Dressy

FOURTH OF JULY RUCHED MATERNITY DRESS TUTORIAL

DRESS: MADE BY ME (TUTORIAL BELOW, PATTERN FROM THIS DRESS) SIMILAR DRESSES HERE AND HERE | BAG: SIMILAR | SHOES: SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE AND HERE (BOTH ON SALE! | PHONE CASE: SONIX | SUNGLASSES: RENTED FROM DITTO (USE CODE ‘ELLEAPPAREL‘ TO GET YOUR FIRST RENTAL FREE!) | LONG NECKLACE, SHORT NECKLACE, BRACELET, BANGLE
I have been living in dresses lately, and all of my dresses with ruched sides are my very favorite to wear (like this dress and this dress). If you follow me on instagram, you can see how much I wear them! They fit comfortably over my bump and are the most flattering kind of dresses in the third trimester. Shift dresses just tend to make me look huge at this point, and don’t give very much definition to the curves of my body. Ruched dresses show off those curves, but don’t drown you in fabric, making you look like a walking tent. 
I created a pattern from this ruched maternity dress, because I can’t stop wearing it. I just so happened to have some navy and red fabric that I picked up in the fabric district a few weeks ago, and knew it would be perfect for the 4th of July! I found this dress online that is super similar to the dress that I made. I picked out some gold loafers to pair it with since I know I will be walking around a lot and wanted to keep comfy. Plus…the are gold loafers. How could I pass that up?! I will definitely be making more of these to last me the rest of this pregnancy. 
Another good thing about ruched dresses, is that they are flattering whether you are pregnant or not! So I plan on wearing mine after the baby too. (see the tutorial at the bottom of this post)
Similar dresses and the rest of my outfit details here:

Come make one! I’ve included all the instructions for making this dress in the link below…  

Materials:

  • 2 yards of knit fabric
  • 28″ of thin elastic (1/4″ works best)
  • Wonder Tape for the neckline (not necessary but makes things so much easier!
  • matching thread

Using an existing fitted dress as a pattern template, lay it on pattern paper or your fabric and trace and cut around each section to create your pattern pieces. For the length of the dress, you will want to make it pretty long. Mine went to my mid-calf before I added the elastic. Make sure you include a 1/2″ for seam allowance, and make the sleeves and dress length 1″ longer for the hem. Cutting out your pattern pieces on the fold will give you nice symmetrical pattern pieces.


Step 1:
With right sides together, stitch up the top shoulder seams.

Step 2:
Open up your two dress pieces and lay one of your sleeve pieces like the picture in step 2. Match up the center curve of the top of the sleeve with the shoulder seam and pin. Then pin evenly down either side and sew with 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat with second sleeve.


Step 3:
With your dress inside out, stitch up the sides of your dress from the bottom of your sleeves all the way down with 1/2″ seam allowance. Serge down the sides if you would like.


Step 4:
Cut your strip of elastic in half so that you have 2 pieces that measure about 14″ long. Mark on the sides of your dress 4″ down from your armpit and about 8″ up from the bottom of your dress (do this to both sides). Stretch the elastic as tight as it will go and pin it to your seam allowance at the top, bottom, and evenly down the side. It will bunch up when you let go. Stitch it to your seam allowance with a straight stitch, stretching the fabric and elastic as you sew. Once it is stitched in place, your fabric will scrunch up and create the ruching effect.


Step 5:
If you cut out a neckline lining, attach it to your neckline with r.s. together, and stitch around with a wide straight stitch. Flip your neckline lining inside your dress, and topstitch around your neckline to secure in place.

If you have Wonder Tape , now is the time to use it! I just discovered this tape for finishing necklines and I was so amazing and easy to work with! Simply attach the stick tape all around your neckline along the edge, stretching the tape a bit as your go to keep the neckline from becoming lose. Fold under 1/4″ twice and pin around your neckline. Your fabric will stick to the tape and make it easy to fold under twice. Top stitch around your neckline securing the folded fabric. This tape won’t gum up your needle as you sew, and will disappear after your wash it.

Hem your sleeves and bottom of your dress with 1″ seam allowance.

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