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Free Pillowcase Dress Pattern & Size Chart

Today I’m excited to share a Pillowcase Dress Pattern that I created for BERNINA’s WeAllSew blog. This little dress would be PERFECT as an Easter dress, as it is quick to sew (I’m always leaving Easter sewing until the last minute) and can be easily customized.

Learn how to sew a pillow case dress with this Pillowcase Dress Tutorial. Includes full instructions and a chart to help you resize the dress for various ages. The quickest dress you'll ever sew!

If you’ve been a follower of this blog for a while, you may remember that a few years ago, I was on a pillowcase dress “kick.”  I was stitching them up left and right because they were so easy to sew.

(You can find a bunch of them in the archives, just type “pillowcase” into the search box on the right). It was my “go to” baby gift back in the day when my friends and I were having babies (that’s how you can tell you are getting older, no more baby shower invites *wink*).

What is a Pillowcase Dress?

Pillowcase dresses originally were dresses sewn from pillowcases (hence the name!). To make one, you would cut off the two top corners of the pillowcase, create a casing at the neckline for a ribbon, and that’s it—an easy summer dress. Pillowcase dresses are designed to be a “one size fits all dress” since you can easily adjust the sizing by tightening or loosening the ribbon at the neckline.

You can absolutely make a pillowcase dress from an old pillowcase. I have seen some beautiful ones made from vintage lace pillowcases. However, I find it easiest to make them from purchased fabric.

Pillowcase Dress Tutorial

Learn how to sew a pillow case dress with this Pillowcase Dress Tutorial. Includes full instructions and a chart to help you resize the dress for various ages. The quickest dress you'll ever sew!

When I first began making these dresses, I did the “math” for each pillowcase dress as I made them, depending on who I was making it for and how old they were. After making quite a few dresses, it occurred to me that a size chart for making pillowcase dresses would be beneficial!

I did the math and created this size chart to use when you sew a pillowcase dress. Also, did you know they are called pillowcase dresses because they are often made from actual pillowcases?? That’s why the width of the fabric is the same for each size of the dress. It’s pretty common for people to make them from embroidered or vintage pillowcases.

Pillowcase Dress Sewing Tips

If you’re going to make a pillowcase dress, I have a few tips for you. I’ve made quite a few over the years and have learned a thing or two.

1- Make sure you secure the ribbon.

Since pillowcase dresses are meant for smaller children, you need to secure the ribbon, as it can pose a choking hazard. To do this, after you add the ribbon to the casing, stitch through the casing and the ribbon at the center of the necklines. Also, don’t ever forget that there are ribbons in these dresses.

2- Use Bias Tape to finish the armholes.

My favorite way to finish off the raw edges of the armholes is to use pre-packaged double-fold bias tape. It’s easy to sew with and will save you loads of time while sewing your dresses.

3- Finish the inside seams with a serger or zig-zag stitch.

Make sure you take the time to finish off the side seams of the dress. You can do this with a serger or a zig-zag stitch. You can also sew the side seams with a french seam.

Dress Pattern Size Chart

Learn how to sew a pillow case dress with this Pillowcase Dress Tutorial. Includes full instructions and a chart to help you resize the dress for various ages. The quickest dress you'll ever sew!

I’m proud to be going on my 3rd year as a brand ambassador for BERNINA (I sew on a 770QE). As a part of my job as ambassador, I write articles for their website several times a year. Below I share where to find my pillowcase dress pattern on the BERNINA website.

Learn how to sew a pillow case dress with this Pillowcase Dress Tutorial. Includes full instructions and a chart to help you resize the dress for various ages. The quickest dress you'll ever sew!

Girls Pillowcase Dress Pattern

Melissa Mortenson
Learn how to make a simple pillowcase dress with this free sewing pattern.
4.35 from 23 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

supplies

  • 1/2 to 1 yard of fabric for dress yardage required depends on the size
  • 1/4 yard fabric for dress band
  • 2 yards of 1/2″ wide ribbon
  • 1 package of double-fold bias tape I used extra wide since it is what I had on hand, you can use narrower bias if you want.

Helpful sewing accessories

  • Dual Feed or Walking foot for a sewing machine I sew on a BERNINA 770 QE
  • Safety Pin to feed the ribbon through the casing
  • Fray check for ends of the ribbon
  • Seam Gauge
  • All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise noted.

Instructions
 

Step one

  • Cut out your pieces using the size chart above. The length is the length of the dress from shoulder down plus the 2-3″ band at the bottom of the dress. If you’re not sure what size to make, measure your “model” and go by the length you want the dress to be.
  • Most fabric is 44″ wide, that is why all of the pieces are 21″ wide, this will allow you to cut 2 pieces of fabric at the same time with minimal waste. Since the dress is gathered up in the front the smaller sizes will be more gathered and the larger sizes less. You can make the dress wider if you like, but you’ll need more fabric.
  • Begin by cutting two pieces of fabric 21″ by the desired length using the chart above. These are your dress front and back pieces. Cut two pieces of fabric for the band at the bottom also using the chart above as a guide.

Step 2

  • Next, you need to cut your armholes. Since I made a size 3-6 months I measured in 2″ from the sides of my dress front and back pieces (along the 21″ side) and 4″ down (again refer to the chart).
    I then drew a line and rounded the corner with a CD (you want to cut out a J shaped hole) I cut out the arm hole then folded the pieces in half and cut the same hole out of the opposite side of the fabric.
  • Sew the dress band to the dress front and back pieces, right sides facing. Press the seam towards the band.
  • Sew the dress front and back pieces together using a french seam. To do this sew the dress front and back pieces together wrong sides facing.
  • You will then use your scissors to trim the seam allowance down to a scant 1/8″. You want to cut as close to the seam as you can without actually cutting the seam.
  • Press seam.

Step 3

  • Turn the dress wrong side out and stitch down the side seam with a 1/4″ seam allowance. This will catch the raw edge of the seam and leave you with a nice finish on the inside of the dress.

Step 4

  • Press the raw edge of the dress band 1/2″ towards the wrong side of the fabric.
  • Fold so that the folded edge is even with the seam between the dress and the dress band.
  • Pin in place.
  • Stitch band in place on the right side of the dress just inside the seam between the dress and dress band. Engage your Dual Feed foot to help the fabric feed evenly as you stitch.
  • Press.

Step 6

  • Next you will finish off the arm holes. Take your double fold bias tape and unfold it. Pin the bias tape to the arm hole so the raw edge of the bias tape is even with the raw edge of the arm hole.
  • Stitch in place close to the 1st fold in the bias tape.
  • After you’re done stitching, refold the bias tape and stitch along the fold, catching all of the layers as you sew.
  • Press.

Step 7

  • To make the casing at the top of the dress. Press under the top edge of the dress 1/4″.
  • Fold the fabric down 3/4″ and press again.
  • Stitch in place close to the folded edge.
  • Feed your ribbon through the casing on the top of the dress starting at one side and going around the other side ending where you started. Pull on the ribbon to “gather” the top of the dress.

Step 8

  • Place a stitch through the center of the back of the dress to secure the ribbon in place (it’s always a good idea when making something for a small child to stitch ribbon in place so they can’t pull it out of the casing creating a hazard).
  • Trim the ends of the ribbon and you’re done!
PRINT
Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram

Where to find Pillowcase Dress Sewing Patterns

Free Pattern for a Pillowcase Dress with 3 Tiers

Pillowcase Dress Tutorial (the one featured in the photos on this post) at BERNINA’s WeAllSew Blog,

How to add a Waistband to a Pillowcase Dress

How to Make a Pillowcase Blouse/Top

Learn how to sew a pillow case dress with this Pillowcase Dress Tutorial. Includes full instructions and a chart to help you resize the dress for various ages. The quickest dress you'll ever sew!

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21 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for your beautiful patterns and ideas! I can’t wait to start sewing for my daughters! Quick question – how much material do you suggest for a size 8 dress? I’d really like to try and make a dress for my 8 year old, and am too new to sewing to know how much material to add to the size 5 measurements in your chart. Thanks so much!

  2. Thank you so much for sharing the sizing chart. It is very helpful. I just wanted to ask a quick question for those who may be making these dresses to sell to others at local craft shows or online sites. Do you have a modified pattern that complies with the Federal government neck drawstring safety requirements mandated by the Consumer Products Safety Information Act for infants and childrens clothing? I love these dresses and have made many of them; however, I am hesitant to make more to sell with the drawstring style neckline as CPSIA considers these a choking hazard. Any ideas of help would be greatly appreciated.

    1. My personal suggestion would be to fit the drawstring so the neckline is as you want it in the front and the back and then stitch it in place in several places. I would think with good stitching in several places that should accomplish the purpose. You could also draw the neckline up and stitch it in place when you have the gathers as you want them. Stitch that into place and the CUT IT. Then stitch your shoulder ribbons on separately from the neckline but of course in the appropriate locations.

  3. Thanks so much for making a chart with all of the sizes. We are making these pillowcase dresses at our church to be sent to the Caribbean or some of the other places where the hurricanes hit and devastated the area. We did not have any measurements for little ones – so again, thank you so much. I love to sew and think these dresses are adorable.

  4. Thank you! I love this easy to follow pattern. I have volunteered myself to sew various sizes of this pattern to a children’s choir on an island just off of Haiti – The girls ages are from 10 to 17 years old. Do you have any idea how I can enlarge this pattern? The girls are all on the thin side. Any help would be so much appreciated.

  5. after cutting out the armholes, I take those pieces of fabric, line them and use them as pockets on the dress. No waste and so cute.

  6. I just found this site because I was searching for easy pillowcase dress pattern. I Did It!!! I sewed my first pillowcase dress. I used a old fabric I had laying around for practice. Even made a matching Sailor Bow. I understood why I need a special foot for it. But, I will get that soon. I wish I could share a picture of it. Thank you so much. I am following you. Very easy to read and follow instructions.

  7. Thank you for this pattern and easy-to-follow tutorial! I finished my first pillowcase dress this morning and it will not be my last! I’m a beginner sewer but your instructions were easy to follow. Can’t wait for my daughter to try on her new dress! (and the size chart you provide is invaluable 🙂

  8. I was wondering if you could finish the armholes by turning the curve twice with a scant 1/4″ instead of using bias tape, I am bias tape challenged!

  9. Lovely, easy-to-follow tutorial!
    Would you be so kind as to share this pattern / link / whatever works with the charity Little Dresses for Africa at ittledressesforafrica

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