What an adorable dress! When I was little my mom sewed for me. She said she washed and ironed 30 little dresses each week when I was a year old. She continue to sew for me throughout grade school. Often she would say to look in the catalog and see what dress I would like. I am 75 years old so we wore dresses to school back in the day! She would then make a pattern and sew me a dress just like the one I chose in the catalog. Her mother attended a girls finishing school in Brooklyn NY where she learned how to make patterns out of newspaper. Grandma made dresses for all six of her daughters, each one got two new dresses for school every year. Otherwise they wore hand me downs. They used the old dresses as nightgowns. This skill came in handy for my grandma as she married a poor farmer in Nebraska. Her twin sister also married a poor farmer in Nebraska and had six daughters; however, she became a dressmaker for many women in her community. I have continued the tradition of making patterns from newspaper. I loved your video. TFS ♥️
My grandma used to sew my clothes for me when I was a little girl. She was a very accomplished seamstress. I remember once she made a jumper for me, and for the top part, she cut a paper towel into a heart-shape for the pattern.
Loved that you used bedsheets. I can think of so many cute little girl dresses with some of the kids' sheets. Of course, adults could have woodland animals too. And, imagine all of the skirts you could make from sheets.
Beautiful! Here’s a n easier way to do gathers: use a wide zig zag stitch and sew over cotton crochet thread or string. It makes gatherings so much nicer, and no threat of the basting stitch breaking!
I have also tried these different methods and have gone back to the old standard, two lines of parallel stitches in the longest stitch length. I find that it gives me more control of exactly where to put the gathers, and when I stitch the finished seam, the gathers are very neatly controlled. Perhaps I am just a perfectionist, but if I am going to do the work myself, it better be the best.
My children were annoyed I was watching this and saying they wanted to watch Avatar. Then they saw you were watching the third season in your phone 😂 Now they want you to make the fire dress for Katara 😂
I really like when you use sheets, recycled clothes, sheers, etc to make your outfits. Your thrifted transformations series was my favorite. You have improved 1000% since you started. I like that you are ironing your clothes and material now. Really enjoy watching your videos.
I made almost the same dress last year! It being so hot here in Florida I didn't want so much fabric on the bottom, so I only added about 12 to 16 in more fabric for each tier. Came out just as good but did not have a ton of fabric to be hot and heavy. I also left out the sleeves and added straps. I wore it to a picnic the next day and it was wonderful!
I love this dress so much, you made this video, instructions so easy to follow. I've made several. Especially loved the idea of using bed sheets. I bought material for my first, was much more costly. I love it but the next 2 I bought bedsheets from family dollar. Wow...I bought 2 twin size sets for $5 per set and had enough left over for p.j. pants. I love the slightly thinner, cooler material also. A beautiful dress and p.j.s for $10. Cant beat that. Thank you so much. All the women in my family wanted me to make them one....I offered to teach them to sew by making their own. It's so simple. So thankful for you sharing. Beautiful!!!
I loooove stuff made from bed sheets. It's a cheap and easy source of a lot of wide fabric and the patterns are really varied. You can find some good stuff out there.
I’ve sewn for many, many years and as I watch you make such beautiful clothes, I find myself wish I could sew as well as you do. Your creativity just amazes me. Great design too! Thank you for sharing! You are an inspiration!
Awesome! I have some old bedsheets that have holes in them that I have been trying to figure out what to do with. Now I have an idea! Thanks for sharing this!
I would love to see your version of a transformation dress.... I think that is what I am going to try on my next weeks video people are still voting so we will see... the way you create without a pattern is so amazing I love it because I don’t even know how to read a pattern all the way and I think is way better to do it your way and find something that already fits perfect and copy the lines out you have made my life crafting so much easier sending love stay safe 💕
You are so creative and talented. I love this dress!!! I started learning to sew and you are my muse. I watch all your videos even though I am much older lol (56 years old late start sewing) . I have been collecting bed sheets to practice before I buy fabric to allow myself time to learn more while I make mistakes. I also found I am not good following pattern directions but from your videos I learned to trace my clothes and adapt them to work from clothing I have that fits well because I saw you do it and explain it so well. Thank you so much for posting each week and teaching this old lady so many things to improve her sewing.
Wonderful!!! I find your videos the greatest inspiration! The way you figure out the shapes and execute the designs is fantastic. You have a great talent. I’m a fashion designer and dressmaker’s daughter, so I can see the skill. Hope you don’t mind me taking inspiration, I have started my own channel a few months back and seeing you makes me want to carry on with my projects and ideas! Thank you for your videos 🤍🤍🤍
This is so cool! I took an old bed sheet, tie dyed it, and then made it into a shirred puff sleeve dress! First time doing lots of the techniques so I’m so pleased with how it turned out. Will have to try this next! X
this looks SO GOOD!!! I struggle a lot with this kind of neckline/shoulder, I never seem to get it right so that the sleeve doesn't want to fall off my shoulder and the neckline isn't too wide. This dress has inspired me to try yet again ❤
What a beautiful summer dress!! Your elastic method is different than I’m used to seeing in home sewing. When working with elastic, my gran would sew the hem/tube first and then slide the elastic through. When she’s satisfied with the look/fit then she’d just close it up and hand stitch the elastic in place at four points while someone else holds the thing open/stretched. Lol this looks so good!
You are absolutely amazing!! I had these same sheets but I used it a few months ago to make/donate masks lol Now I'm going to buy sheets to make this beautiful dress, wish me luck!! I just watched a video a few days ago on shirring fabric and have been wanting to try it - this might be a great dress to do it, thank you!!!
I found a sheet in the thrift store the other day and told myself I was gonna make a dress out of it! I'm glad you uploaded this video because I'm definitely using it as reference!
This is great because all I have to sew with right now are flat sheets! I just wish I could get my “new to me “sewing machine serviced so I could start learning how to use it. Hand sewn projects it is for now
coolirpa exactly i pull out the flat sheets from sets when I get them just because we never use them. They would just end up bunched at the foot of the bed
Same here. I'm just hand sewing until I get my spanking new sewing machine. I could take one of my mom's used one and help her declutter a little, but I want my own new one 🤷🏾♀️
Don't wait. Spend about $120 for a cheaper machine to practice on until your better machine can be serviced. (I own a Pfaff. I feel your pain.) You don't want to make mistakes and risk damaging your better machine while you're learning and practicing. The machines you can buy at the "blue and red" stores are great for learning the basics and inexpensive enough to be semi-disposable. They're also great as a backup should your primary machine need to go into the shop.
This reminds me of a dress from the 70s that my mom had, that I would always play dress-up with, and I’ve been wishing i still had it! Will definitely have to try making this :)
This is literally a perfect summer outfit...it is so attractive piece...no one can even think of making it with a bedsheet...you are just wow 😍 love from india❤👀
The puffy sleeves are so on trend yet the silhouette is classic and can be worn any spring or summer. I love it girl.
Thank you! 😊
Omg your channel is so aesthetically pleasing!🥰❤️
What an adorable dress! When I was little my mom sewed for me. She said she washed and ironed 30 little dresses each week when I was a year old. She continue to sew for me throughout grade school. Often she would say to look in the catalog and see what dress I would like. I am 75 years old so we wore dresses to school back in the day! She would then make a pattern and sew me a dress just like the one I chose in the catalog. Her mother attended a girls finishing school in Brooklyn NY where she learned how to make patterns out of newspaper. Grandma made dresses for all six of her daughters, each one got two new dresses for school every year. Otherwise they wore hand me downs. They used the old dresses as nightgowns. This skill came in handy for my grandma as she married a poor farmer in Nebraska. Her twin sister also married a poor farmer in Nebraska and had six daughters; however, she became a dressmaker for many women in her community. I have continued the tradition of making patterns from newspaper. I loved your video. TFS ♥️
My grandma used to sew my clothes for me when I was a little girl. She was a very accomplished seamstress. I remember once she made a jumper for me, and for the top part, she cut a paper towel into a heart-shape for the pattern.
Such a beautiful family story. I loved reading this. Thank you for sharing.
I really loved reading this. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful story❤ thank you for sharing ❤
Loved that you used bedsheets. I can think of so many cute little girl dresses with some of the kids' sheets. Of course, adults could have woodland animals too. And, imagine all of the skirts you could make from sheets.
Beautiful!
Here’s a n easier way to do gathers: use a wide zig zag stitch and sew over cotton crochet thread or string. It makes gatherings so much nicer, and no threat of the basting stitch breaking!
I tried it before and it was ok. Maybe wasn’t doing it correctly but will try again haha
Some use dental floss
coolirpa Definitely do what works best for you!
I have also tried these different methods and have gone back to the old standard, two lines of parallel stitches in the longest stitch length. I find that it gives me more control of exactly where to put the gathers, and when I stitch the finished seam, the gathers are very neatly controlled. Perhaps I am just a perfectionist, but if I am going to do the work myself, it better be the best.
I'm lazy so I invested in a gathering foot an a ruffler presser foot....a real time saving device!
So perfect and modest!!! Something like this is Easily $40 or more! I want to make one in every color with different types of sleeves! 😆
You have great a skill. It's a gift. You created this from scratch....even the "pattern" was from scratch. Love your work.....thanks for posting.
My children were annoyed I was watching this and saying they wanted to watch Avatar. Then they saw you were watching the third season in your phone 😂 Now they want you to make the fire dress for Katara 😂
I would second this motion
I really like when you use sheets, recycled clothes, sheers, etc to make your outfits. Your thrifted transformations series was my favorite. You have improved 1000% since you started. I like that you are ironing your clothes and material now. Really enjoy watching your videos.
I made almost the same dress last year! It being so hot here in Florida I didn't want so much fabric on the bottom, so I only added about 12 to 16 in more fabric for each tier. Came out just as good but did not have a ton of fabric to be hot and heavy. I also left out the sleeves and added straps. I wore it to a picnic the next day and it was wonderful!
I love this dress so much!
I love this dress so much, you made this video, instructions so easy to follow. I've made several. Especially loved the idea of using bed sheets. I bought material for my first, was much more costly. I love it but the next 2 I bought bedsheets from family dollar. Wow...I bought 2 twin size sets for $5 per set and had enough left over for p.j. pants. I love the slightly thinner, cooler material also. A beautiful dress and p.j.s for $10. Cant beat that. Thank you so much. All the women in my family wanted me to make them one....I offered to teach them to sew by making their own. It's so simple. So thankful for you sharing. Beautiful!!!
This literally IS the perfect summer dress! I absolutely love it! And the pattern of the bedsheet works! Ahhh so amazing as usual, April!
Thank you!!! I know, I saw the bedsheet print and was so inspired to make this! 😍
Super trendy! And the fabric is very beautiful
I loooove stuff made from bed sheets.
It's a cheap and easy source of a lot of wide fabric and the patterns are really varied. You can find some good stuff out there.
I will just never get over how talented you are!!
Perfect frolicking cottagecore dress! Im so adding more elastic to hug my entire upper torso!
Gorgeous! This dress is the sheet! lol Sorry, I couldn't pass up a goofy pun. Now I need to raid my linen closet.
I use sheets and shower curtains all the time for my projects
Gorgeous stylish dress. Looks great with the black sun hat.
I’ve sewn for many, many years and as I watch you make such beautiful clothes, I find myself wish I could sew as well as you do. Your creativity just amazes me. Great design too! Thank you for sharing! You are an inspiration!
Beautiful!! I love the way you have used the elastic on the bodice it's a great alternative to shirring.
Great job April on the dress, and Erik on 7:32 THAT shot 😱😍
This dress is so adorable. I love it
Love the sleeves and the tiered skirt🥰
This dress is so boho chic trendy 😍 another good one April
This is the exact type of dress tutorial I have been looking for. I always wanted to know how to do the skirt like that. Amazing!!
So pretty. Vintage percale sheets are great for this!
YES! Upcycling bedsheets is my favorite!! Love this dress, I’ve been sewing a lot of styles like this lately :)
Definitely stunning!
Would be fabulous without sleeves too!
That's so awesome! No one would ever guess that it was made from a bed sheet! That pattern is so adorable for that style dress!!!!
Beautiful Job April. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so talented! Love this dress! I honestly feel like you can turn anything into a cute outfit!
Thank you!!! 😍
Awesome! I have some old bedsheets that have holes in them that I have been trying to figure out what to do with. Now I have an idea! Thanks for sharing this!
I would love to see your version of a transformation dress.... I think that is what I am going to try on my next weeks video people are still voting so we will see... the way you create without a pattern is so amazing I love it because I don’t even know how to read a pattern all the way and I think is way better to do it your way and find something that already fits perfect and copy the lines out you have made my life crafting so much easier sending love stay safe 💕
You are so creative and talented. I love this dress!!! I started learning to sew and you are my muse. I watch all your videos even though I am much older lol (56 years old late start sewing) . I have been collecting bed sheets to practice before I buy fabric to allow myself time to learn more while I make mistakes. I also found I am not good following pattern directions but from your videos I learned to trace my clothes and adapt them to work from clothing I have that fits well because I saw you do it and explain it so well. Thank you so much for posting each week and teaching this old lady so many things to improve her sewing.
Hi April!! Wonderful vlog.. Love the dress, looks fabulous on you....
💜💜💜🧵🧵🧵
I've been designing a bedsheet summer dress n keep procrastinating, this is amazing!🙏 thank you!
Wonderful!!! I find your videos the greatest inspiration! The way you figure out the shapes and execute the designs is fantastic. You have a great talent.
I’m a fashion designer and dressmaker’s daughter, so I can see the skill. Hope you don’t mind me taking inspiration, I have started my own channel a few months back and seeing you makes me want to carry on with my projects and ideas!
Thank you for your videos 🤍🤍🤍
Omg I love it! Reformation vibes for sure!!
You never fail to impress me. Beautiful job!! ❤💃
you both inspire and intimidate me with your talent, April
I knew that fabric looked familiar, exactly what I have on my bed right now. And finally I have a use for the flat sheet!
I love this! Looks so fresh and summery!!
The dress is so so cute and the cinematography at the end is absolutely breathtaking
Beautiful, love watching your summer dress videos
Those sleeves are so good!
wow this truly is THE PERFECT summer dress! i would love to make a version of this as a top for a more casual look! :)
This is soooo awesome! April you are so insanely talented and creative! I’m just so in love with the puffy sleeves! 🥰❤️
This is so cool! I took an old bed sheet, tie dyed it, and then made it into a shirred puff sleeve dress! First time doing lots of the techniques so I’m so pleased with how it turned out. Will have to try this next! X
OMG, i love the dress, and love the fabric. Do more drees!! Love them
this looks SO GOOD!!! I struggle a lot with this kind of neckline/shoulder, I never seem to get it right so that the sleeve doesn't want to fall off my shoulder and the neckline isn't too wide. This dress has inspired me to try yet again ❤
What a beautiful summer dress!! Your elastic method is different than I’m used to seeing in home sewing. When working with elastic, my gran would sew the hem/tube first and then slide the elastic through. When she’s satisfied with the look/fit then she’d just close it up and hand stitch the elastic in place at four points while someone else holds the thing open/stretched. Lol this looks so good!
You are absolutely amazing!! I had these same sheets but I used it a few months ago to make/donate masks lol Now I'm going to buy sheets to make this beautiful dress, wish me luck!! I just watched a video a few days ago on shirring fabric and have been wanting to try it - this might be a great dress to do it, thank you!!!
yuchan6864 I’d love to see a drawing of where you would put the shirring!
I love how the sleeves can be adjusted so easily! This dress is all sorts of beautiful and functional 😍
Great project. The styling and beautiful natural backdrop were spot on!
Wow!! It's a runway look! ❤
OMG,That's super cute. Time for me to hit the thrift stores.
You're so talented, and I'm in awe of how you completely transform all kinds of clothing and other fabric items. ❤❤❤
I used to have these sheets! What a beautiful dress.
It's beautiful and so easy to make. Just what I was looking for thank you so much
Love, love, love the dress. It's simple and beautiful too.
I found a sheet in the thrift store the other day and told myself I was gonna make a dress out of it! I'm glad you uploaded this video because I'm definitely using it as reference!
Incredibly beautiful!!
Love it. It has a chemise a la reign feel about it, especially the bodice and sleeves.
I’ve been a subscriber for a long time and this may be my favorite video! So flattering for every body type.
This is great because all I have to sew with right now are flat sheets! I just wish I could get my “new to me “sewing machine serviced so I could start learning how to use it. Hand sewn projects it is for now
My flat sheets are barely used as much as my fitted ones! Such a great project for them:)
coolirpa exactly i pull out the flat sheets from sets when I get them just because we never use them. They would just end up bunched at the foot of the bed
Same here. I'm just hand sewing until I get my spanking new sewing machine. I could take one of my mom's used one and help her declutter a little, but I want my own new one 🤷🏾♀️
Don't wait. Spend about $120 for a cheaper machine to practice on until your better machine can be serviced. (I own a Pfaff. I feel your pain.) You don't want to make mistakes and risk damaging your better machine while you're learning and practicing.
The machines you can buy at the "blue and red" stores are great for learning the basics and inexpensive enough to be semi-disposable. They're also great as a backup should your primary machine need to go into the shop.
Absolutely gorgeous 😍😍 I want one!
it's winter here where i live, but i'm still super interested in this dress 😅
This reminds me of a dress from the 70s that my mom had, that I would always play dress-up with, and I’ve been wishing i still had it! Will definitely have to try making this :)
Sew adorable!! You're very inspiring!
This dress looks so awsm , doesn't look lyk a Diy..rathr looks lyk a dress from high end designer brand..loved d idea of using bedsheet😍👍
Love this dress! It’s adorable!!
Love love love this dress! So excited to try to make it!
The dress looks SO good on you!
I so need to go thrifting for a bed set!
Brilliant, looks great on you 👍🏾
Bellissimo 😍😍😍
This looks really cute on you! Well done :)
this looks like the most comfortable dress ever :D
That dress is so cute!! I love how timeless it looks :))
So beautifully made! 💛
This will be the pattern for my wedding dress!! Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️🌻🌻🌻
Love your work April ❤️❤️
you make it look so easy April, i have to try this! 💕
Wow... Absolutely stunning
Beautiful dress👍
Absolutely gorgeous. I can easily say this my favourite thing I see you make. Good job!
April this is amazing and on point. Good job hun. I love it!!!!
Super cute!!!!!☺ great job!
yeah, i totally dig this. time to delve into the stash 😁
It looks so cute on you! 💖
Congrats on 2 mil! I love your videos...always so creative and beautiful!
This came out so good! The clips of you in the field at the end are so beautiful!!!
This is so beautiful!! Can’t wait to try and make this dress 👗 xx
Girl yes this dress is on point!
I instantly thought of the Enchanted movie with Amy Adams though LOL
This is literally a perfect summer outfit...it is so attractive piece...no one can even think of making it with a bedsheet...you are just wow 😍 love from india❤👀
It is gorgeous and straight forward.
Your videos always inspire me :D I hope to some day make my entire wardrobe from scratch ~
I just made a wrap-front jumpsuit from bedsheets! The sateen was a perfect weight! I’m gonna make a cami and shorts set out of the fitted sheet.
Love this style!
Beautiful and inspiring!