Embroidered Pillowcase Dress

Transform an ordinary pillowcase into an easy, breezy and adorable dress for your little princess! James' daughter Zofi models this project featuring an embroidered lion and a baby blue pillowcase.

This simple sundress has a built-in hem and just needs your imagination to make it special.

The options are endless! Use a whimsical border along the bottom hem or personalize by adding a monogram or phrase to your little girl's dress.

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies needed:

One pre-washed standard size pillowcase (sized about 20 x 30 inches or 50.8 x 76.2 cm)
Cutaway stabilizer (medium weight cutaway or Floriani Fusible No-Show Mesh)
1 1/2 yards single fold bias tape
Spray adhesive
11 inches of 3/8 inch wide elastic
Air-erase pen
Safety pin
Hem tape (optional)

Sizing Information:

Before beginning this project, we consulted this website for sizing guidelines: http://www.andersonsplace.net/sewing/pillow_case_dress.htm

6 months - 14 1/4 inches
12 months - 16 1/4 inches
18 months - 17 1/4 inches

2T - 18 1/4 inches
3T - 19 1/4 inches
4T - 20 1/4 inches

The designs used in this tutorial include:

Gather Materials:

First, determine the length needed by the sizing guidelines. Lay the pillowcase flat and measure from the open end towards the closed end. Mark the measurement on each side of the pillowcase and draw a line from one side to the other using a straight edge and an air-erase marker.

Hand marking measurements on a white pillowcase spread flat on a wooden table using a blue pen and a long black ruler.

Cut along the line, removing the closed end of the pillowcase. Cut through both layers.

Hand holding orange scissors cutting white fabric folded on a dark wooden table, with no embroidery or other markings visible.

To remove the excess width from the pillowcase, measure in about 5 inches at both ends. Connect the two marks by drawing a connecting line from end to end using a straight edge and an air-erase marker.

Hand measuring and marking a white fabric rectangular piece with a blue pen, using a metal ruler on a wooden surface.

Cut along the line to remove the 5 inch excess. Cut through both layers.

Hand holding orange-handled scissors cutting a folded white pillowcase on a dark wood table. The pillowcase fabric is plain with a stitched hem.

To create the arm hole opening on the open side of the dress, mark the cut out using an air-erase marker.

For sizes 2T and smaller. measure 2 inches in and 3 inches down.

For sizes 3T and 4T, measure 2 1/2 inches in and 4 inches down.

Be sure to leave a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Hand holds blue marker, marking a line on light blue fabric using a metal Westcott ruler on a wooden surface.

Draw a rounded corner about 3/4 inch from the axis in each direction, as shown.

Hand holding a purple marker drawing a curved line inside a square corner on a white fabric piece on a wooden surface.

Cut out the shape, cutting through both layers at the same time.

Fabric pieces on a wooden surface with orange-handled scissors cutting a curved corner out of one white fabric piece.

To cut the other arm hole, fold the fabric over, leaving about 1/2 inch of the right side hanging over the left side. Trace the shape of the right arm hole onto the upper corner.

The 1/2 inch overage is the seam allowance and is not transferred to the other side.

Hand holds a blue and white pen tracing a curved line on folded white fabric on a wooden surface.

Cut out the arm hole following the lines.

Pair of orange-handled scissors cutting a curved section from white fabric on a wood surface, next to a folded fabric piece with stitched edges.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. Cut around the design to make it easy to work with. Lay the paper template on top of the right side up fabric. The lion pictured is about 4 inches from the top of the fabric. After finding the center of the design, pole a hole through the center axis and mark on the fabric. Measure and mark the horizontal and vertical axis points onto the template, as well. Transfer those marks to the fabric for the next step.

Hand tracing a lion drawing on white paper placed over light blue fabric with a metal ruler on a wooden surface.

Remove the paper template and draw lines connecting the horizontal and vertical axis points. These lines will be used for hooping.

Hand-drawn pattern marked on light blue fabric with a ruler and pen on a wooden surface, showing straight lines and fabric cut shaping.

Start Embroidering:

Hoop the design with cutaway stabilizer that has been sprayed with adhesive. Or, use a product like Floriani's Fusible No-Show Mesh Stabilizer. This type of product works well on children's garments because it is lighter and softer than most cutaway stabilizers. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

White fabric secured in a pink embroidery hoop with pencil grid lines marked on the fabric, placed on a wooden surface.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, align the needle directly over the center of the design, and embroider the design. When the design is finished, carefully trim away the excess stabilizer, leaving about 1/2 inch around the design.

Light pink cartoon lion embroidery on beige fabric patch, placed on light blue fabric background with some visible hand stitching marks.

Lay the fabric, right sides together and pin along the open side.

Light blue fabric laid flat on a wooden table with pins along the bottom edge and a hand lifting a folded corner. Embroidery of a pink and white snail is visible near the top left.

Sew the open side together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Turn the dress right side out.

Close-up of a sewing machine foot stitching white fabric, with a straight pin visible holding fabric layers together, on a wooden surface.

To prepare the neckline for the elastic, fold the top edge with a 1/4 inch allowance and press into place.

Light blue fabric folded with a partially visible embroidered cat face showing orange and white colors, next to a white iron on an ironing board.

Fold the top edges over again with a 3/4 inch seam allowance and press into place.

Light blue fabric folded on an ironing board with a white iron resting on the edge, partially covering a small embroidered design.

To create a pocket for the elastic, sew the folds in place by sewing a seam along the inside edge of the folds.

Repeat on both the front and back of the neckline.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a straight seam on light blue fabric under bright light, showing the presser foot and needle in action.

Cut two strips of 3/8 inch wide elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic strips.

Hand holding a small metal safety pin attached to a light blue fabric piece with part of an embroidered butterfly visible on the top left. The fabric lies on a wooden surface.

Thread the elastic through the front neckline pockets.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle stitching light blue fabric. The presser foot holds the fabric in place, with a bright sewing light illuminating the area.

Sew the end of the elastic in place at both sides of the pocket.

Repeat on the back neckline.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a light blue gathered fabric, with the presser foot lowered and needle in the fabric.

To finish-off the arm hole cut-outs and add the ties, measure 10 inches of bias tape from the package. Do not cut the bias tape yet.

Hand holding blue pen marks a spot on an orange strip of paper placed next to a metal Westcott ruler on a wooden surface.

Change your thread color to match the bias tape.

Fold the tape wrong side together and sew from the end toward the 10 inch mark.

This is one of the ties.

Close-up of a sewing machine foot stitching an orange ribbon or bias tape onto white fabric. The needle is threaded and engaged in sewing.

Starting at the 10 inch mark on the bias tape, pin it around the arm hole.

Light blue fabric with gathered elastic edge, an orange bias tape pinned with multicolored sewing pins on a wooden surface.

After pinning the bias tape, measure another 10 inches, mark and cut the tape.

Metal ruler placed diagonally on a wood-grain table, measuring fabric with orange trim sewn on light blue cloth, a hand holding a purple marker visible.

Sew the tape to the arm hole by sewing a seam on the inside edge of the tape. Continue sewing the open bias tape along the edge to complete the tie.

Repeat on the other arm hole.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching orange fabric trim to light blue fabric, with a silver needle and presser foot in focus.

To add an extra detail, sew hem tape to the bottom of the dress. Simply pin in place to the bottom of the dress and...

White fabric with an embroidered smiling lion in orange, yellow, and black near the top, trimmed with orange patterned ribbon and beads along the bottom edge.

...sew the tape the the dress by sewing on the outer edges of the tape.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching orange lace trim onto light blue fabric, with the presser foot down and a yellow pin visible near the stitching area.

Get Inspired:

Way to go! You have an adorable sundress perfect for play dates, a day at the beach, or a summer picnic.

Light blue sleeveless dress with orange tie straps, featuring an embroidered cartoon lion with a red and orange mane in the center, and an orange ribbon trim along the bottom hem.