Bandana Dress

Can I just mention once again how much I love sewing - especially if the project is simple, quick (this took 30 minutes AT MOST) and turns out adorable?! Even the most inexperienced sewer can do this. No, really.

What's even better is that there's no hemming, no cutting - all you need is:

2 bandanas

elastic (non-roll is best)

bias tape in coordinating color

Here's a tutorial so you can make one for the little person in your life :)

Lay 2 bandanas down, right sides together. Mine weren't exactly the same size, so I just made sure my bottom seam was lined up. The "top" will be the edge with the printing/writing along the edge. If your bandanas don't have any, then you can make any side the top!

Line up the bottom as best as you can, then pin up both sides. It's ok if they aren't perfect or even, unfortunately, not all bandanas are the same size. Mine was a little off on the sides (see photo below).

Sew up both right & left sides, backstitching at beginning and end.

While keeping right sides together, fold the top edge (see the writing I was talking about?) over about an inch (more if your elastic is wider). Pin in place.

Sew as close to the bottom as possible, you could even follow the seam already on the bandana.

Leave about a 2-3 inch gap at the end to insert elastic.

Cut your elastic a couple of inches smaller than the chest measurement. Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic and guide it through the top of the dress through the 2-3 inch gap. Make sure to hold on to the non-pinned end so you don't lose it inside the dress.

When elastic is all the way through, pin edges together (this step is easier with bigger elastic, but not impossible with the smaller size) and sew a box with an "x", or if your elastic is small like mine, I just zig-zagged back & forth a few times. It obviously doesn't have to be pretty, just make sure it stays together.

This is how the dress should look so far. This could also be a cute skirt!

Next, I cut 2 strips of bias tape about 3 inches long. You can iron them flat if you'd like.

*You could also cut one big piece about 6 inches long, follow the next step, then cut in half.

Sew along both folded edges to keep them down. I had kind of a hard time since they were so small, but taking it slow helped a lot. Do this to both strips.

Lay dress out and eyeball about 3 inches in from side seams. Fold strips in half and pin so they match up with bottom edge of top fold. These will be the loops for the back of the dress.

Sew strip as close to the same place as your seam. (Just makes it look a little nicer on the outside of the dress, in my opinion.) Go back & forth across the seam a few times (I'm a little paranoid, can you tell?) and then I did another line of stitching along the top, just to make sure the loops are a little more stable.

To make the straps, I cut 2 pieces of at least 24 inches of bias tape. I kept it folded and then sewed as close to the edge as possible. Flip dress over and line up your straps the same way you did the back loops. Sew the same way, lining up with the seam and sewing again along the top. My stitches aren't perfect, so don't judge. They do the job, though, so that's all that really matters.

Tie ends of straps into a knot so they won't come undone in the wash.

...and that's IT!!

Just pull the straps through the loops and tie in a bow!

She loves to pose... if you can't tell. Too funny.
Why, yes, she IS wearing the Folded Flower felt hair clip! ;)

So cute!! When we first put it on to play outside, she wouldn't stop dancing & twirling to even put shoes on.
I take it she kind of likes it :)