Wardrobe Basics: Sew Dress No. 3 by Sonya Philip

Beginner | 1 hour

Taught by Sonya Philip

Artist and designer Sonya Philip demystifies the sewing process while teaching you how to make Dress No. 3 from her pattern series "100 Acts of Sewing." This v-neck dress wears like a kaftan and has a long, relaxed fit, perfect for lounging inside or poolside. Sonya walks you through how to trace a pattern and cut out your fabric, then demonstrates how to adjust a sewing pattern to create two different versions of the garment: a shortened length with round neckline, contrast cuffs, and patch pockets, and the addition of a fabric belt and loops with a cute ruffle at the hem. Easy to sew and easy to wear, Dress No. 3 is beginner-friendly and gives you many options to fit your personal style. This pattern includes a size range of Small (32” bust) to 4X (53” bust).

Learn how to:

Sew a long, v-neck dress
Make easy modifications to a sewing pattern
Sew a contrast sleeve cuff
Sew patch pockets
Make a fabric belt and belt loops
Create a ruffled hem
Make and attach bias tape

Chapters

Wardrobe Basics: Sew Dress No. 3
Overview00:54
Materials02:13

Basic dress
Cut pattern and fabric06:34
Sew body seams10:24
Make bias tape and sew to neckline21:55
Finish hems and sleeves04:57

Round neck variation with contrasting cuffs and pockets
Adjust pattern and sew dress04:33
Sew cuffs and pockets16:37

Ruffled hem option
Cut pattern and add belt pieces02:13
Sew and attach ruffle07:49
Sew belt and belt loops09:22
Attach bias tape and hem01:48

Materials

Here’s what you’ll need:

Mid to light weight woven fabric such as cotton lawn, shirting, double gauze:
- Fabric width 45 inches (114 cm):
- XS: 2 5/8 yards (2.4 m);
- S-M: 2 3/4 yards (2.55 m);
- L: 3 yards (2.75 m);
- XL-2X: 3 3/8 yards (3.1 m)
- Fabric width 60 inches (152 cm):
- 3X: 3 3/8 yards (3.1 m);
- 4X: 3 1/2 yards (3.2 m) •
- Additional 1/2 yd (0.5 m) or fat quarter of fabric for bias tape
Matching thread
Tracing paper and pencil
Washi tape
Pattern weights
Tailors chalk
Scissors
Pins
Rotary cutter
Ruler
Sewing gauge
3/4 inch (18 mm) bias tape maker
Iron and ironing surface
Pattern PDF