How Long Does It Take To Sew A Dress?

Sewing can be one of the most engaging expressions of self one can do. It might be quite a hurdle when you are starting out and learning the basics but once you have grasped it, it can be a very fulfilling and rewarding activity. One of the most challenging yet simple things that I started out as a beginner was sewing a dress. When I first started thinking about how to sew a dress, I started to wonder, “how long does it take to sew a dress”. It is very common to ask since a dress is quite a big sewing project.

As a beginner, you can start with a simple dress project which you will be able to finish easily. A simple dress with an easy style will take a couple of hours to sew and it is also a good project to practice sewing skills. Eventually, when you will get better and faster at sewing the simpler style, you can then try more difficult ones with complex styles. In this article, we will be discussing sewing a simple dress with easy style, such as lining, lacing, applying patchwork, etc.

Key Takeaways

• We have discussed, the time it takes to sew a dress.
• We have gone through a step-by-step guide to sewing a dress.
• We have also provided some useful tips to save your time.

How Long Does It Take to Sew A Dress?

It is possible to sew and complete a dress in 3 to 7 hours. However, it depends on the pattern of the dress and the technique you are going to choose. There are many factors you should consider when you will be sewing a dress. So thus, the completion time varies, sometimes, it can take a few hours to even a few weeks. If you have never sewn a dress or if you are starting, you will find it challenging to handle. It might take you longer time than professional workers.

Since you will be sewing in simple patterns, the difficult ones will not be very difficult. You will probably shorten your sewing time, too.

Is Sewing A Dress Difficult?

Sewing a dress is not difficult when you have the right skills, equipment, and passion for sewing. As a sewist, you should consider sewing a dress as an easy and rewarding task. You can start by making small patterns. After you have sewn several dresses, you will gain more confidence and it will inspire you to take on more difficult challenges. You will achieve your goal faster when you follow the basic rules of sewing and do a lot of practice.

Today it is possible to learn sewing by yourself if you follow the online tutorials thoroughly. You will get sewing patterns that are easy to comprehend from SimpleSew, McCalls, Jaycotts, and so on. You can search for patterns with video tutorials to guide you with your sewing journey. When you are starting, you should consider video tutorials a very serious platform for learning.

Before Sewing a Dress: What You Need to Know?

There are different factors that you should consider before you start making a dress. If you are sewing a dress for a long time, you know, it will not take a lot of time for you to sew a dress. But if you are a beginner, you should consider a lot of details before you finish your dress.

Tools and materials for sewing dress

Sewing a dress can be both organized and time-consuming. It would be your best practice if you learned these tips and techniques of sewing a dress an enjoyable task for you.

Before you start sewing your dress, you should have these tools and materials available to you:

Before you start sewing your dress, there are a few tips you should follow:

• Even if you are a beginner or hobbyist, you should have a sewing machine. You may have a basic sewing machine or you may borrow from a friend. Before you call yourself a professional dress sewist, you should sew at least a few more dresses with a sewing machine.
• When you are familiar with using a sewing machine, you will be able to sew your dress in real time. As a novice, you may only need to learn the basic stitches. Although eventually, you will learn how to change the knob that changes the stitches when you will be sewing some difficult dress patterns. Learn about the different parts of the sewing machine and how to use them properly. You should practice sewing with fabric straps, then you can start cranking the machine.
• You should read the pattern carefully. You should familiarize yourself with the sewing patterns so that they don’t intimidate you when you are looking at them. You learn sewing terminologies and symbols in your sewing patterns. Learning sewing patterns will be beneficial for you as you will be seeing them in your future sewing projects.You will find these terms in your sewing books or magazines.
  • Notches.
  • Seam allowances.
  • Centerlines.
  • Zipper placement.
  • Matched point.
  • Fold point.
  • Dart.
  • Pocket placement.
  • Buttonholes and buttons.
  • Tuck and pleats.
  • Lengthening or shortening the line.
  • Grainline.
  • Dot.
  • Sewing pattern abbreviations.
  • Layout diagrams.

• You can start with simple patterns. If you are a hobbyist, you should keep in mind that, practice makes everything perfect. You can start by sewing easy dress patterns which will give you more confidence and experience. After a few trials, you will be able to create more complex patterns.
• You can collect free online sewing patterns which is much easier to learn to sew a dress.  Try to learn from simple patterns and video tutorials that are available online from people who have the same passion as you.
• If you are having difficulty in choosing fabrics, you can choose medium-weight fabrics for your dress project. You should not regret cutting your fabrics. Sewing patterns will let you know what type of fabric you should be using and how much fabric you will need. Stick with the fabric types that you get as a recommendation. You can also try fabrics that you are comfortable with or if you have your preference, as long as you get a good finished product.
• If you are a beginner, try to avoid fabrics with large prints or stripes. You can try picking up plain colors, florals, or small prints. Focus on small pieces of your fabrics which are different parts of your dress. It is not necessary to match the designs of your fabric.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing a Dress

If you want to finish a dress in time, you should follow the steps below. These steps are simple but require concentration and meticulousness.

Fabric selection

Before you start sewing your dress, you need to choose fabric, it is a very crucial part because this step will determine the quality of your dress. Different types of fabric and where to get the fabric makes it difficult for you to choose the right one. You should choose a fabric that is easy to use. You can choose dispersion patterns. This will allow you to position the fabric easily and place the stripes precisely to achieve a fashionable look. Besides, medium-weight materials, such as cotton or polyester are a good choice for sewing a dress. This type of fabric is easy to use, and they also have good quality and durability. This will also ensure fit and comfort. When you are new, you should not choose fabrics with large prints or stripes, but you can start with solid colors, flowers, or smaller patterns.

Read patterns

After you have chosen the suitable fabric, now it is time to choose the dress pattern. before you start sewing, you must carefully read and understand your design. Your patterns may contain details, grain lines, knots, notches, and dots. For any beginner, it is difficult to sew with patterns. It contains many confusing technical terms.

You can go online for free tutorials which will help you to understand these terms. A tailor will only need 30 to 40 minutes to read and understand their pattern, although, you should spend more time understanding some intricate and detailed designs.

Fabric marking

You need to organize and understand the pattern that you intend to make, the next thing you can do is mark your fabric which is essential and it will affect the accuracy of how you make the next cut. If you have chalk or fabric pen, you can use it to draw textures, folds, and pin details on the fabric. It does not matter how much information you have, you can always leave a seam allowance. Once you have drawn your fabrics, take out your pattern and cut around the pattern with scissors. When you are cutting, be careful not to chip into the seam. Although, it is recommended to make a longitudinal cut. At this step, a tape measure, scissors, chalk, and pins are very essential for any sailor.

Cutting the pieces

Once you have all the materials and tools which you need for your dress, you can start cutting your fabrics. This step is very crucial because it will determine how accurately your dress will fit you. Before you cut, measure your pattern pieces according to your measurements and size specifications.

When you have everything ready with you, you can start by cutting one piece at a time. If you have a complex design, it will take some time but do not rush on cutting your pieces. After all the pieces have been cut, check all the pieces to make sure you have not done any mistakes while cutting them.

Assembling the pieces

After you have done cutting your fabrics, it is time to assemble them. If you choose a complex design and you have experience as a seamstress, it can take time from several hours to an entire day to assemble a dress. You can start by attaching any lining or interlacing that is required; which will give structure and add stability to your garment.

After you can try sewing piece by piece in the order, such as sleeves, side seams, collars, etc. If you have buttons or zippers, add them, too. If you are sewing a sundress that does not have straps or pockets, add hems to your dress for stability. Hemming will protect your dress from fraying.

Sewing fabric

You can consider using fabric clips and staples so that wrinkles don’t appear or clump together after sewing. Before you start sewing, transfer all marks on your pattern onto the fabric before starting the final sewing. This will help you to save time and work more efficiently. Finally, choose a sewing machine that you can operate well.

You need to finalize the final stitch of your dress. These will include checking for thread strength and adding buttons or zippers.

Adding embellishments and lining

When you are almost sewing a dress, you can select adding embellishments and lining. You can choose from a wide variety of embellishments to add to your dress, they can be simple trims of fabric or appliques to heavier fabrics, such as beading or lace. It depends on how much detail you want on your dress; they could take add few hours to several days. When you are adding materials, choose them according to your fabric. make sure they complement each other, if you are choosing one type of fabric, they should match in color and texture.

When you are adding lining, make sure it gives your outer fabric structure and it protects from wear and tear. Fabrics for lining are available in all shapes and sizes, so pick something which will work with the design of your dress. Seam allowances are necessary for neat stitching, if you are making any mistakes while doing so, it will show through the outer layers of fabric. While you are going through the finishing touches, show patience and be attentive to detail; because after you are sewed, your dress will look polished and professional.

Sewing the seams and hems

Once you have done adding embellishments and lining, now it is time to think to finish your dress. Follow your seam allowance to sew all the pieces. It will take about three hours if you are an experienced sewist.

Then try hemming your garment. Hemming can be done by hand, if you want a more professional look, try hemming with the sewing machine. If there are no pleats, ruffles, etc. involved, it will take about four hours for long skirts and dresses.  If you have to add a zipper, you could try adding another hour or two to the total time. When you finish these tasks, your dress will be ready to wear.

Applying fastenings and interlacing

If you have fastenings and interlacing, you can do it without any difficulty. If you need some time at this step, take it as this will determine the overall look of the dress. You will need thread, needles, fabric glue, or fusible webbing for attaching patches, buttons and/or buckles, pins, scissors, and an iron. You can start adding pieces of patchwork with fabric glue or fusible webbing. Mark your places first where you want them, then make sure, you are placing every piece where you have your marks, and adhere them firmly with heated iron. Then sew buttons, buckles, and zippers. This will need some hand stitching because no loose thread should be visible from the outside of the garment. You can use safety pins or pins to hold together the seam before placing them into place. This entire process will take 45 minutes which will depend on how many details you want to add; however, take your time to ensure you have attached everything correctly.

Press your garment

After you are sewed your dress together, then you can start pressing it. This step will take some time and care which will depend on the fabric of the dress. If you have a delicate fabric, such as silk or linen, iron your fabric so it will not damage your fibers- these sorts of fabrics usually need very low heat settings. You can also use steam on your iron to keep your creases crisp and sharp.

Final touches with quality control

After your dress has been constructed, you can add final touches to ensure its quality. Check your seams and hems for accuracy and strength; cut off any excess fabric. Sew your buttons and zippers along with embellishments, such as lace, sequins, etc.

Time-Saving Tips for Professional Dress Sewing

Sewing a dress can take from several hours to multiple days, which will depend on the complexity of the design. To save time while you are sewing a dress, you can consider ready-made patterns and appliques, which you can get in the supermarket in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. Sometimes you will also get instructions for attaching them with diagrams and photos for reference. When you will be using ready-made patterns, it will save you time to find your patterns and lacings.

If you think, you want a quicker solution, you can also try taking professional help. A tailor will offer you more experienced and specialized craftsmanship to create a unique and customized dress for you. When everything is done properly, a professional sewist will save you valuable time by providing a more polished and high-quality finish for your dress.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

As we have discussed in this article, you can complete a simple dress in 3 to 7 hours if you are sewing for yourself or your loved ones. After you complete your dress, check and double-check your sewing process, such as choosing fabric to read patterns, cutting, and sewing. While you sew your dress, remember that lots of practice and skill enhancement will help you to sew a perfect dress. You will thank yourself later for the time you invest in sewing your dress.