Tiered Spring Mini Dress – A Two Hour Project

The Tiered Spring Mini Dress, named “Camila”, is the project for this week. It can be made in only two hours and is of a very popular style from the late '60s and early '70s. It's best worn with cowboy boots or something like that.

This minidress has no buttons or zippers and if you use a fabric with print you will not need to use lining so it is SUPER easy to make.

It has a tie at the back as a closer.

Elastic at the sleeves for easy hemming.

And puff sleeves for a romantic and chic look.

Materials

• 2 yards of 54″ Crepe, rayon, or silk (See recommendations below.)
• thread to match
• 1 yard of 3/8″ elastic
• 1 1/2″ yards of 1″ bias tape (Learn how to make your own HERE.)

Tools

• sewing machine or hand needle
• rotary cutter

Fabric Recommendations from Fabric.com

Sewing Level: Beginner

This is the perfect first dress project, where you will have the opportunity to gather fabric, hem, and attach an elastic. All the extra tutorials and the instructions before you cut the fabric.

How To Print And Download The Tiered Spring Mini Dress Pattern

Please use Adobe Reader, print in Landscape Mode and do not scale.

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Pattern Layout

Sizes

This dress is a loose-fitting garment, the following are the finished measurements per size.   Please Allow 4 to 6 inches at the bust for ease.

	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Length	30	31	32	33	34
Bust	38 1/2	42	45 1/2	49 1/2	53 1/2

Cutting Measurements For The Skirt

The following cutting diagram has the seam allowance included of 5/8″.

Measurements are given in inches. If you need to convert them here is a great resource.  https://www.inches-to-cm.com/

	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Tier 1	60″	64″	68″	72″	76″
Length	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″

	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Tier 2	78″	82″	86″	90″	92″
Length	7 1/2″	7 1/2″	7 1/2″	7 1/2″	7 1/2″

	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Tier 3	96″	100″	104″	108″	112″
Length	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″	5 1/2″

Sewing Instructions

The seam allowance is not included in the pattern. I suggest a 5/8″ as a seam allowance.

You will need the following instructions to finish this dress. Click on the list one by one so the instructions open in another window.

Turn Under Seam Finish Technique

Make Continuous Bias Tape

Quick and easy way to gather

Proper way to gather fabric

Step One: Sewing the top of the dress

We will work on the back of the top first.

Sew the back of the top starting from the bottom stopping 3 1/2″ from the neckline.

Iron the seam allowance open. Use the turn under technique to finish the seam.

Sew the front and back at the shoulders. Serge the seam allowance, reducing to 3/8″.

Sew the sides and serge or use the turn under technique to finish the seam allowance.

Step Two: Attaching the sleeves

This dress has puff sleeves, the sleeves and the fluid fabric tend to help accommodate a larger arm width in an elegant way.

Fold the sleeve and mark the centre of the sleeve at the top of the cap (black mark on the picture below).

1. Pin the sleeve wrong side of the fabric out or print side in, sew the sleeves along the arm. Serge or use the turn understitching technique.
2. Serge or zigzag the hem of the sleeve.
3. Gather the sleeve cap, and pin the sleeve to the top.

Measure your forearm and add 1″ to the amount. Cut a strip of elastic with the measurement you have acquired make a band and insert a band on the sleeves. Turn the hem 1/2″ and sew.

Gather the cap of the sleeves. Use the proper way to gather fabric.

Pin the sleeve to the top, matching the cap center to the shoulder seam and the seam of the sleeve to the side seam of the top.

Step Three: Making the skirt

There are two techniques to gather fabric, it will depend on your time and your skill level. I will always recommend making ruffles the proper way to achieve a look of higher quality clothing. Ruffles are the key in this tiered spring mini dress so I suggest taking your time.

Please use this article to guide you on how.

How to Gather Fabric and Add Ruffles Properly

Instructions For Making The Ruffles For This Tiered Spring Mini Dress Depending on Size

Cut the fabric according to the sizes given above, use the french seam to attach the fabric to achieve the length required. Sew tier one to the top and then attach tier 2 to the dress and finally the third tier.

Step Four: Finishing the neckline

Cut a bias tape 1 1/2″ wide by (S 50″), (M 52″), (L 54″), (XL 56), (2XL58)in length.

Print sides together, attach the center of the bias tape to the center front of the blouse, and pin all around the neckline. Sew at 5/8″. Fold the tape in half, and using the stitch on the ditch or topstitching technique, make the neckline. This way gives the tiered spring mini dress a very easy and attractive neckline.

That's All

After making this dress, I will say that this looks like a perfect dress for a woman who just wants an attractive, relaxing dress the move around in. It would also even work for someone who is expecting a child.

I think some fun stockings or sandals would make a nice pairing, but my favorite accessory would have to be a pair of cool-looking cowboy boots.

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Is the tiered spring mini dress too short? Could you wear it as a top?

Until next week when I'll be showing you an exciting modern corset top. Happy Sewing!

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