Purple Rose Party Dress Tutorial

 The Purple Rose Party Dress free pattern and tutorial is here !

I really enjoy creating/designing/sewing little girl party dresses like the Jingle Bell Dress & the Bow Dress. The Purple Rose Party Dress is another fun one. This gorgeous eye catching fabric is in a vibrant purple color with lots of texture. It is a sleeveless drop waist dress with a circle skirt. The sash which is attached at the sides of the bodice ties in the front. Bias tape is used for the hem of the circle skirt as well as the trim on the 2 arm holes & neckline. It has a v-neck back with an invisible zipper and hook & eye closure. It is just as pretty in the inside with French seams on the bodice pieces & bias tape on the bodice/skirt seam.

I designed this to fit my 4 year old daughter who is tall and slender, the finished measurements are: chest 24", waist 24", shoulder to bottom hem 24".

Fabric & Notions Requirements

:: 1 yard rows of rosettes fabric (width 52”)

:: 5” matching satin fabric (width 54”)

:: 4+ yards matching/coordinating bias tape

:: 7-9” invisible zipper

:: 1 hook & eye closure

 Pattern Pieces

Terms and conditions: when you agree to these terms, a non-transferable license to the pattern is granted to you to copy and print the pattern for your personal use and purposes. You may not redistribute the pattern. If you find it useful and would like to share with others, please direct them here so they can get their own copy. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me via email. I would be glad to consider broader usage allowances, but simply ask first.

By clicking on this link and downloading the Purple Rose Party Dress pattern pieces, you agree to the terms and conditions specified above. Yes, I agree.

 Step-By-Step Instructions

:: Print out the pattern pieces. Be sure to add 6 inches to the bottom of the bodices pieces, so that the side seams measure a total of 9 inches. The rows of rosettes fabric is quite thick, therefore difficult to cut when folded, so I recommend printing 2 copies of the front bodice & taping it together. I also recommend using a straight edge & rotary cutter to cut out the parts of the patterns that have straight lines.

:: From the 1 yard of rows of rosettes fabric cut out the pattern pieces on the back of the fabric: 1 front bodice, 2 back bodice pieces & 1 circle skirt. For the circle skirt cut out a circle with 3.5” radius, then 10” away from that cut out another circle (I used a black permanent marker & ruler), in the end you will have a donut shape with a 27” diameter.

 :: Create French seams (with a total of a 1/2” seam allowance) for the bodice pieces. Sew together the front & back bodice pieces first at the shoulders, then at the sides. To make French seams place wrong sides together, sew 1/4” seam allowance, with scissors trim down to 1/8”, press with iron, then with right sides together sew 1/4” seam allowance.

 :: With 1/2” seam allowance sew the back bodice pieces right sides together (where the zipper will go), most of this seam will be ripped out later to add the invisible zipper. 

:: Pin the circle skirt to the bottom of the bodice right sides together, with 1/2” seam allowance sew together.

 :: Sew bias tape onto the circle skirt/bodice seam.

 :: Sew bias tape onto the hem of circle skirt, then onto each of the 2 arm holes.

 :: With a seam ripper, rip out 7-9 inches on the back of the bodice & following the manufactures instructions install the 7-9 inch invisible zipper or follow this online tutorial.

:: To prevent fraying apply some liquid seam sealant to the back bodice seam.

:: Sew bias tape onto the neckline.

:: With hand sewing needle & thread, add the hook & eye closure above the invisible zipper.

 :: Now for the sash: from the satin cut out 2 pieces that are 2.5” X 54”. 

 :: Fold each in half, right sides together, with 1/4” seam allowance sew down each of the long sides. 

 :: Clip the corners & with turning tools (I use a smoothie straw & chopstick), turn right side out, press with iron. Tuck in raw edges, press with iron, & topstitch. 

 :: The end where you topstitched, place that just behind one of the side seams of the bodice & with zigzag stitch sew it onto the dress so that when when the sash is brought forward the zigzag stitch will be covered by the sash. Repeat for the 2nd sash. 

 :: When done put it on the little girl & tie the sash into a bow in the front of the dress.

If you have any questions please let me know. Also if you sew one, please leave a link to it in the comments section ~ I’d love to see it !