Pillowcase Dresses

I heard that our church is planning on taking dresses to Haiti in the fall.  They made and gave out pillowcase dresses in years past but I did not participate since I was working full time then.

Size Five Ruffled Dress

Now that I have a new sewing machine, I decided to try my hand at making them.  I went to Goodwill and found some pretty pillowcases to practice on.  I liked a flowered one with ruffles because I did not have to add a hem or any embellishments.  A friend loaned me a pattern so I did not have to come up with the armhole cut of the dress myself.  I cut the pillowcase so that the seam became one of the side seams in the dress.

Size Six Striped Dress

Another pillowcase that I found had a sweet rose patterned border that I used for the hem edge of the next dress.  This time I cut the pillowcase so that the seam could be used as a back seam in the dress.  That allowed me to have two identical armholes in the dress.  I think they came out really well and will be glad to give them to the Haiti mission.  I was surprised that even though they are called pillowcase dresses, most of the images I found on the Internet did not make them out of pillowcases.  They had several more steps to them, mostly side seams and hems.  The pillowcases I chose saved me those steps and I was able to make the two of them in an afternoon.  I asked my granddaughter to try them on and they both fit her very well so I am fairly certain the little girls in Haiti will like them.  They should give the girls plenty of room to run and play.

For the armholes on the ruffled dress I just turned in the fabric and did a sewing machine hem.  For the striped dress, I used bias tape to line the armholes.  I liked the look of that method best and will probably do the bias tape reinforcement for any additional dresses I make.

I may make a few more if the ladies in charge of the project like them.  It feels good to start a project and finish it with good results.  A bonus is someone in the world is going to be a joyful recipient of your efforts.

God is good!