Button Baby Dress Tutorial

    Getting ready for a move has its advantages. I have to sort through my belongings for one...and that means I find all sorts of bits and bobs I didn't know I had! (Which probably means I didn't really need them in the first place...uh hum moving on quickly!) I found this fabric in my stash, and whipped it up into a simple little dress for my littlest lady.

     You might recognize it from this tutorial, the tie top dress, that I published quite a while ago. As you can see, this version uses straps and a button instead of ties. Here are the measurements for up to 5T. These are made to be ankle length, so you might want to shorten it a bit, based on your little one.

Size	Bib (L x W)	Dress (L x W)	Arm hole (across x down)	Straps	Final size ( chest x lenth)
0 – 3 Month	5 x 2.5	11 x 15	1.5 x 1.5	11	17 x 11.5
3 – 6 Month	5.5 x 3	13 x 17	1.5 x 1	12	17 x 14
6 – 9 Month	6 x 3	14 x 19	1.5 x 1	13	19 x 15
9 – 12 Month	6.5 x 3.5	15 x 20	1.5 x 1	14	22 x 16
12- 18 Month	7 x 3.5	15 x 21	1.5 x 1	15	22 x 17
2T	7.5 X 4	20 X 25	2 X 1	20	24 x 22
3T	8 x 4	21 x 32	2.5 x 1	20	26 x 26
4T	8.5 x 4	22 x 33	2.5 x 1	20	28 x 26.5
5T	8.5 x 4	23 x 34	2.5 x 1.5	20	28 x 30.5

     You'll need to cut out a rectangle for the dress part.

     Those little arm hole notches are important, so don't forget that part!

      And you'll need four smaller rectangles for the "bib" of the dress.

      And for this version, you need two rectangles for straps. For a 12-18 month size, my rectangle was 5 inches long by 3.5 inches wide.

     Sew up the sides of the straps like so.

       Turn the seam to the center of one side, and then sew across one end.

       Turn it inside out, and press. Do the same to other strap. Lay the two straps one of the bib rectangles, with the ends slightly over the edge.

      Sandwich the straps by laying another rectangle on top.

      Sew up the side, across the straps, and down the other side. Leave the bottom open. Flip it right side out, and it should look like this.

       Do the same to other two bib pieces, just minus the straps. I serge finish up the bottom edges with my serger.

      Next sew up the sides of the dress portion. If you have a serger, go ahead and finish the raw edges too.

      Sew a gathering stitch across the tops of both sides of the dress. Gather them to match the width of the bib sections. Hem the arm holes.

      Sew the bib sections to the dress.

     Select the largest buttons you can find, (Ha! ok you don't really have to get the largest, I just like big buttons!) and sew your button holes into the front bib. Mine look mysteriously moist because I like to douse my button holes with fray check just for good measure.

       Sew on your buttons, and hem the bottom.

      Go find the cutest little girl you can find, and try it on!

       This particular little lady was quite pleased with her new dress. Yes, her hair is always that crazy. I've given up on taming it, I love it like that anyway!

     This girl loves her teddy! There's nothing in the world that a teddy or a blanket can't fix.

       Have a happy weekend!
P.S. I'd really appreciate if you used this tutorial for personal use only. My work is not intended for commercial reproduction.

Deuteronomy 32:4   He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

linking to:
the freckled laundry
Tatertots and Jello
Six Sisters Stuff
The girl creative
Homemaker on a dime
Brassy Apple
Under the Table and Dreaming
The Southern Institute
My Girlish Whims
Someday Crafts