Easy Summer Dress Patterns for Beginners

I’ve gathered lots of simple and easy Summer Dress Patterns for beginners ready for summer sewing!

I hope you find joy and satisfaction in creating something with your own two hands.

Summer Sewing

If there is a season for the dress, it has to be summer! There is no better time to wear a flowy dress than in warm weather.

My dress pattern choice is loose and comfortable, but I have included other style ideas below that are more fitted too.

See more sewing patterns or sewing project ideas.

Mixing Patterns

I have been drawn to fabric my entire life. A mix of prints, patterns, or funky color combinations in clothing intrigues me, and I would love to make more clothes like this. 

This is one way the “be brave” mantra comes into play for me. My goal is to challenge myself and you to do the creative things you feel in your heart. What is your heart calling you to do?

My good friend and fellow creative, Ruth, came along to assist me in selecting and pairing fabrics. It is always helpful to get another perspective. She marched me into the quilting fabric section at JoAnn Fabrics. For reals?

I had never gone into THAT section for apparel fabric. The selection is quite large and diverse, so you need to hunt.

It was fun getting outside of my usual sandbox. We chose prints that are quite gentle and quiet, so it was a good first step for a new mixologist.

Sew a Dress that you Love

A tiered skirt is a dream to wear and so very fun to float in! There is nothing more feminine! Some of the dress patterns below also incorporate tiers or rows of fabric, overlapping layers, or flounces.

What styles do you feel most comfortable in?

You may want to look in your closet or try various styles before choosing a sewing pattern. Of course, you can challenge yourself with something new, but be sure to give it some thought.

Consider the features you like to wear, whether long sleeve or short, long dress or short, fitted bodice and waist or loose-fitting, pockets, splits, ruffles, etc. The choices are all yours!

Though I love the flowy skirt in the dress I made, I discovered that this smock-style dress is not for me. While it is incredibly comfortable and hides everything, I need a defined waist and a bit more structure.

Next time I will incorporate the tiers into another dress or skirt style because they are Ah-mazing to wear! So, do what I say and not what I did.

Sewing for Beginners

If you are new to sewing, choose your dress pattern and fabric wisely. Beginner sewists should select a sewing pattern labeled “Easy to Sew,” “1-hour”, or “Learn to Sew,” etc.

Also, consider a solid color fabric to start. This will make it much easier to succeed!

And of course, if you’d rather purchase, target dresses are always cute and affordable too!

Beginner Dress Patterns

To begin, pick a sewing pattern design. My DIY dress is McCalls M8090. (affiliate link)

Below are a few good dress patterns and some of the best dress styles for summer that I found on Amazon that have tiers and ruffles.

Today’s picks have an emphasis on feminine fashion. I do not dress this way often, so it is a fun variation! Here’s another summer style variation to check out, a halter dress!

I hope you find a look you are drawn to; there is something girlie for every shape and size here. There are also buying sources in the text below each photo. (affiliate links below)

McCall’s M8090    |    Simplicity 1872

Simplicity 1110    |    Vogue V9251

Best Fabric for Dresses

For my smock dress, I chose three quilting cotton prints that are medium-weight.

Sewing projects are more enjoyable and easier to manage with light to medium-weight fabrics. Be sure to look for these fabric types if you are just learning how to sew clothes.

You will also discover that sewing with quilting cotton is incredibly easy. It’s easy to cut and press and doesn’t slip and slide. Cotton, in general, is a great fabric if you are new to sewing or just dipping your toe in for the first time.

As you shop, consider lightweight fabrics, such as chambray, soft cotton, cotton lawn, linen, or medium-weight fabrics like denim and oxford. There are so many lovely options for dress fabrics.

What is Quilters Fabric?

Can I use quilters fabric? Yes, you can indeed use quilting cotton, even for apparel fabric.

Quilting cotton tends to be stiffer than apparel cotton. It is usually not as soft and does have a stiffer drape. Quilting cotton works best for casual and structured garments and is perfect for little girl dresses.

The best quilting fabric brands start with high-quality greige (gray) goods. Premium greige fabrics have a minimum of 60 by 60 thread count, and most have thread counts higher than 60 square.

A higher thread count creates a silkier feel, less breakdown when washed, a more extended fabric life, and better print clarity.

Most large chain stores carry quilting cotton produced from less expensive materials. Premium brands are worth looking into because they offer higher quality than their less expensive counterparts but for not much more.

You can typically find better quality cotton for apparel in smaller fabric stores and online.

Prepare to Sew

I recommend pre-washing your fabric and drying it as you will do in the future. A dryer may shrink the fibers slightly, but it’s better to do it before investing your hard work than after.

Whatever fabric type you choose, try to hang dry your garments after they are done to extend their life.

Buying Fabric

You can purchase almost everything you need for your project at your local fabric, craft store, or online retailer, including sewing machines, fabric, sewing patterns, and supplies.

Here are a few well-known online shops and also a few good brick-and-mortar establishments to help you locate your perfect dress fabric:

Harts Designer Fabric
Hobby Lobby
JoAnn Fabrics
Mood Fabrics

Minnesota peeps! If you are in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis or St. Paul or just passing through, check out our local Minneapolis fabric stores and our St Paul fabric stores! CLICK below for more information:

The Sewing Lounge
Treadle Yard Goods
S.R. Harris

Sewing Supplies

Assemble or purchase your sewing materials to prepare. See below for the essential items you will need and ideas on where you can buy them (affiliate links in blue)

Sewing Pattern mine is McCalls M8090
Dress Fabric
Matching Thread
Notions according to the pattern; mine were interfacing and bias tape
Sewing Straight Pins HERE
Sewing Scissors or
Rotary Cutter
Sewing Board, HERE or
Safe Cutting Surface, HERE
Paper Scissors not pictured
Sewing Machine is not pictured

Sewing with a Pattern or Print

It can be tricky to match the connecting panels together if you choose a fabric with a distinct print or pattern. Be patient; it is worth it when your dress is ready to wear!

You will find it nearly impossible to match everything perfectly on the garment; instead, choose the most dominant and noticeable areas to align.

My dress fabric was not directional, meaning it does not have a particular print orientation or distinct graphics. The prints are smaller, so I was not concerned about the pattern connecting from panel to panel.

Depending on the style of dress you choose, you may need to pay special attention to the bodice, the center front, the hemline, etc., to match up your print design.

Here are some matching techniques to consider if you choose a stripe or pattern fabric.

Find a dress sewing pattern and make yourself an easy-breezy dress to finish off your August. Please let me know if you make one in the comment box below. I love to see what you are creating!

Enjoy the warm weather!
xo,
Cindy

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