FREE blessing dress pattern + tutorial

As promised, here is the blessing DRESS pattern and tutorial from this baby blessing outfit! This blessing dress pattern was so fun to make. It looks really fancy, but you’ll be surprised at how simple it actually is. I posted the coordinating bonnet tutorial last week in this post.

I wanted a super frilly and really long dress for Mae’s blessing. I used an off-white linen and 3 different kinds of lace. I love the vintage feel it has, but I did give it a more modern sleeve. I am super happy with how it turned out, we had a fun and great day with her in this dress!

The lace is really the selling point for this gown!

I started by just making the bonnet and I wasn’t quite sure if I would even make the dress, we had another on hand. But I got going and it was just too fun.

Blessing Gown Materials:

-2 yards off-white linen (or cotton)
-2 yards cheapish lace for the skirt
mine was from my stash, but here are some good ones: White Raschel Lace, Stretch Floral Lace
–9.5″ lace trim
–4 1/4″ lace trim 
-one 3/8″ button
-pattern download, see below

BLESSING DRESS 0-3M

Let’s get sewing!

Christening Gown Instructions

Use 3/8″ seam allowance.

Print off the pattern pieces and tape them together. The paper will print out on A4 or 8.5″ by 11″ paper. Be sure to print at 100% scaling or NO SCALE.

The layout will look like this:

Cut the following from your fabric:
-1 front bodice linen (on fold)
-2 back bodices linen
-1 skirt front from linen (on fold)
-1 skirt back from linen (on fold)
-2 sleeves from linen (on fold)

Also cut:

-1 skirt front lace (on fold)

-1 skirt back lace (on fold)

First we’ll overlay the front and back bodice pieces. Use the 9.5″ lace to cover the front and back bodice pieces. On the front, hang the scalloped edge over the bottom of the bodice about 1/2″. Pin the lace on and baste around neckline, shoulder and armholes. Trim lace. Overlay the entire back bodice piece and baste all around. Trim and repeat so you have two fully covered back pieces.

Fold the sleeve in half along the center, or the fold line on the pattern piece. Overlay the smaller lace along the folded edge of the sleeve and baste. Trim around the edges.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Sew two rows of baste stitching along the curve of the sleeve. Pull the threads to gather the fabric.

Sew front and back bodice pieces together at the shoulder. Right sides will be together. Press open.

Insert the sleeves into the armscye by pinning it in. Pull the threads to gather more as needed. Taper the sleeve as you go to fit it into the curve.

Finish the neckline with a serger, zig zag stitch or fray check. Fold under 1/4″ around the neckline, press and sew.

Finish back center seam by finishing edge and then press under 1/2″. Stitch.

Lay the front lace skirt piece over the front linen skirt piece and baste together. Sew 2 rows of baste stitching along the top of the skirt piece to gather the fabric.

Pull the ends of the threads to gather fabric. Continue to gather until the top of the skirt matches the bodice bottom’s width.

Sew together with right sides together, making sure to flip the scallop lace edge out of the way. After you’ve sewn the skirt to the bodice, finish the seam allowance and topstitch along the bodice edge. Flip the scallop lace piece back over the top.

Sew the back bodice pieces together at the bottom edge, overlapping 1/4″. Gather the back skirt pieces the same way you gathered the front and match up with the back bodice edge.

Sew skirt to bodice, finish seam allowance and topstitch along bodice. Add a button and buttonhole at the top of the bodice back.

Fold dress in half at the shoulders with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER. Match up the skirts and bodice at the side seams and sew. Finish seam allowance.

Finish the hem by finishing the edge and then pressing under 1/2″. Sew.

Attach the 9.5″ lace around the whole bottom of the skirt, starting at one side seam and finishing at the same side seam. Sew the lace so that it hangs about 4-5″ off the skirt hem. Trim the excess lace and sew the edges together at the side seam using a zig zag stitch.

All done!

^^Since the lace overlay is loose at the bottom it will scrunch up. If that bothers you, feel free to topstitch it along the bottom of the bodice. You won’t really see the topstitching.