How to Make a Rustic-Style Flower Girl Dress

With the peek-a-boo under ruffle, flowing shoulder bow and sequin embellishments, this dress will incite lots of oohhs-and-aahhs when the little flower girl walks down the aisle.

Cut out the four pattern pieces. Use this size chart to determine your cut list. For the shoulder bow, you can create a drawstring tie or use grosgrain ribbon.

Lay the two exterior fabric pieces one on top of the other matching up all side edges. Use scissors or a rotary cutter to cut a small curve on the bottom edge going up towards one of the sides.

Pin the two exterior pieces of fabric, right sides together. Sew the pieces together using a 1/2” seam allowance. Finish seams with either a serger, pinking shears or zigzag stitch along the outer seam edge.

Pin the two lining fabric pieces, right sides together. Sew the pieces together using a 1/2” seam allowance. Finish seams with either a serger, pinking shears or zigzag stitch along the outer seam edge.

Pin the two ruffle fabric pieces right sides together. Sew the pieces together using a 1/2” seam allowance. Finish seams with either a serger, pinking shears or zigzag stitch along the outer seam edge.

Fold the bottom edge of the ruffle fabric under 1/4” towards the wrong side and press. Fold under again 1/4” towards wrong side and press. Sew around the bottom edge to secure, thereby hemming your ruffle.

To hem the exterior fabric, do the same as we did for the ruffle; be careful to press around the curve of the fabric. Press the bottom edge under 1/4” towards the wrong side, fold under again 1/2” towards wrong side and press. Sew around the bottom edge to secure. *Do not hem the lining.

Sew a gathering stitch along the top edge of the ruffle. Gather the ruffle until the top edge is the same width as your lining.

Place the ruffle right sides together with your lining; match up the side seams so that the gathered edge is along the bottom edge of the lining. Pin around to hold in place and sew using a 1/2” seam allowance. Finish seams with either a serger or zigzag stitch along the outer seam edge.

Press seam up and edge stitch to secure.

Slip the lining with ruffle inside of the exterior dress (both are right side out), match up side seams. Pin around the upper edge to hold in place. Baste stitch around. Finish the edges with either a zigzag stitch, serger or pinking shears.

Refer to the following to determine the size of the armhole: 6 to 12 mos. = 6 inches; 18 mos. to 3T = 6-1/2 inches; 4T to 6T = 7 inches; 7 to 8 = 7-1/2 inches . Use a ruler to measure two inches from the side seam along the upper edge. Measure down from the upper edge, along the side seam, to the length specified above. Cut on an angle from the two measured points. Finish cut edges with either a zigzag stitch pinking shears or a serger. Fold armhole edge 1/4” towards the wrong side and press. Sew to secure. Repeat for other armhole.

Fold the upper edge of the dress one inch towards the wrong side and press. Sew along the bottom of the folded edge. Repeat for both front and back of dress.

Fold the drawstring tie in half, right sides together and pin the long outer edge. Sew along the long outer edge using a 1/2” seam allowance. (Skip this step and the next if you are using grosgrain ribbon.)

Turn the drawstring tie right side out and iron flat. Fold the raw-side ends inside of the drawstring tie a 1/2-inch and press. Sew around the outer edges.

If using a grosgrain ribbon, simply cut a piece of ribbon the same length as the tie measurement in the chart, and apply Fray Check to the ends. Clip a safety pin onto one end of the drawstring tie or the grosgrain ribbon, whichever you are using.

Use the safety pin as your guide to pull the ribbon or drawstring tie through the upper hem of the dress.

Gather the upper edges of the dress and make a bow with the ribbon.

Cut a small piece of sequin or lace trim.

Use straight pins to mold the sequin trim into the shape desired on the peek-a-boo lining of the dress (where the lining shows). We made a small heart, but you can embellish with the bride and groom’s initials for example. Use a thread and needle to hand stitch directly onto the dress.

And you are finished!