Use this easy baby girl dress sewing pattern to sew classic style dresses for your baby or toddler. This DIY tutorial comes with free templates for four sizes to make sewing easy for any beginner seamstress.
The sewing for baby saga continues and this time it is an easy baby dress. I have a few people expecting this summer and a pile of stash mounting up. So, I definitely need to sew a lot of little things.
Summer is around the corner and babies definitely need a lot of summer dresses. I love the sight of the little one wearing a cute little baby dress. It becomes even cuter if she wears matching accessories.
This is a very easy baby girl dress sewing pattern, which does not take much time or fabric to sew. You can complete it quickly to get a boutique-style baby dress! Templates are available for newborn babies to 12-month-olds.
This classic style dress pattern is great for toddlers too! Given the template and the easy instructions, now you can learn how to make the dress the easy way!
I have kept this baby girl’s dress sewing pattern simple for a quick-sew. You can add lace, ribbons or rickrack to make it prettier and more girly.
The choice is yours. Make a matching diaper cover, a pair of booties, and a headband to make her look like a little princess!
Free Baby Booties Sewing Pattern
Easy Baby Girl Dress Sewing Pattern
Materials Required
- Medium- weight cotton fabric for the dress- requirements specified in the table-2 below.
- Sewing Notions.
- Fabric Marking Pen.
- Buttons or Velcro.
- Enter your e-mail address in the box below to download the template.
All the fabrics used here are of 44/ 45 inches width.
The seam allowance is 3/8-inch unless otherwise specified.
I suggest you read the entire pattern once before starting to get a general idea.
All seams are to be finished by zigzag or serger.
The fabric should be pre-washed to prevent it from shrinking later after cutting and sewing.
Approximate Finished Measurements.
Table-1.
| Ages | Finished Chest
(inches) |
Finished Length
(inches) |
| Newborn | 18 | 14 |
| 3 Months | 19&1/2 | 15&3/4 |
| 6 Months | 20&1/2 | 17 |
| 12 Months | 21&1/2 | 18&1/4 |
Fabric Requirements.
Table-2
| Ages | Fabric for
Dress (yards) |
| Newborn | 1/2 |
| 3 Months | 5/6 |
| 6 Months | 1 |
| 12 Months | 1&1/6 |
Measurements
Table-3
In the table below, “l” stands for the length and “W” stands for the width of the fabric piece to be cut.
| Ages | Front Skirt Piece
(inches) |
Back Skirt Piece
(inches) (cut 2)
|
| New-born | 10.5L x 20W | 10.5L x 11W |
| 3 Months | 10.75L x 22W | 10.75L x 12W |
| 6 Months | 12L x 23W | 12L x 13W |
| 12 Months | 13.25L x 24W | 13.25L x 14W |
Gather your supplies.
Cut the templates for the bodice front and bodice back from the PDF above.
Take the dress fabric and the template for the front bodice. Fold the fabric to fit the width of the template and place the template on the fold. Mark around it and cut to get the front bodice piece. Repeat the steps to get the front lining.
Let’s cut the back bodice. Here again, fold the fabric, but this time, place the template for the back bodice, along the edge of the fabric. Mark around it and cut to get two pieces for the back bodice (the back part of the dress is done in two pieces, for button opening). Repeat the steps to get the back lining pieces.
Your bodice-front, bodice –back and lining pieces will look like the picture above.
Cut the skirt pieces referring to the table-3 above. The buttonhole edge comes along the length of the back pieces (you may put a pin to mark it).
Sewing
Take the two back bodice pieces and place them over the front bodice piece, with the right sides together, aligning the shoulders and side seams and sew the shoulders shut.
Press the seams flat.
Next, take the lining pieces, fold the lower edges towards the wrong side by 3/8-inch and press to set.
Sew the front and back lining pieces together, just as the bodice pieces.
Place the bodice lining over the main bodice, with the right sides together, aligning the center back, neck and armholes. Pin and sew along the neck and center back, and also along the two armholes. *Note that you need to leave 3/8-inch along the lower edges of the bodice for skirt attachment.
Clip the edges and cut the corners.
Pull the right side of the back bodice out, through the shoulders. Keep pulling the back bodice on either side, till the whole bodice is turned inside- out.
Poke the edges sharp, with the help of your scissors and press taut. Topstitch along the armholes, neck and buttonhole edges, leaving 3/8-inch at the lower edges of the armholes and buttonhole edges.
Flip the lining upwards. Align the side seams of the back and front bodices together and the side seams of the front and back lining together. The right sides should touch and the folds along the lower edges of the lining kept intact. Pin the aligned edges (side seams) together and sew along the pinned edges.
Clip the bulk at the seam.
Our bodice is done. We move on to the skirt.
Fold the button edge of one of the back skirt pieces by 3/8-inch towards the wrong side and press. Fold again by ¾ -inch and press once more. Sew the fold down along the edge. Repeat the steps with the other back skirt piece.
Let’s join the front and back skirt pieces together.
Keep the two back pieces over the front piece, with the right sides together and the edges aligning. Sew the side seams on both sides. * Note that the folded edges come along the center.
Next, we need to gather the skirt. Turn the upper thread tension of your machine to zero and stitch length to the longest to get a basting stitch.
Sew a basting stitch along the upper edge of the skirt and gather it. Adjust the gathering to make it uniform and to fit the lower edge of the bodice.
Let’s attach the skirt to the bodice.
Flip the lining upward. Align the ruffled edge of the skirt along the lower edge of the bodice, with the right sides together and pin all along. The side seams of the bodice and skirt should come in line while pinning. *Note: take care to keep the lining away while pinning.
Turn the machine settings back to normal.
Sew the skirt to the bodice, removing the pins as you go.
Turn the waist seam up, towards the bodice and place the folded edge of the lining over the seam. Turn over to the right side and topstitch along the seam line of the skirt and bodice carefully to sew the lining shut, covering the waist seam. You may optionally hand-sew the folded edge of the lining to the waist seam.
Your dress will look like this on the wrong side.
We need to hem the lower edge of the dress.
Fold the lower edge of the dress by 1/2-inch towards the wrong side and press.
Sew down the hem along the edge of the fold.
Let’s attach the Velcro or the buttons.
*For higher ages, you can sew the back opening shut by a few inches, starting from the hem. However, I prefer to keep the back open completely for easy on and off.
Starting from the top edge, make markings at 2-inches gap from each other, on the right side of one of the back pieces and sew the Velcro or the buttons. Make markings with a 2-inch gap on the wrong side of the other back piece also and sew the complimentary Velcro or the buttonhole.
Cut off the hanging threads and our dress is done!
So, now you can make a classic style dress with my easy baby girl dress sewing pattern even if you are a beginner!
Pin it for later here,
So come on, grab your notions, your fabric, and get ready to sew this easy baby dress sewing pattern!
Thank you for the beautiful prayers, I will sew IT for my grandoughter. IT is well explain and very easy to see. Thank again. Blessings⁹
Really nice pattern. Thank you for sharing.
I have one question. Is the seam allowance included in the pdf pattern?
Or do I have to add it?
I am glad you liked my pattern. The seam allowance is included in the pattern, you don’t have to add it.
I like the little sun dress with the booties hoe can I get a pattern to both the dress and bootie
You may find the booties pattern here, https://sewcraftyme.com/free-baby-booties-sewing-pattern.html.
If you are looking for the patterns in PDF format, you may purchase them by clicking on the link given in the posts.
Do you have this sweet little dress in a size 6 by any chance? I love this dress and would love to make it for my granddaughter. I’m not that great of a seamstress and I think I could make this. Thank you very much.
Author
Glad you liked my pattern. I am so sorry, I don’t have the pattern in size 6, but I do have a plan to release it in higher ages soon 🙂
Lovely ! thanks for sharing !
Fabric needs to be washed 1st , unless you want a smaller finished size then you sewed 🙂
also , the fabric needs to be folded right sides together & lined up with the straight of the grain before cutting..
Author
Thanks for the suggestions. I have added the directions for pre-washing the fabric in the post.
Thank you for your pattern , i will make it this afternoon here in cold and rain Lancashire in England.
Dear Tracey,
I like also this pattern, If you wish i will share picture of dress, how i made it. Thank you.
Author
I am glad you liked my pattern. And of course, I would love to see the pictures!
Hi! I love this little dress. However, I’m new to sewing trying to figure this out and I’m stumped!! I have the bodice and lining sewn together but I’m not understanding about the side seams. I sure it’s much easier than I’m trying to make it! Your help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!
Hi! I’m new to sewing and I’m having difficulty sewing the side seams of the bodice and lining. I’m sure I’m making it harder than it is! Thanks for your help!
Author
If you are done sewing the bodice and lining together, just flip the lining upward and line up the side seams of the bodice and lining. Sew the side seams of both in a straight line and flip the lining back. Please refer to the pictures given in the blog post to understand the instructions clearly.
Just in case anyone else is having trouble, I figured out what the instructions meant after some initial struggling, even with the pictures. The side seams are aligned together *so that the arm holes are closed*. Match the bodice back to the bodice front, and the lining back to the lining front on each side. Pin and sew.
I initially thought the side seams were being folded onto themselves, but this is not the case. After this step, the bottom of the bodice should be continuous from one buttonhole edge to the other. I hope this helps!
Could I add pleats instead of gathering the dress. Do you think that would be possible?
Author
Of course, you can add pleats. Just make sure to adjust the pleats on the skirt to match the lower edge of the bodice.
How do I download the baby-girl free pattern? It said to insert name in box below, but could only find this box….. is this right? Thanks
Author
Please enter your e-mail id in the box provided under the “materials needed” section to download the pattern pieces.
I want to make some dresses like these for my daughter who is 8 years, is there anyway I can use this same pattern??
Thanks
Thank you for the free pattern. It is much appreciated.
Author
You are welcome!
I would love to have this pattern! We are expecting our first grandbaby in August. Not sure if it’s a she or a he, but I’m getting a headstart.
Thank you so much.
Oh, does this come in all sizes listed and I just print what I need?
Thanks!
Author
Thank you! The pattern template comes in four sizes. You may print and then cut the size you need, following the instructions in the PDF.
Hi, do you happen to have this adorable pattern in a 2T or 3T? Thank you
Gave you my email address, but did not receive my PDF for dress, please send, thx
Author
Kindly click on the red download button after entering your e-mail address. The PDF should download automatically.
Thank you for sharing the pattern. I love it! I Will try to make it. However, have two questions:
1. How many inch/cm is the seam allowance in PDF?
2. Is the seam allowance the sake for all parts?
Author
The seam allowance is 3/8- inch unless otherwise specified and it is the same for all parts.
This is such a cute little dress. How can I download the templates for yhis cutie.
Author
Please enter your e-mail address in the blue box in the middle of the blog post and click the download button. You should be able to download the template smoothly!
I love this pattern! Do you have the pattern in a bigger size I would love to make this for my niece for Easter!
Author
Sorry, I don’t have the pattern in higher sizes.
Love this dress. Do you have this pattern in a size 2t? I just made this dress for our baby and want to make a matching outfit for her older sister. I saw above you said works well with toddlers but did not see the pattern size. TIA
Author
I am sorry, currently, I don’t have the pattern in higher sizes. But, I shall be making it available soon!
I have the pattern for the upper bodice but what about the skirt? I am a sewing newbie, sorry!! Maybe we should just know how to do that 😋 the dress is adorable. I hope I can figure out how to make it!
Author
Thank you, I am glad you liked it! The pattern comes with templates for the bodice only. The skirt part is made of rectangular pieces of which the measurements are given in a table-3.
looking for a box to get pattern emailed
Author
You may find a blue box in the middle of the blog post. Enter your e-mail address and click subscribe to start downloading the template.
Thank you for the beautiful pattern and tutorial. I did snaps instead of buttons. I hand sewed the back skirt and bodice. Thank you for teaching me!
Hello,
I have downloaded the PDF but I can’t see all the pages when I need to print. It shows one sheet with instructions then the two templates on the left of my screen. When I choose page 2 for instance and I want to print it only shows the one sheet.
Many thanks
Elizabeth
Hello,
Love the dress, can’t wait to try it.. My niece is expecting a girl at end of August and my son and his wife are expecting beginning of August. Our first grandchild!! It’s a boy!
I downloaded the PDF but I cannot print the pages. When I click on one of the bodices it shows the bodice but when I print it printed the whole sheet with instructions and the two bodices.
Many thanks
Elizabeth
Author
You may choose pages 2 & 3 in the printer setting before you click print, otherwise, it would print the 3 pages.
Hello again,
I figured it out I downloaded to a PDF file, then I sent myself an email and got it from there. I was then able to print the pages I needed.
Many thanks
Thank you for the pattern. I find it hard to sew the skirt with the boadicea have to do it again. Something is wrong with my gadering is there an other way to do it? Thxs from France 🇨🇵
I really like this pattern. Is there a way to get this pattern made for an almost two year old?
Author
Currently, I don’t have the pattern in higher sizes but I shall be releasing it soon!
Could you use a jersey knit material with this pattern? Is so, would there be any different cutting/sewing changes needed?
Author
You can try sewing with a knit material but you have to use a ball point needle and use a stretch or a zigzag stitch for seams that need stretching.