Country western dresses are usually made of a lightweight denim or cotton fabric. Women wear this type of dress on a warm spring day or for a night of dancing. Making a country western dress is a project beginning sewers can accomplish. However, you will need to know use a sewing machine. To make this western dress, you will need a pair of lightweight coveralls, which you can purchase at a sporting goods store, automotive supply shop, thrift store or a rural feed store. Pair the dress with a cute western belt with this dress to complete the look.
Instructions
1. Pre-wash the coveralls a few times. They will have a cool distressed look and will not be too stiff.
2. Lay the coveralls you purchased on a table. Measure 20 inches down the legs of the coveralls waistband and mark the spot with fabric chalk. This mark is where you will cut the coveralls.
3. Put the coveralls on to make sure the skirt length is long enough. If it is not, use the fabric chalk to mark where you want the dress to end on one of the legs. Measure the length from the coverall's waistband to the new chalk line; measure and mark the other leg with chalk so the cut is even.
4. Cut off the coverall legs with scissors.
5. Create a front and back side of the dress skirt. Do this by cutting the inseams (inside seams) of both legs.
6. Turn the cut coveralls inside out.
7. Pin the two cut front legs of the coverall together with the right sides facing each other; pin. Do the same with the backside of the dress' skirt.
8. Use a sewing machine to stitch the front of the dress. Start at the bottom of the dress, and sew all the way to the fly. Do the same to the back side of the dress. Cut off excess fabric on the inside of the dress.
9. Create a hem for the bottom of the dress. Do this by folding the bottom part of the skirt towards the inside of the dress a ¼ inch; pin into place. Do this around the whole dress and press the fold with an iron.
10. Fold the pressed hem of the dress a ½ inch; pin. Press the fold with an iron.
11. Sew the hem in place, using a ¼-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine.
12. Add accessories to the dress to complete the country western look. For example, add fringe or lace to the bottom of the dress. If the coveralls have buttons, replace them with Western-themed buttons. You can also sew or iron on a western patch to the front pocket area or the back of the dress.
Tags: bottom dress, sewing machine, back side, back side dress, country western, dress complete
