This easy-to-make maxi dress by Torie Jayne is perfect for summer, stitched in a lightweight, drapey fabric. It can be easily adjusted for your size – simply make the bust larger or smaller by increasing the depth and length of the panel. To make the skirt larger or smaller, just increase the width of the panels. As for the hem, mark your desired length, plus 2cm for the hem allowance and 6mm for the seam at the top.
Sew a summer dress
1 Cut a bodice panel measuring 32cm deep x 138cm wide (increase or decrease for a larger/smaller bust) from fabric. Cut two skirt panels 138m at the top and 150cm at the hem x 107cm (length from bust panel to ankle, including a 2.6cm hem allowance). Fold the bodice rectangle in half lengthways, wrong sides together and pin to secure.
2 Hand wind shirring elastic thread onto your sewing machine bobbin so that the elastic sits firmly but is not stretched. Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch with the elastic thread bobbin in place as usual. As a general rule, you will want to lengthen your stitch to around 2.5 to 3 for shirring. You may also need to adjust your upper thread tension.
3 Starting at the folded edge with the print right side up, stitch a straight line 5mm to 6mm from the fo