the garment, so make sure your pins are on the outside.

Turn in the edge of the sleeves and sew with the twin needles either side of the raw edge.

Repeat for the lower edge of the dress.

DIY maxi dress

With that, your DIY maxi dress is finished!

I love this style of dress because it’s so flattering yet so easy to wear.

This is such a quick and easy project, it’s a perfect garment for a beginner working with stretch fabrics for the first time.

I also made a short version from the same pattern, with flared sleeves and a high neckline. For the high neck, I just used the back pattern piece for the front as well.

As usual, if you have any questions please leave me a comment below.

Next, check out my post on Upcycling a Leather Jacket Into a Gorgeous Bucket Bag.