Easy DIY summer Maxi dress

Materials needed: 2-3 yards of stretchy material, thread to match, sharp scissors, and pins. Oh, and of course, a sewing machine. We used a great knit; the same type of material you can use to make a bathing suit to make these dresses. Time to make this dress 1-2 hours depending on your skill level.

These 2 easy summer dresses were a breeze to make. It made a great summer project to do with my 2 nieces who wanted to learn how to sew. You can make it your own!! We did with each dress.

First decide where you would like the dress to fall on your chest and length of skirt.

Then you will need the following measurements; Bust all the way around, measure your waist, measure from top of bust to where you would like the waist to fall on the dress (can be right at your last rib).

Then you should measure from the waist to your feet to get your skirt length or if you like your skirts shorter you can cut the skirt to your preferred length. Just make it your own!! That's what I told the girls so they would not fret over any small imperfections.

Next measure over your shoulders from where you would like the dress to begin to the back where the dress will begin in the back to get the measurements for your straps.

Also, make sure to measure across your chest to where you would like the straps to be in the front. You can use the same measurement for the back.

Ok, time to cut your material. You will cut pieces for 3 parts of your dress; the bodice, skirt, and straps. If you are using striped material; make sure your stripes are running in the same direction (if that is what you want). This may take a bit of thinking and refolding the material.

Note: We used a yard stick to help us cut our straight lines.

Bodice

To cut material for the top or bodice; we cut a rectangular piece of material. Take the chest measurement and divide it by 2 then add 1 to 1.5 inches. This is how wide the material will be for the bodice. Next you take the measurement you did from the top of the bust to your waist and add 1 inch to 1.5 inches. You are adding the inch for seam allowance. I like to add a half inch; because with these measurements this dress is going to be perfect fit. I like to have a little room.

You will cut 4 rectangular pieces with these measurements.

Note: If you cut it on the fold; you will only need to cut the 2 pieces and you can put the seam in the back. And you will not need the extra half inch. Just remember you will cut the shorter side against the fold!!

Skirt

You will cut a large rectangular piece.

So take your measurement for your waist and add 8-10 inches. If you would like a fuller skirt, you can double your waist measurement; but we did not had enough material to double. Adding 8-10 inches was enough to make some cut little pleats around the waist. Lay out the rest of your material. Fold it in half. Using the measurement for the length of your skirt; measure along the fold. Cut straight across; and you have your skirt.

Straps!

Take what's left of the material and cut your straps to the length you liked. I cut them 5-6 inches wide to make some nice wide straps. You will cut 2 pieces of material.

Now, Time to Sew!!

Take 2 of the pieces for your bodice. Making sure the right sides are together; sew the shorter sides together on each side. Do the same for the other two pieces.

Note: right side refers to the side of the material that is going to show when you are finished. It is the nice looking side of your material.

Next you will take each strap

Fold them in half with longer sides together and right side together.

and sew the longer side together.

Then turn them inside out.

Ok, here is where it gets tricky. Take your bodice pieces and turn one inside out. Put that one inside the other bodice piece so that they are right sides together. Make sure your seams line up. Don't sew it together yet!!

Ok, if you had cut your bodice piece on the fold; the side with the seam will fall in the back. If you have 2 seams; the seams will fall on the sides (under your arms).

Take your straps and pin them to the front. Make sure to pin the straps so that the seam side of the strap is facing the same way. I folded my straps so that the seam fell on the bottom; so it would not show once sewn together. Pin the edge of the strap Inside the two pieces of material.

Using your measurement you did across your bodice; and pin the other strap on making sure each strap is facing the same way.

Now you will sew each piece together.

Once sewn together; it will look like this

If you turn it inside out; it will look like this at this point.

Now. turn it back inside; so your right sides are together again. Then sew the straps to the other side.

This is hard to explain. But take the other end of the strap and fold it in half and up so that it falls to the back. Pin in the same position as the other side.

And sew together. Go ahead and finish sewing both pieces together

Once done; you can turn it inside out and it will look like this.

Try it on to make sure it looks all correct. You can make some adjustments at this point if you need to.

Now take the large piece of material you did for your skirt; fold it right sides together and sew along the edge. At this point; you can leave a split in the skirt; if you wish.

Next take the skirt part and pin to the bottom of the bodice. As you pin; make little folds on the skirt side and pin together. Make the folds in opposite directions to form pleats in the skirt. I sewed both pieces of the bodice to the skirt. The skirt was a little heavy and I figured this would help to hold the skirt.