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Melly Sews

Melly Sews

Betsy Ross Baby

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Patriotic Baby Dress Tutorial by Melly Sews
Today I’m going to show you how I made my niece’s 4th of July Dress, the Baby Betsy Ross.

I started with a thrifted men’s t-shirt, a package of bias tape, a scrap of white muslin, and scraps of red and white t-shirts that I had left over from another project.

After removing the collar and pocket from the men’s shirt (to save for later; I’m crazy like that), I cut it off  below the arms.

I saved the big part for the skirt, and used the top of the shirt and the sleeves to cut out my bodice pieces.

I sewed the bodice together at the shoulders and side seams.

Then added bias tape to finish the raw edges.

Next I made an a-line skirt out of a scrap of muslin, with the top width the same as the bottom of my bodice. I finished the bottom edge of the skirt with my serger.

I cut a bunch of 2 inch wide strips with my rotary cutter out of the red and white t-shirt scraps.

Then I sewed the strips together and ruffled them. Starting at the bottom of the muslin, I layered rows of red and white ruffles and sewed them on.

I got my overskirt piece and gathered the top edge to the same width as my underskirt and bodice.

Once I had that finished, I cut 6 strips of bias tape and sewed them closed. I marked two spots on the front of the overskirt and one spot in the center back and pinned one strip to each side of those marks, so I had one string inside and one outside the skirt at each mark.

Then I pinned the two skirts to the bodice, and sewed one seam joining everything.

And when turned right side out it looks like this.

Adjust the ties to bustle the overskirt to your taste, then take pictures on an adorable baby.

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Comments

  1. Palak

    I’m absolutely in love with this dress. I love the mini bustle-ish action going on in the back. Is that woven bias tape on the knit? That’s clever— it looks just like ribbing! (the model is just darling, too).

    Reply

  2. Jessica

    Love it! I tried to make a skirt with bustles like that for the 4th last year, but I didn’t quite pull it off. I ended cutting them off (they were on the inside) and it still looked cute. This is way cuter!

    Reply

  3. The witch

    The dress is so beautiful.
    Everything here is very fun and useful.
    I have been reading your blog since on March.
    I like it!Good for you!
    I hope to write properly. I am studing English this year. I will have an exam on Friday.
    I wish you lucky!

    Reply

  4. Kimberly from 'bugaboo'

    Ah! Adorable! Do you think a 3 and 1/2 yr old could pull it off? That’s what my daughter will be when I make this next year… 🙂

    Reply

  6. simplesew

    This is adorable,and so is the model……. I think any age could pull it off, it looks so good also because she isnt over decorated with flowers, shoes, bling.. just her blue eyes…….

    Reply

  12. Jenny Yarbrough

    Oh Melissa, those photos are precious! What a great dress-I’m so impressed! Thanks for linking up again this week. I always love seeing what you’ve made! Have a great week!

    Reply

  13. Fancy That Notion

    This is so adorable! (What a cutie too!) I found you at flamingo toes:)
    fancythatnotion.blogspot.com

    Reply

  19. Jessica

    This is so cute! It’s impressive how well you used recycled and leftover fabric! Love! This makes me wish for a little girl to sew for.

    Reply

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