• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Polka Dot Chair logo

  • SEWING
    • Free Sewing Patterns
    • Bag Patterns
    • Costumes
    • Apparel
    • Learn to Sew
    • Beginner Friendly
    • Embroidery Projects
    • Tips & Techniques
    • All Sewing
  • QUILTING
    • Quilt Blocks
    • Learn to Quilt
    • Free Patterns
    • Quilt Patterns
    • All Quilting
  • CRAFTS
    • Disney
    • Cricut
    • Printables
    • All Crafts
  • HOLIDAYS
    • Seasonal Projects
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • All Holidays
  • TUTORIALS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • My Fabric Collections
    • Published Books
    • Press
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • SHOP
menu icon
go to homepage
  • SHOP
  • TUTORIALS
  • SEWING
  • QUILTING
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CRAFTS
  • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
  • ABOUT
    • Published Books
    • My Fabric Collections
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • SHOP
    • TUTORIALS
    • SEWING
    • QUILTING
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CRAFTS
    • HOLIDAY PROJECTS
    • ABOUT
      • Published Books
      • My Fabric Collections
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Sewing

    How to Add a Waistband to a Pillowcase Dress

    Updated: Jul 27, 2021 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 11 Comments

    Use this simple modification to a pillowcase dress pattern to create an adorable girls’ dress.

    dress on dress form in front of wood wall

    Sewing with Sheets (Vintage & New)

    The tutorial to make this will be at the end of this post, but I wanted to share the reason for this little sundress with you.

    green and white fabric folded on table

    Even before I started this blog, one of my favorite things to sew with was sheets. I know that many sew with wonderful found vintage sheets, but I’ve always sewn with new ones.

    Sheets are a wonderful way to get LOTS of fabric for a reasonable price.  Do you remember when PBK had Liberty of London sheets??? I saw those in the catalog and knew that I would buy them; the trick was being patient enough for them to go on sale.  

    Good Liberty prints are upwards of $20 a yard at the fabric store.  These sheets (actually, this is a twin duvet cover) yielded me the equivalent of 5 yards of 60″ wide fabric. That’s probably over $100 worth if you pay retail. I can’t remember what I bought the duvet cover for, but it is nowhere near $100.

    For example, this duvet cover is on clearance for $9.99. You can get 5 yards of fabric out of it!!! It would be the perfect print to make a girl’s skirt or dress or add an accent to a pillow.

    Traci of Amazing Mae is a good friend of mine and has many ideas on her blog for sewing with sheets. She always amazes me with her creativity and the things that she thinks to sew with.  She uses both vintage sheets and new ones.

    These Road Trip Pillowcases are a favorite project of mine. You can get the info here.

    She also makes pj’s out of sheets.  Wash them a few times, and they get super soft and comfy.

    Another project that I saw online recently was this beautiful display by Amy of Diary of Quilter.

    She used vintage sheets that she had been collecting for the display. You can read more about it here.

    Now that I have hopefully convinced you to start hunting for sheets. I thought I’d share with you a quick tutorial, a modification of the classic Pillowcase Dress…

    So is it funny that I made a pillowcase dress out of a duvet cover and not a pillowcase??

    Pillowcase Dress Variations

    green fabric on floral fabric on white table

    I thought the standard pillowcase dress needed was a waist; as my daughter is getting older, I think she wants a bit more shape to her clothes.

    I’ve been making pillowcase dresses on my blog this year, trying to find different variations to the same basic simple pattern.

    To make this dress, you need to make a pillowcase dress. You can use our tutorial if you don’t have a favorite pattern already.

    The measurements for my dress were 37″ wide by 38″ long with a 1″ x 6″ cut out for the arms. I also used ribbon for the neckties, not elastic, and used bias tape to fill the holes. The band on the bottom is made from a 4″ wide piece of fabric. It’s essentially the same construction process I used for the Pillowcase Shirt tutorial that you can find here.

    What Fabric to Use

    This project, I think, works best out of lightweight cotton. (quilting weight would be fine, just not heavier than that)… Something like a sheet washed several times or a voile fabric (it would be great out of the Anna Maria Horner Voiles or Velveteen’s). This particular sheet set is Liberty of London, which is similar in weight to a voile fabric.

    Supplies

    • 2 yards ribbon (for the neck ties)
    • 2″ strip of fabric long enough to go all the way around your dress. (this will hold the elastic waist). If you are not sure, cut 2 strips 2″ wide from 44″ fabric.
    • ½″ wide elastic
    green fabric strip on white table

    Instructions

    After you have sewn your pillowcase dress. Take your 2″ wide piece of fabric and press it under ¼″ on each long edge. In addition to the pillowcase dress fabric, you will need:

    green fabric on floral fabric on white table

    Measure down ⅓″ the length of your dress. For example, if your dress is 30″ from neck to hem, it measures 10″.

    Place pins 10″ down and several spots to make sure your fabric strip is placed on straight.

    green fabric on floral fabric on white table

    After you have pinned it in place, leaving about 1″ overlap at each end (you are wrapping your 2″ wide piece of fabric all the way around the dress like you would a belt).  Leave the opening in the side seam.

    Stitch in place close to both edges of your fabric strip. You are making a casing for your elastic.

    Cut your elastic to the correct length (measure your child’s waist, then cut the elastic the same size).

    Feed the elastic through.  Stitch ends of elastic together.

    green fabric on floral fabric on white table

    To close the opening. Layover, the top of elastic and stitch, closed where pins are. Fold under the raw edge of the fabric ½″.

    To finish up, thread ribbon through the neck and hem the dress!

    More Sewing

    • Fabric Doll & Mini Quilt
    • Tuesday Tutorial, Patchwork Skirt
    • Chalkboard Placemat Tutorial
    • Simple Fat Quarter Tote Bag Tutorial

    • Share
    • Email

    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angela Yosten says

      January 27, 2011 at 7:34 pm

      very cute!

      Reply
    2. Rach says

      January 27, 2011 at 8:30 pm

      I love the idea of using sheets. I’m not sure why I haven’t thought of that.

      Reply
    3. Carinne says

      January 27, 2011 at 8:41 pm

      Here in Utah, Downeast carries discounted Pottery Barn sheets, bedding, decor, etc. They have an outlet in West Valley, UT, which carries damaged or monogrammed items from Pottery Barn. Great when you are using it for sewing! I once went to a blow out sale there and bought all the sheets I could fit into a black garbage bag for only $30.

      Reply
    4. Louley's Belles says

      January 28, 2011 at 8:08 am

      The Dress is Precious! I love the road trip pillow cases!

      Reply
    5. C. Jaeger says

      January 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm

      Is there some tool that would make turning over and pressing 1/4″ edges more enjoyable? I am getting ready to do a lot of this for an apron that I want to make and thought I might ask.
      Thanks!

      Reply
    6. Danielle @ Savvy Chic Home says

      January 29, 2011 at 5:30 pm

      You’re awesome, Thanks for the link!!

      Reply
    7. greensbeansandoutdoorliving says

      January 29, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Although all of the ideas were great, I am so in love with the dress on the first photo. The colors and the design are matching great. Perfect for an easter brunch.

      Reply
    8. Beth Eaton says

      January 30, 2011 at 2:10 am

      Very, very cute! You shoudl check oout my fabric swap. http://thepatchworkchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabric-swap.html

      Reply
    9. deemcd says

      February 20, 2011 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks for the heads up on PBK for bedding discounts. I hopped over there and the creative juices started flowing. Love your ideas.
      Deanna in sunny AZ.

      Reply
    10. LeighAnn says

      December 30, 2011 at 11:04 am

      Great job! Perfect for older girls!

      Reply
    11. nox_lumen says

      June 03, 2014 at 11:48 pm

      I just made one for my niece, sight unseen since Christmas. It turns out that I over estimated the dress width a bit and it was down to her knees rather than the planed tunic shirt. There were matching short bloomers prepped up to compensate for the assumed short hem, but those came out more Victorian at knee length.

      It’s a lucky thing that the whole works was gathered because she she now has a set bordering on Gothic Lolita summer wear. Since she was “a bit goth”(her words) anyway, there is a very happy 8 year old running around in purple flounce with powered blue trim.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! It’s nice to meet you.

    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

    COPYRIGHT POLICY

    All my images and text are copyrighted. You may NOT use any images from this site in any kind of Video (this includes YouTube). If you would like to feature my work, you may use ONE (1) NON-COLLAGED image and must “follow” link back to my original blog post. You may NOT edit, crop, or change my images in any way without written permission. You MAY NOT print out or copy and distribute any text, images or patterns from this site. All patterns, content, instructions, and templates are for personal use ONLY! Thank you! Violators will be reported.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimers
    • About Melissa

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Press
    • Published Books
    • Fabric Collections

    Welcome to the Polka Dot Chair! Here you’ll find easy, step-by-step, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects. We design projects for Makers of all skill levels. Beginners are welcome!

    DISCLAIMER:

    While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content on this website, the information is made available without warranty of any kind. The Polka Dot Chair accepts no responsibility or liability, whether direct or indirect, as to the currency or accuracy of the information, nor any consequence of its uses. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional.

    Copyright © 2020 Polka Dot Chair

    [ Placeholder content for popup link ] WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin