Here’s how you can make your very own sheer maxi dress like this one:
1. Measure from the top of your shoulder to your ankle, this will determine the length of your dress; let’s call it, “LD”. Measure from your shoulder to your hips, this will determine where the side slits in your dress will start, let’s call it, “SS”.
2. Take your fabric (1.5 – 2 yards) and fold it vertically (hot dog style!) twice, and then keep it in place with pins, like this:
3. Take your tank top and fold it in half vertically. Place your folded top onto your sheer fabric and trace it. Be sure to elongate the lines of the pattern in accordance with the “LD” measurement. Leave a mark for the start of the “SS”, and remember to add a ½ seam allowance. Like so:
4. Cut out the pattern. You should be left with two pieces:
5. Pin the front and the back pieces of the dress together stopping at the “SS” mark, and sew. Hem the side slits (left and right slits on the front of the dress, and the left and right slits on the back). *To hem the side slits fold the outer edge of the fabric a 1/2 inch inward (so that it meets the seam allowance line), and then sew.
6. Hem the armholes. For help with hemming follow Step 5 *instructions.
7a. Hem the neckline in the front and the back of the dress by following Step 5 *instructions:
8. Fold an additional piece of fabric in half horizontally (hamburger style!), pin it to the neckline on the front of the dress, and sew it. Repeat this step for the neckline on the back of the dress. *I decided to do this for the back of my dress and NOT for the neckline on the front of my dress.
9. Connect and pin the armholes, then sew.
10. Here’s how my dress came out:
LovemeyeArt 