Projects

Boxy Shift Dress Tutorial

Created By:

Merrick White

Skill Level: Intermediate
"One of my biggest challenges when creating my own clothes is finding fabrics that I love and match my mental vision. I don't know why it hadn't dawned on me to create my own textiles, but when I received my Sprout by HP and started playing around with its capabilities, the idea just came and wouldn't go away. 
My inspiration was the tropical getaway my husband and I are taking at the end of this month, as well as my current favorite color combination -- blue and violet. With the two combined (and the help of some google images of flowers), I drew out this floral pattern using my Sprout. I printed the fabric on spoonflower.com, choosing their modern jersey fabric option, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the result!" 
Janome Supplies Required
  • 2 yards fabric (This dress is made with lightweight knit, but any fabric works as long as it has a good drape)
  • Matching thread

 

Fabric and Notions Required
This dress is made with lightweight knit, but any fabric works as long as it has a good drape.
Instructions

Step 1. Using similar pieces of clothing as a pattern, cut two boxy DRESS pieces, two 3/4 SLEEVES, two CUFFS (measure loosely around your arm an use this for your width measurement, and make it 3 inches wide), and one strip for the NECKLINE LINING (make the width about 4" shorter than your neckline opening and 1" long). 

Step 2. With right sides together, sew the DRESS up at the shoulders. 

Step 3.  With right sides together, pin the top of the SLEEVE and the top of the shoulder together, as shown. Continue down the rest of the arm hole, pinning the sleeve in place. 

 
Step 4. Sew the sleeve to the arm hole with a 1/2" seam allowance. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other sleeve. 
 
Step 5. With right sides together, sew from the elbow to the knee with a 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure your seams match up at the armpit!
 
Step 6. Fold the neckline in half with right sides together, and sew the ends together to make a circle. Make sure this circle is slightly smaller than your dress neckline so it has to be stretched to fit around -- trim if necessary before sewing the ends together.
 
Then, with right sides together, pin the NECKLINE circle the neckline of the dress, making sure the NECKLINE seam is at the back of the dress, and then stretching evenly so it fits around the neckline. Sew with a 1/2" seam allowance around the entire neckline, stretching slightly as you sew so the pieces lay flat. Trim the seam allowance and then tuck the lining inside the dress and press flat. 
 
Step 7. Now let's move to the CUFF. Fold it in half (right sides together) so the short ends are lined up and then sew across the short side with a straight stitch. Once the CUFF has been sewn into a loop, fold it in half, as shown. Repeat for the second CUFF.

Step 8. Now it's time to attach the cuff to the sleeve. Stretch the cuff wide, as shown. Now slide the stretched CUFF over the end of the sleeve, with the folded side facing up, and the raw edge facing down. Pin in place. 
 
Step 9. Sew around the end of the sleeve with a straight stitch, stretching in between pins so the fabrics all lay flat together. Repeat for the second sleeve.

Now lay the cuff down flat and it should bounce back to be smaller, making your sleeve gather and become perfectly puffed.
 
Step 10. Using a wide stitch, top stitch around the neckline to tack the lining in place. Then hem the dress to your desired length.

Click here to see more!

Everyone is Talking about Boxy Shift Dress Tutorial
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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