I have a fun freebie for you guys today: it’s the Play All Day girls’ dress pattern. This pattern is designed to be the absolutely easiest way to make a basic knit dress for a girl. And when I say easy, I mean easy. The first time you make one it will probably take about an hour, and if you make more it will be even faster. There are only two pattern pieces, minimal seams, and some elastic. No set-in sleeves, no casings, no easing, no gathering, no basting, and hopefully, no frustrations! And the best part is that this free pdf sewing pattern comes in six different sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14.
The first time I made this style of dress was when I made my daughter a swimsuit coverup last summer. She loved the comfort and easiness of it so much that she wore it long after summer swim days were over. The design is so basic this pattern would work as a swim coverup, a nightgown, or a play dress.
I made this version out of a white jersey knit sheet with coral triangles on it. The size 4 is slightly big on my daughter, so (combined with the white color) it ends up with more of a nightgown feel. A brighter color or a bolder pattern would make it look more like a day dress.
Either way it’s perfect for little (or big) girl adventures.
And it’s so easy to make! This dress is designed to be sewn with knit (stretchy) fabric. Choose the size that’s closest to what your daughter wears in ready-to-wear clothes. The dress should hit at or just above the knee for most girls. If your daughter is tall for her size, you may want to cut out the pieces a little long just in case.
You can download the free Play All Day girls’ sewing pattern in six sizes by clicking here. Please note this is a free download, so it’s not going to look quite as professional as pdf patterns you purchase.
The pattern will print on 8 sheets of paper. You MUST make sure it is printing at 100% and NOT scale to fit. There is a 1 inch test box on page 1 which needs to measure exactly 1 inch or the sizing will be off.
Don’t trim the pages at all; just butt them up against each other and tape together as seen below. Different sizes are in different colors, so I recommend using a color printer or you might have a hard time figuring out which size to cut.
You’ll cut two pieces, both on the fold: one using the back neckline and one using the front (dashed line) neckline. This pattern is made for knit fabrics, and the stretch direction is noted on the pattern.
A few notes before we start:
1. Make your life easier by using a fairly stable knit, especially if you are new to sewing with knits. An interlock is a great knit to start with. Anything very thin or very stretchy will make this project much more difficult than it ought to be, especially if you aren’t used to sewing with knits.
2. I highly recommend using a double needle for the hems and neckline. It’s very easy to use and gives a much more professional looking finish. You’ll get a double row of straight stitches on the top, and then on the underside you’ll get an interlocking zigzag that keeps the inside of your hems looking very tidy.
You may use a zigzag instead, but a double needle looks a lot better. And don’t use a straight stitch for hems or the neckline – it will snap as soon as it gets stretched.
Start by placing the front piece on top of the back piece, right sides together. Sew both shoulder seams:
Open up the dress and lay it down flat. You’ll see a portion along each sleeve that juts out about 1/2 an inch. Fold it under and press; sew with a double needle or zigzag. Repeat on the other side.
Next, turn the neckline under 1/2 an inch and pin well. Sew with a double needle or zigzag, then iron flat using steam if needed.
Turn the dress inside out again and pin front and back together at the sides. Sew down side seams (straight stitch is fine here).
Cut a piece of 1/4 inch elastic to the length specified on the pattern for the size you are making. Fold it in half and put a pin in the middle. Then fold in half again and use pins to mark each quarter. With the dress inside out, use tape or chalk to mark the elastic line on the dress (position shown on the pattern). Overlap the ends of the elastic and sew them together.
Slide the elastic over the dress, matching up the pins and seam on the elastic to the center front, center back, and side seams of the dress. Pin the elastic just above the tape.
Now you’re going to use a zigzag to sew the elastic onto the dress. Pull the elastic as you sew so that it lays flat against the dress, right next to your tape, and sew all the way around.
Once the elastic is sewn into the dress, it will cinch up the waist, as you can see below. Now just fold the bottom edge of the dress up 1 inch and hem (again using a double needle or zigzag).
Done!
Because the fit of this dress is so easy, this would be a great pattern to use for for sewing dresses to donate. Simple Simon and Co. holds an event each July called “Skirting the Issue” where they post tutorials and collect skirts to donate to girls in foster care. If you haven’t heard about it, check out the details here. If you’d like to sew a dress instead of a skirt to donate, feel free to use this pattern, and I’d love to hear about it. And next week I’ll be posting a roundup of more free dress patterns and more places where you can donate handmade dresses, so check back!
One last note – I used this jersey sheet set from Target for this dress. The material is super soft and very easy to sew with. I was able to make one dress in each of the six sizes from the full size sheet set, which makes it a great deal!
Pam says
Can the Play all Day pattern work on woven cotton instead of knit?
Debbie says
Thank you for this pattern. My nine-year-old granddaughter is eagerly learning to sew. This was her first garment and first experience with knits. I sewed the neckline and put in a casing for elastic due to latex allergies in her family. She sewed one side of the dress, then I sewed a bias tape casing on the elastic line. The elastic was inserted, stitched at each end to anchor, then the second side was sewn. She is so proud of her dress!
Mimmy says
I love this pattern, but was wondering how I could make it with long sleeves??
Joyce Garlick says
I love the dress, however, I don’t have air printer so I can’t download the pattern
Sheila Robson says
I did a review of the Play All Day dress on my blog, below, for anyone who is uncertain about it. (I was happy!) It also shows where I varied from Autumn’s tutorial. The fabric needed, as others have commented, is the length of the pattern, in a knit fabric. Knit fabrics are mostly pretty wide, so no problem to get both the front and back out of one width. So for the age 14 you probably need about 1 1/4 metres, for the size 4, about 3/4m, the other sizes in between. But don’t rely on me! You can easily measure the pattern for yourself in the size you want to make. For all my granddaughters now aged from 3 to 6 (though the two six year olds are nearer to size 8-9 in height) I just buy a metre – it’s fine! The only reservation I’d make to my ‘a metre’s fine’ would be if you had a narrower knit fabric, and / or it had a heavily directional print. I sometimes put patterns upside down if it helps squeeze them out of less fabric!
https://newgrandmawantstosew.blogspot.com/2019/10/play-all-day-dress-free-pdf-pattern.html
Sheila Robson says
I’ve just made another in size 8, and I’ve realised what I’ve said above about yardage / metre-age holds good for age up to 8. I could easily get the front and back side by side on my fabric width, and I had a metre in length, so the total length was fine, as the dress is less than a metre long. But it enabled me to see that that could be difficult for the size 10 or above. The width at the bottom of the size 8 just fitted with the front and back patterns side by side, each side of the fabric folded in to the centre. I think (unless you had VERY wide fabric), you would need a bit more than the dress length for larger sizes, because you would have to offset them. I don’t think you would necessarily need to double up, because you could slide one pattern down having cut out the first piece, and refold it to get out the second. I can’t see where I can post a picture here to help, but I will put on on my blog shortly.
autumn says
Thank you Sheila! My readers will appreciate this extra info.
Grace Fisher says
Hi, Do you have this pattern in 2-3 year olds?
Gaby says
I´m from Germany. What you mean with size 4?
Childhood? EU-Size?
Thank you
Gaby
Angela Hodgson says
thanks for this great tutorial – I’d love to see a dolls dress to match as it would be a quick sew to make a smaller matching dress for an 18 inch doll.
Monica Luberger says
I made a size 8 with a yard of fabric no problem
Beth Robelia says
You can get a size 4 out of a men’s size L t-shirt. If you want to go bigger you will have to sew 2 t-shirts together. A yard of regular fabric would probably make a size 8.
Beth Robelia says
Thanks so much for this free pattern. I took it to a mission in Haiti and taught the kids how to sew. The older kids made dresses for the younger kids. Yes, I even taught the boys how to sew. I have great photos to share if you contact me. We used recycled t-shirts for some of the smaller sizes and they turned out very cute.
Whitney says
I just made this for my size 8 girl. A 1/2″ seam allowance worked just fine, and it took around a yard of fabric. (Technically I used the skirt of an unwanted maternity dress, but I measured the pattern, and a yard of 60″ wide knit would have done it.)
Isolde Ruano says
HI, thanks for tutorial, I made this dress for my daughter but the fabric was vicchy and it looks like a farm dress.
Beautifull dress. Thanks again!!!
Christime says
I’m wondering if you could make a pattern like this for a 2/3 year old?
Petra says
Thank you so much for the pattern is just what I was looking for. I made it for my friend’s daughter but now her other little one wants the same dress, how can I make the pattern fit a size 1-2 ?
Thanks again!
Maggie says
Hi Autumn! I need to make a quick dress for a Halloween costume and this fits the bill! Would it work in a flannel? (I’m hoping the costume can retire as a nightgown.) Thanks!
autumn says
Should be just fine in a flannel! The only issue may be if the neckline isn’t big enough to fit over your girl’s head without being able to stretch – but I have made this is a non-stretch fabric for my daughter and the neckline was just fine. Good luck!
Maggie says
Thanks Autumn. Even with some rookie mistakes (sorta didn’t pay attention that the back is different than the front – oops!), it still turned out great. I sized the neck up a size on the pattern and it worked fine. I also modified it a little and made a bias tape waistband with ricrac and threaded the elastic through. I look forward to trying more patterns from your site. Thanks!
Jacqui says
Hi I am looking for a nice tunic style dress for my daughters dance group. would this pattern suit a light weight cotton rather than a knit? Thanks
autumn says
Yes, it should be just fine in a cotton!
Pewa says
I made this dress with Cotton and I couldn’t get it over my granddaughters head,garment is finished now how do I make it bigger so we can get it over her head?
Laura Grint says
Cut and hem a slit down the back and then do a button and loop at the top near the neckline. The original writer should have replied to this, to be honest.
Gale Bryson says
this is exactly what I am looking for. How do I print the pattern?
Lucy Humes says
I made a bunch of these for charity. However I left the elastic off completely. When you are making a hundred items, the elastic can get pretty expensive and I can make more dresses if I spend less money. I hope they will work okay without the elastic!
Sariah says
Thank you for sharing this easy pattern. My 8 year old loves to sew, its fun to do projects together. She has been looking for lama pajamas for months. When she found this great knit fabric at Joann’s yesterday we bought a yard hoping to find a night gown pattern. We made her a nightgown with your Play All Day dress pattern this morning. We made a size 10, we wanted it comfy for lounging in.
Jo bautista says
Im actually looking for the same pattern as this,thanks
PS.
Can i sew in casing for the drawsting version with this pattern?
Rebecca says
I’m sure you could very easily!
Rebekah says
I made this last night without the elastic as a nightgown for my daughter. It turned out so cute! I am excited to try out more of your tutorials!
Jennifer says
What material did you use?
Wendy Shepard says
I love the simplicity of this pattern! I am determined to learn to sew something besides quilts and Blankies and your pattern is simple for a beginner like me! I know if the don’t work for dresses they’ll definitely be good for nightgowns!
Cäzilia Vermeersch says
I have sent a message through Facebook.
On your website I saw a picture of your daughter in a pink dress (I think it is a Jersey dress). I would love to sew this dress for my Enkeltochter. Can you help me with that? How do I get the cut.
I would be very happy about a message.
Thanks in advance and love greetings!
Pamela McFarland says
Thank you so much! I have made one for my 2 year old grand daughter. It was so easy and turned out adorable. I’m going to make more for her. Again thank you,
Pam
Judy B says
I’m trying for two year old as well. I’m hand-sewing with a 3/8” seam allowance and top stitching with no trimming. It’s a small pattern with elastic waist. It’s trial and error I guess. I did compare the bodice to some other size two patterns and it looks like 1/2” would be a good compromise.
As far as how much fabric, the length of the dress is a good guess for these small sizes.
Nancy says
To the ladies who wondered about seam allowance: If the hemline is folded back and stitched at 1 inch, and the arm- and neckline is folded back and stitched at 1/2 inch, I would say the average allowance would be 1 to 1,5 inch overall.
Any “leftovers” after stitching with the twinneedle is cut off to get a neat finish. And usually you keep the stitchingwidth of the pressurefoot which (normally) corresponds with a 1 inch/1,5 inch seam allowance. (I think. I’m Dutch, so I have to convert to centimeters…. 🙂 )
If you wonder how much fabric from the bolt is needed: measure the length of the dress (including seam allowance!) and the width of the dress (at the widest point).
Usually, fabric from the bolt is wide enough to cut out front- and backpannel on the fold.
For example (sorry, you will need a currency converter to this, I use another metric system!):
A bold of fabric is 1.50 meter wide, and the dress for a 14 y. old is 37 cm at the widest point, times 2 = 1.48 m. So you will JUST be able to get the dress out of 1 times the length of the dress from the fabric.
You can cut both pieces at the fold if you “smuggle” –>fold the fabric open, facing “wrong” side of the fabric up, then fold left side to the middle and fold right side to the middle. You now should be able to cut both to the fold.
I do hope this makes some sense. I’m struggeling finding the english terms to explain it as easy as possible, but find it hard to. Sorry 🙂
Jean says
Nancy, Thank you so much for answering these questions. It took a bit of your time and those of us who aren’t sure of what we
re doing are grateful. No apologies for the language difficu lties needed.
sUZY says
Thank you, Nancy!! Sure do appreciate your help on this….. You’re an A-OK sweet lady! Have a Happy Day!!!!
Ashokkumar vyas says
Very very nice ? thanks
Diana S says
I just made this dress for my daughter using Cloud 9 pink circles jersey knit! I used the pic of the full pattern in size 5 and shrunk it down to fit on one piece of paper and used it to make a matching 18″ doll dress to match! Turned out great I need to figure out how to post a picture!
karelys says
hola esta espectacular ya lo hice y es super sencillo para las que somos principiantes, gracias por compartir saludos desde venezuela
Kim Castillo says
Thank you so much for this free pattern and tutorial! I made the size 6 for my daughter and she loves it. It was super simple to make although I didn’t read the instructions, I had printed the pattern a few days before and just constructed it on my own, I made bias tape with the same fabric and used it at the arms and the neckline. Your method is much easier but both options are very cute! 😉 I’ll be making many more of these – can’t wait to try it as more of a tunic style, she loves to wear leggings also! Thank you!!!!
Samantha says
How much material did you use for the size 6???
Magpie63 says
As most knits are very wide, all you need is the length of the dress. I am using an adult t shirt and making a smaller size for a grand daughter.
Magpie63 says
There should be a little box that tells you to open in safari or your browser. You can print from there.
Tracy King says
Thank you Autumn! I was looking around because it’s that time of year when I need to make shorts and I found this. Love that it’s in multiple sizes because my youngest is now 10, yikes, time flies!!! Anyhow I really appreciate this and all of your patterns.
natasha says
OMGosh so happy I found this on my iPhone your blog is hard to navigate, this morning I’m on my computer and this is EXACTLY what I was looking for I love you easy tee and made a tunic length in woven to wear with leggings before and after my back surgery
so excited to make a few of these for my daughter too ! now if only you have easy tee for boys 😉
big fan ! thanks
Grandma Jelly says
It is easier to sew in the elastic one of two ways:
Sew up one of the sides, then sew in the elastic. Finish by sewing up the other side.
or
Cut the elastic in half and sew on to each half before joining the sides. Back stitch over the elastic when you sew up the sides to give it extra staying power.
Lin says
thank you for the wonderful suggestion. Will give it a try!
HLC says
Thanks for this suggestion. I just made this dress for the first time and went straight to this method of doing the elastic. It worked great!
Monica Luberger says
You’re my hero! I used the cut in half method and it worked like a charm!
Kathy says
I would like to know how much fabric is needed for the sizes? Especially the 4 & 6. I have printed out the pattern and I’m anxious to get started with a dress for my Granddaughter to take on vacation. Thank you.
Andrea says
This was the perfect pattern and tutorial for a beginner sewer to venture into clothing. Thanks for sharing! So far I have made a couple PJs out of a jersey knit sheet and one green and white stripe one for my youngest.
They are so comfy and adorable! My girls love them. I wanted to add a photo but couldn’t so my words of thanks will have to do for now. 🙂
MiMi says
I am joining a volunteer group called “Let’s Dress the Girls” which makes dresses for little girls in developing countries. Looking for a easy and quick pattern. Going to try this one!!!
http://www.letsdressthegirls.org/
Mary says
This looks super easy and fun. Passing it on to more friends
Emma says
Hello! My name is Emma and I live in Sweden. I would like to dom a dress like trist for my self and wounder if you got a pattern for adults, in a european site?
// Emma
Fran says
love your very simple instructions I am going to make this for my granddaughter for back to school. Thank you for making your instructions easy to follow.
Mina says
I have a question: is the seam allowance included or not and how much is it?
Mary Ellen says
I LOVE YOUR PATTERN AND TUTORIAL. I REALLY AM GOING TO MAKE THIS FOR MY GRAND DAUGHTER. I WISH I HAD AN IDEA ABOUT HOW MUCH YARDAGE TO PURCHASE, RATHER THAN A SHEET SUGGESTION. tHANKS FOR YOUR PATTERN AND GREAT TUTORIAL.
Magpie63 says
All you need is the length of the dress as most knits are quite wide. I’m actually making one out of an adult tshirt for my 2 year old grand daughter. I made it smaller than the size 4.
Fiona says
Thanks so much for this.
My daughter is 10 and loves wearing dresses, but a lot of patterns only go up to age 6 or 7.
Plus I am planning to sew her a couple of nighties and I think this pattern will be perfect for that.
Joyce Smith says
thanks so much for the tutorial. this is the first pattern ever I could print and know the scaling is correct you did an excellent job. My granddaughter loves to wear dresses and granny loves to make them.
Christy Haggard says
I love this pattern too! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth Johnson says
Excellent tutorial! I have the knit and want to sew them but still haven’t! This looks like a great place to start!
Pat Clark says
I am going to make this for my grand-daughter. Did I miss the part where it tells you how much fabric you need?
Carol Saloga says
She mention that she used a jersey sheet from Target
Jessica Thiele says
I also can not find any where how much fabric is needed!
Grandma Jane says
I like the style of this pattern and can it be made from a cotton fabric. I do a lot of charity sewing and use mostly cotton fabric.
Tracie Latham says
i dont think it would stretch over the neck if cotton was used
Vernette Kroboth says
My grand daughter wanted to make this for her sister’s birthday, and she chose cotton fabric. I opened the neckline up a bit and put some elastic in the front of the neckline. That way it was easy over the head and the elastic kept the neckline from being too low. Both girls loved the result!
Kristie says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I love the easy t pattern, I have made it many times for myself. But this is the style of dress to send my girls back to school in! Thank you so much for sharing your skills!
claudia says
hi!
i have a question, have you added the seam allowance to the pattern? sorry I´m not the most experienced with patterns and sewing in general 🙂
many many thanks!!
Julia Schroeder says
can sleeves be added?