OK y’all…imagine I’m really draaaawwling today as I take you through this women’s pillowcase dress tutorial. Because I’m wearing a dress…and boots…and I’m leading my horse around the fields. So this is about as Texan as I can get, y’all.
I’ve been asked before about a pillowcase tutorial for women, and I have to admit…I was hesitant to do it. So before I get into the pattern and sewing, let’s go through some caveats. Because let’s face it – these kind of dresses are adorable on little girls and really tough for women to pull off.
So, if you’re determined to make/wear a pillowcase dress and you’re over the age of 12, by all means PLEASE
- Don’t use quilting cotton. Sorry, if you’ve got boobs, you need fabric that drapes more, or you’re just going to look like you’re wearing a tent. The dress I’m wearing is silk I got at Mood last year during LA Fabric Weekend. Knit is also a good option.
- Your dress needs to have a little bit of an A-line shape; if you go with an actual pillowcase (and I’d like to see the pillow that needs to be covered by a case that can fit a grown up woman!) or rectangular shape, it’s going to look like you’re wearing a sack. And not in a good way.
- Consider a belt. Honestly, next time I wear this dress, I will probably add one. The breeze helped in these pictures, but otherwise this dress is a little shapeless.
- Length is important. A pillowcase style dress for a woman either needs to hit above the knee or be maxi length. Midi length + borderline shapeless = supremely unflattering.
So please raise your hand and repeat after me, “I, (your name), promise to follow the above rules before I attempt to sew or wear a pillowcase dress.”
OK, let’s talk about how to make the pattern. See the diagrams below. Note- if you want maxi length, you’ll need to go with collarbone to floor length instead of collarbone to kneecap length.
Take your rectangle and modify it as shown below. Cut 2 of this piece.
To sew the dress:
- (Not shown) sew the side seams with the dress front and back right sides together. Finish these seams.
- Use single fold bias tape to finish the edges. Pin the unfolded tape right sides together against the fabric, sew along crease line closest to the raw edge of the fabric, then turn tape to the inside and stitch it down along the other edge.
If you want your straps to be of the same fabric as the dress, make a long 2″ wide strip of fabric and sew it right sides together, matching the long edges and using a 1/4″ seam. Turn your tube right side out and thread through your casing, tie it off at the length you like and knot the ends of the tube to prevent fraying. If you don’t want the same fabric, you could use ribbon, bias tape, I even contemplated using a jewelry chain on mine.
Hem your dress, and then get your horse to parade around with you as a photo prop. Can you tell Major is thrilled?
Honestly he was probably just glad that I finally combed the dreadlocks out of his mane. Poor pasture pet; I haven’t had much time to ride lately.
But hey, he posed pretty for this photo. And yes, he has one brown eye and one blue. Some people think it’s creepy, I think it’s really cool.
Allison Cornuet
Seriously I can’t pass up a horse post, much less a colored one with chrome!!! He’s gorg! Maybe I’ll have to start using mine as a phot prop too, hope you don’t mind. Haha!! And the dress is lovely too 🙂
Audrey
I want a photo prop like that! We have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to riding horses in skirts. For this dress to work for riding, it’d probably have to be wider and a maxi! (http://www.pinterest.com/skirtfixation/horse-riding-skirts/)
Anna
Looks nice, though definitely not on my list of dresses to make. Shapeless doesn’t work so well for me, especially with the length restrictions–neither of those lengths look particularly great on me. But I think I may put a pillowcase dress on the list for my daughter one of these summers.
Kristie
Your horse is gorgeous. And I agree on the dress. I do promise to follow the rules. 🙂
yvonne
This is just so cute and it looks so cool–like “cool” (2 thumbs up) and like “cool” for the summer heat.
I love it, and the hair cut just adds to the charm. Great job, Melly.
Anne
I am alllll about a loose fitting summer dress!! Arkansas summers are a lot like yours – hot and humid. The less a garment touches my body, the better, LOL. I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later this morning that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-womens-pillowcase-dress-plus-advice-to-make-it-flatter-an-adult-figure/2014/06/18/
–Anne
elise
Thank you for sharing this sweet pattern, your generosity is very appreciated.
Best,
Elise
Rachel
I thought a pillowcase dress was brave! The fabric is pretty and gives it a nice lie. I’m sure it will look really cute with a belt too.
Linda Steaples
Hey Melly BEAUTIFUL fabric & horse !!!!! Love the dress I wanted to tell you my last born he is SC13 now but he has one blue eye & one brown eye just like your horse !!!!!!!!
Martha McKeon
I agree about the design, perhaps cut on the bias might improve the drape and cut!
Robin
Nice dress and the horse is gorgeous! I’m envisioning the top fabric slightly longer and less border, but then I guess it wouldn’t be a pillowcase dress then. I would make this for a night gown but wouldn’t be brave enough to wear in public. It looks great on you though.
Linda B.
I’ve been looking for a loose and comfy pattern for a nightgown. This pattern is just purfect. I’ll be having shoulder surgery and if I make the straps as ties it will be so mush eaiser to wear. Thank you so much for all the patterns and info that you post. Linda B. P.S. Major is a very handsome fella.
Sena
I’m new to sewing and an academic by training so when I say I’ve read A LOT of sewing blogs and tutorials lately, or as I call it sewing research, I mean it far more than the average person. And this dress is hands down one of the cutest tutorials I’ve come across: the fabric, the styling, the backdrop and prop, everything just screams high-end catalog shoot and has instantly inspired me to try and make it, no hems and haws. And I just find it so sweet how humble you are about the finished results, it is GORGEOUS on you and the hair is just perfect. I can’t say enough nice things about this post, so glad I joined your email list. Thank you thank you thank you!
Jeannie D
Great post! Thanks for the tips …I would love to make this as a nightgown in cotton voile…looks so cool and comfy !
Jilly
I’ve always loved them on little girls and thought they’d be cute. I will take your pledge and abide by the rules. I think it might be cute with leggings too and maybe a long sleeved top, for cooler temps.
Davina
I made a pillowcase dress and wondered why it looked like momo. Thanks.
Gailete
I’ve made myself one pillowcase dress that is lovely and comfy to wear and at closing in fast on 60, I don’t care if I wear a dress that would look better on a 12 years old! I have severe arthritis and I keep putting on weight right at my middle so to be comfy, I need garments that flow free and don’t have a lot of things like buttons and zippers. With limited physical ability these no-pattern types dresses are much easier for me to make than to mess around with patterns and cutting out each piece.
Anyhow, I do try to stay inside except for mailbox runs when wearing my pillowcase dress! I know they aren’t flattering, but they are comfy and not another source of discomfort for me. I do like the idea of the A-line and will try to follow that next time I make one.
Carol
That would make a good beach coverup.
Mary
These were really popular to make for summer nighties in the early 1960’s (probably the 1950’s too). I was about 5 in 1963 and remember my sisters and cousins making them for all us girls.
Emily
I love this pattern. I make lots of clothes for my younger siblings and this is by far the easiest way to make a dress yet! Thank you so much!
Donna K Smith
This 73 yo granny, retired in Mexico, is playing around with this pattern: adjusting to a mature. very mature, figure. First, I added a waistline casing with elastic. Now I know I need to it needs to be placed for an empire waistline. That will happen manana. Retired in Mexico with a mature figure, unable to find clothing that is cool enough for the tropics, yet flattering to my body. My sewing skills and eyesight have deteriorated but am eager to create. Been reading your site and others mentioned. Thank you for this opportunity. Donna K
Susie
Didn’t think about making one for me, but thats a great idea. I can see that it would be shapeless. So I will make it a top.
Amy
I literally laughed out loud when I read your rules, because they’re so dead on. Great tutorial, and I LOVE your version of this dress. Thanks!
Jennifer
I Looked for this pattern to make light nighties for myself. I use cotton voile or cotton lawn to make them, but I wanted a more accurate pattern.
I thread some of the self-bias fabric strips through the front and the back, and tie them at the front to suit.
If you make them in voile, buy a good voile with some thickness to it, don’t skimp on fabric quality. I make white ones for myself and the nest lot will be a light blue as I got a bolt end cheaply.
This type of nightie is great for menopausal girls and night-sweaters. I’m not too bad, but am always feeling just hot. Summer is awful.
cheers all.
Jennifer.
Mrs. P
I was looking for an easy comfy top to pair with tights. I may increase the a-line shape a bit and make it just long enough to cover my bum. Thanks!
Mary Pemberton
I love the rules, and will follow them. I am going to make this dress to wear to and from the shower when I go camping or touring with a big group. So much better than wrapping a towel or sarong around me when my hands are full of washing and washing gear.
Robyn Carpenter
I will follow the rules and I might try one dress. You looked great in yours and I truly liked the boots!
Kim Parga
Cute dress and I love your horse! I grew up with horses as well, but I don’t have any now, although I would love to. Maybe in a few years when I buy a house on larger property than what I own now.
Linda Dockstader
Hi Melly! I am transplant to the Seattle WA area, late of Austin TX. Got my first horse at age 9, then started sewing at 10. LOVE your horse, and seriously like the dress. Were I to make it for myself I would draft wider straps because I must wear bra. Thanks for your blog, it is just Fabu!
Lisa Stephens
Love this pattern detail. Simplicity is so nice and refreshing. Looks great and hope to make several pieces. Like the idea of a long blouse. First sewing website I have added. Taking a Quilting Class and renewing my sewing interests. Thanks for your ideas and knowledge ????
Sally
I have been sewing pillowcase dresses (and t-shirt dresses) for 6 years. Between the two, I have made 1100+ dresses, that have been sent to more than 20 Third World countries, all around the world. I have four friends who also sew the pillowcase ones, and between the 5 of us, we have sent out well over 3,000 dresses in that time. The fun is seeing the photos of the little girls with their dresses! This coming summer, I am taking our dress project to a whole new level, tho, as, God willing, I will be going to Tanzania, Africa, to deliver the dresses myself…to personally hand them out will be amazing! I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if I were to wear a pillowcase dress, myself, then!! I am a “fluffy” plus size, so I’m not expecting miracles, but I think if I choose the fabric carefully, and the color and pattern deaign as well, maybe I can pull it off. I don’t think the children will be too judgmental of my plus size, but will appreciate the dress style matching the ones I give them. What do you think, should I “just do it!”?
Tori
Yes! Just do it!! I think it’ll be cute 🙂
Colleen
I have been looking for a simple summer dress / bathing suit cover pattern for so long and this is perfect!! Excited to try it and it will be so nice and cool! Your horse is gorgeous!! Thanks so much
Jean
I’m seven years late to this party but I’ve making a summer nightgown (plus size) out of an old IKEA duvet cover, and have been a bit stumped how to handle the yoke. I’m going with your straps to gather and tie off. Thank you! Nightgowns are out of style so they are hard to find (unless you can spring for $80 ones from Vermont Country Store).