Sew a Sweet Girls Sundress with Windham Fabrics and HeatnBond

With summer already here, the heat can sometimes feel as hot as a dragon’s fiery breath or close to it, anyway! A sundress to help feel cool is perfect for the little girls (or big girls) in your life. Windham’s Botany Fabric by Kelly Ventura and Windham Gypsy Fabric, by Jennifer VanDenburgh was perfect for McCall’s sundress pattern, #7142. Using Therm O Web’s Heat n Bond Tricot Fusible Medium Weight for the bodice interfacing keeps it soft and flexible. The tricot is amazing to use as interfacing when you want to keep your fabric stable but need it to have more of a draping effect.

Sew a Sweet Girls Sundress with Windham Fabrics and HeatnBond

By Carol Swift, Just Let Me Quilt

What you’ll need for this sundress:

ThermOWeb StitchnSew Pattern Material
HeatnBond Tricot Fusible Interfacing Medium Weight
Heat n Bond Fusible Adhesive Lite Tape
Aurifil Thread, 50 wt
McCall’s Pattern #7142 (here’s a round-up of some free dress patterns too!

Oliso Purple Iron
Windham Palette Fabric
Windham Botany Fabric by Kelly Ventura

Windham Gypsy Fabric, by Jennifer VanDenburgh

Note: The amount of fabric you’ll need will depend on the size and version you choose to sew. Fat quarters are perfect for the smaller pieces, but small pieces of yardage are needed for the skirt.

The Windham Gypsy fabric makes this simple sundress top sweet and cool!

Sew a Sweet Girls Sundress with Windham Fabrics and HeatnBond Instructions:

Step 1: Tracing the pattern on ThermOWeb StitchnSew Pattern Material helps preserve the paper pattern for future use. It is also the perfect way to make any changes to the pattern you want, like shorten, lengthen, or alter the style a bit, without destroying the original pattern. It’s easy to see through for tracing, too! Be sure to add all the markings and the pattern name, size, etc. to the traced pattern.

Optional custom version: Using the pattern material makes it easy to alter the pattern a bit and have the changes written down and saved. The straps seemed a bit thin, so adding to the width fixed that. Want a wider ruffle? Make that adjustment on your pattern material so you can remember it for the next time you sew this little sundress. The tie in the back was changed to a be a 4” strip of fabric the length of the original tie, but folded in half with right sides together, sewn around the raw edges leaving a small opening, and then turned inside out. The instructions for sewing it to the dress didn’t change.

Step 2: Pin the pattern to the right side of the fabric and tricot (for interfacing pieces) following the layout directions in pattern package. Cut out each pattern piece, watching for folds and notches.

Step 3: Use HeatnBond Tricot Fusible Medium Weight for the interfacings or other pieces that need stability. It is 100% polyester, washable, and fusible on one side. It works great for knits or woven fabrics, giving it soft and flexible support. Cut tricot according to pattern instructions; remove seam allowances if desired. Preheat iron to medium (wool) temperature. Place rough side of tricot on the wrong side of the fabric. Cover with pressing cloth Press for 10-15 seconds, repeating to cover all areas. Allow to cool. Press on the right side of the fabric for 5 more seconds if needed.

Step 4: Continue sewing following pattern directions.

Step 5: Hemming is a breeze when you use Heat n Bond Lite Tape. Fold 1/2” wide raw edges of fabric towards inside of skirt; press. Iron tape to folded under the section of fabric following the package directions.

Remove protective strip and fold over with adhesive side to wrong side of fabric. Press. Topstitch hem.

Have fun with patterns and don’t be afraid to make your own custom additions or changes. Using Therm O Web products can make all your sewing projects easier!