If you love sewing, or want to start learning to sew, these five dress patterns for girls are perfect for beginners and experienced sewers alike. Find my tips below for making these beautiful projects.
There’s something about using your hands to create something that makes it feel more special and sentimental.
And while I used to make my girls many of their dresses when they were little, I don’t really get to do it as much as I would like nowadays.
The dress patterns in this collection that I’m going to show you today are pretty simple.
You just need some basic sewing experience. If you are totally new to sewing, make sure to check out my Simple Sewing Series. It will walk you through all the skills you need to make these projects.
Tips For Making Girl Dresses
- Start by picking out coordinating fabrics. Back when my girls were little, I loved coordinating their dresses. I would pick out a handful of patterns and mix them up to make similar dresses that were coordinating but not perfectly matching.
- Add embellishments like flowers, buttons, or bows.
- Have fun with it and don’t get hung up on perfection, especially when you are starting out. Start with basic projects, and then work your way up to more challenging ones.
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My Favorite Sewing Tools
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- The Best Nursing Cover Tutorial
5 Easy Dress Patterns For Girls
Peasant Dress
The peasant dress pattern is one of my favorite dresses, simply because it is so easy and can be changed based on the seasons, style, etc. Make it longer with a ruffle, add long sleeves or short sleeves, and finish it off with some pretty embellishments.
There are so many ways to make it, and I include the measurements for sizes 12 months to girls size 10/12.
Easy Dress Patterns With Bow
Perfect for a summer or Easter dress, this strapped dress pattern includes a fun bow in the back and an adorable apron in the front.
I love mixing the patterns and colors in dresses like this, and adding the simple extra touches like the polka dot apron with a floral stripe.
Toddler Girl Dress Pattern
This is the most recent project I’ve completed, and I’m totally in love. The little puffs on the sleeves, the lace, the buttons, and a mix of colors and patterns that go together perfectly … what’s not to love?
It’s a different take on the peasant dress, and seriously, the cutest on little girls toddling around.
Shirred Dress
Now while I did make this as a women’s summer shirred dress, you can definitely make this for a little girl. The process is exactly the same. Refer to the tutorial for the process and the measurements below for approximate kids’ sizing. The measurements are very forgiving, so you can easily increase for older girls or decrease for a tiny baby size. That’s the beauty of stretchy elastic! I have made this dress anywhere from knee length to ankle length for my daughter. The options are endless!
The process of shirring is when you use elastic thread to bunch together some fabric to create a super easy waistband or bodice. This type of dress allows a lot of wiggle room, which is perfect if you are new to sewing.
In the case of this shirred dress I made for my daughter Ruthie eight years ago (oh so tiny!) I put the shirring only on the back, so the front would still be flat:
And here is my sweet Ruthie in a shirred dress that I made well before I had any photography skills:
They are such easy summer dresses!
Size 12-18 months
Cut 2 (for the main dress) – 21″ long by 18″ wide
Cut 2 (for the ruffle) – 4″ long 27″ wide
Cut 2 (for the strap) – 10″ long by 3″ wide
Cut 1 (for the tie) – 47″ long by 3.5″ wide
Size 2T
Cut 2 (for the main dress) – 22.5″ long by 18″ wide
Cut 2 (for the ruffle) – 5″ long 27″ wide
Cut 2 (for the strap) – 10″ long by 3″ wide
Cut 1 (for the tie) – 50″ long by 3.5″ wide
Size 3T
Cut 2 (for the main dress) – 24″ long by 18″ wide
Cut 2 (for the ruffle) – 6″ long 27″ wide
Cut 2 (for the strap) – 10″ long by 3″ wide
Cut 1 (for the tie) – 53″ long by 3.5″ wide
The Simple T-Shirt Dress
If making a dress is a little intimidating, then this T-shirt dress from Lil’ Luna is the perfect beginners project. This sewing project utilizes a new or used shirt (this is a great way to upcycle an old shirt) and the only sewing is the simple skirt.
A simple ruffle, a hem, and a seam. That’s it. If you are just starting out sewing, you should take my Simple Sewing Free Course, but also after watching those three tutorials (and following the directions on the post), you could make this dress.
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Love these patterns!!!! I’ve tried the first three and my favorite are the peasant dress and summer dress with bow. I I love all of your your sewing patterns and tutorials, when ever I want to sew something I go to your channel! Thx for sharing!😊
I love the dress pattern! Those pleats make it so flattering! As an avid sewist, I totally agree! Starting small with simple, non-stretch fabrics gets your “feet wet” and makes the entire process so much easier. My first project was a baby blanket for my oldest, and years later, I made my own princess-style wedding dress.
As one who’s been sewing for 60+ years, I find it delightful to see so many younger women coming back to such a useful art. In my day, EVERYONE sewed; my grandmother, my mother, and of course me, initially under their tutelage. It was still taught in high school even, but no more, I think. And for many years (particularly the mid to later years of the women’s movement period), women began looking more at independence and careers. I’m not anti-career; I did that too, but never stopped sewing. It took me six months, but I made my daughter’s wedding gown on an old Kenmore zig-zag machine that I’d had since my teenage years.
I’m thrilled that women now have more choices. Whether her choice is a career or homemaking – it doesn’t matter. They are both worthwhile. I know some women would love to stay home and raise children but it’s not financially feasible. You and your husband worked out a way to make it happen; others can’t, and I feel for them. But at least now there is the choice. I had a long career in the technology industry myself and during that time saw how useful and enjoyable domestic skills became frowned upon in some arenas. I’m not talking about cleaning and ironing mind you!! I don’t love either one. But the creativity and usefulness of knitting, crocheting, sewing, tatting, etc, are fun and rewarding. However, in this new century, there appears to be a groundswell of women (and men!) who are learning to love sewing, quilting and more. Perhaps it’s considered more artisanal now than useful, but the result is the same. Something beautiful and/or useful is created. And as you have so capably demonstrated, the ability to use a sewing machine can help a person make just about anything from diapers, to dresses, blankets, slipcovers and more! It’s creative, fulfilling and can save money. One of my favorite places to find fabric is a thrift or Goodwill store. They usually have loads of linens, and even clothing, that can be ripped apart and made into something else.
When I was younger, I loved my career and having the skills to be successful in it. But now in retirement, I find I’m enjoying my ‘new’ domesticity – I still hate cleaning, ironing and often cooking (after doing it for 45 years) but sewing is another story – it’s just plain fun!
I admire what you do and your lovely family. You are a wonderful example to many that life doesn’t require a new car every 2-3 years, the most “perfect” house in the neighborhood, although yours is gorgeous in my eyes, and an extensive (and expensive!) wardrobe. I love technology but there’s a limit – yep, I really said that! It’s just a tool to be matched to one’s needs and now mine are blessedly simple.
I think you’re doing a FABULOUS job. Raising a family is a job and a career both. You and your husband are to be congratulated. God bless you and yours always.
p.s. About gathering, you may or may not know this but there is an inexpensive little gathering foot you can buy for your Brother machine. It allows you to gather your fabric and attach it to a skirt (or whatever) at the same time. Works like a charm! Try Amazon, you’ll probably find one easily.