make the perfect dress in 3 hours [SEWING TUTORIAL]

Here is the link to the sewing pattern for this dress:
SIZES UK 4, 6, 8, 10:

SIZES UK 12, 14, 16, 18, 20:

The graduation dress has a sweet heart neckline and is designed to be fitted on the bust and waist, while looser from the hips downwards. The skirt of the midi dress is bell shaped, which gives the dress a nice drape without needing to be bias cut (thus saving fabric and money).
This pattern consists of only two panels (no darts or closures) which makes it the perfect DIY sewing project for beginners!

Seam finishes if you don't have a serger:

Bias tape I used in this video:

SOCIALS

"Time Flies (Extended Mix)"
Music by KaizanBlu

[esthervandermeer]

This is so beginner friendly, it has all the needed notes. I love it.

[lauram]

As a beginner, here’s some things I’m glad I did.

First, I took extra fabric and extra bias tape and practiced sewing them together. I think practicing on scrap fabric first was super helpful.

In addition to this, I also sewed the bias tape around the bottom of the dress before doing the top.
The tutorial does the top first, but I’m glad I did the bottom first bc I got extra practice before moving on to the top.
The top is curvier and more difficult. It’s also more noticeable if you make mistakes at the top than at the bottom.
So I’d rather practice and get comfortable sewing with the bottom of the dress.
Then I did the top and straps last.

Anyway, this was helpful to me so I thought I’d share :) the tutorial is great though and super helpful!

[Olivina]

This is the first sewing video I’ve ever watched that isn’t ultra intimidating. You genuinely make me excited to try and make this, and because of your extremely easy to follow teaching, I’m truly hopeful to pick up this hobby and finally use my sewing machine that’s been collecting dust for years.

[erin]

This is such a classic silhouette! I’m seriously considering making like 10 of these and just having a cartoon character closet full of the same outfit.

[helloworld]

This is my first ever time sewing. Here’s some things I learned from this
1. The thread you use matters. Like a lot. Don’t buy sewology. I have learned the hard way lol.
2. It’s ok if it’s not perfect. Don’t stress out.
3. Look at the manual to know how to thread the machine.
My dress has some loose seems and uneven lines but it looks good as long as you don’t look too close. Hope more people try this out!

[micah]

These dresses have the prettiest silhouettes and the neckline is everything 😩🥰

[AlexDahlberry]

just finished this dress!! first one i'd ever made! instructions were sooo easy, took me around three afternoons (including figuring out the sewing machine for the first time). I wish I had realized that bias tape quality matters, mine made the dress look so much cheaper and like a dress-up costume, be warned! you want to buy something nice, like she does here. otherwise so great.

[Daphnia]

I absolutely love your designs, this dress is sooo beautiful

[lellan]

I’ve never even thought about sewing before but I’m looking for new hobbies and this was super inspiring! The dress is gorgeous 🥰

[ncfkvrq]

If your algorithm has randomly shown you this video and you are scrolling through the comments, looking for people who have tried to make the dress: I did make the dress. A short version and a long one and I had so much fun doing it. I am an absolute beginner, so I get easily intimidated by complex instructions. But this video is so detailed and explains every step so beginner friendly that I had to give it a try.
What I learned during the process:
- fabric is actually more expensive than I thought
- the quality of the bias tape matters a lot (it can end up looking a bit cheap if you choose the wrong one)
- sewing makes lots of fun and wearing something you actually made from scratch is pretty nice

so if you are still not sure whether you should try it out or not: just do it, give it shot. I am really grateful that I have stumbled upon this video and I will continue to sew from now on :)

[stampmypassport]

Thank you for the tip on the zigzag vs straight stitch on stretchy material.

[aliceesperanza]

Everybody talking about beginner friendly, but LOOK AT HER! SHE'S STUNNING !?!?!!!! <3

[Tttt]

As a skinny girl (in a country where curvy women are praised and I was bullied for not being like so) I never had the confidence to wear bodycon type of dresses… Last time I did it my cousin said “no offense, but this is made for girls with actual 🍑”! I loved how this dress fitted you, so (even though I’m slightlyyy more flat) I think I’m gonna give it a try! Tysm for such a video ❤

[numivis]

Wow this video is the best sewing tutorial I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much. I’ve been sewing home things/ oven gloves/bags etc for a while but always was too intimidated to try making clothing. I love that this video really shows every step, including making the pattern. Will definitely try it out!

[hyperboliccosmo]

Just finished making this dress. It is *beautiful*. I haven't sewn in a while and this was the perfect project to get back in to it. This tutorial and the pdf sewing pattern are so well made and wonderfully simple to follow. It took me a few hours over two days from start to finish, which is really great for my standards haha (~6 hours total). I went for the classic black fabric and white binding, and I'm now going to try to make a top from the same pattern and leftover fabric. Would be keen to try it in different colours and a shorter length (the original midi length is perfect, but may as well try it out because the fit is just soooo good). My partner is super impressed with how classy it looks and says it makes him want to take me out to a nice dinner XD Thank you Mai! Absolute queen

[DIYFashionRebel]

This dress is absolutely gorgeous! And I LOVE that a beginner sewing pattern can also look so incredible. I feel like so many beginner patterns are super boxy and unflattering.

[antyandy]

This neckline in a shoulderless shirt would look so dark feminine and beautiful, plus it's a mesmerizing basic.
10000/10
So many outfits, and the piece itself it's gorgeous ✨

[glomamaglo]

I’m making a dress with bias binding in all the same places. Amazing how a video with all the tips I needed magically appeared in my feed! Beautiful dress, and thank you ❤

[vanessaalcapulco]

I can't get over how beginner friendly you made this, I felt very confident handling this as my first sewing project compared to other "simpler" patterns, you made me look so good successfully tackling and acing something so elegant

[Ignoranymoose]

That's a beautiful cut and really stands out with the bias tape enforcing the curved lines.
However, I would attach the bias tape in two steps. First stitching the short edge onto the fabric and then folding closed and stitching on the fashion fabric carefully on the right side just underneath where the tape attaches to the fabric. This way you won't have that visible seam on the tape itself. The seam will be running almost invisible right underneath the edge of the tape. Looks cleaner, but takes a bit longer to do.