Aloha Dress

We are extending the summer with a trip to Maui. This dress is a perfect cover up for the beach and sight seeing. It's loose and breezy too! 

Skill Level: Intermediate sewer.

​​Made from sustainable bamboo fabric

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Notions:

• Medium to light weight stretch fabric – I used fabric with 40% four-way stretch
• Thread

 
How to Guide:
 
Get out a pad of paper to keep track of your measurements!

• Front Length: Measure the length from your armpit to knee, plus add another 4 inches.
• Back Length: Measure the length between the back of your shoulder to the back of your knee, plus add another 4 inches.
• Bottom Width: Measure your hips and multiple by 2, plus add 4 inches.
• Front Width: Measure from armpit to armpit, plus add 2 inches.
• Back Width: Measure from shoulder blade to shoulder blade, plus add 4 inches.

 
For more details, please click here for a visual guide.
 
Fold it up

• Lay out your fabric on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Fold in half right sides together.
• Mark your measurements on the fabric for both front and back panels.

 
Cut it out

• Measure and cut out your 2 front panels (or 1 if you used the folded method).
• Measure and cut out your 2 back panels.

​Front together

• If you cut 2 of the front panels, place right side together and pin along the length.
• Sew closed.

​Back together

• Place right side together and starting 6 inches down from the top, pin along the length.
• Sew closed, leaving the 6 inches at the top open.

​Come together

• On a hard, smooth surface, place the back panel right side up and place the front panel right side down on top.
• Line up the bottom edge and sides.
• Starting 12 inches down from the top, pin along the sides.
• Sew closed, leaving the 12 inches at the top open.

Back again

• Turn the dress inside out.
• Place dress on an ironing board with the top of the back laid out.
• Fold the edges of the open edge down along the seam.
• Press flat.
• Pin and sew. 

​Arm holes

• Turn the dress inside out.
• Place dress on an ironing board with the top laid out.

• Fold about ½ inch down along the edge for each arm hole.
• Press flat.
• Pin and sew.
• Repeat for back of arm holes. 

Front Neckline

• Turn the dress inside out.
• Place dress on an ironing board with the top laid out.

• Fold about 2 inches down along the edge of the top.
• Press flat.
• Pin and sew. 

​Back Neckline

• Turn the dress inside out.
• Place dress on an ironing board with the back laid out.

• Fold about 2 inches down along the edge of the top.
• Press flat.
• Pin and sew. 

Braid it

• Cut 3 pieces of fabric about 30” x 2”.
• Pin 3 pieces together at the top.
• Braid together and secure with pin. 

Put it together

• Guide the braid through the openings along the top.
• Pin ends together. 

Check it! Put the dress on and check to see if the braid needs to be pulled tighter or loosened.
 
Sew closed

• Sew the ends of the braid and then sew together. 

Hem or no hem

• I left my dress unhemmed because the fabric does not fray and it has a nice drape, but for a more finished look, hem the bottom edge.

 
Throw your dress over a bathingsuit and hang out on the Lanai