Galdana Dress
A tutorial you’ll fall in love with! We’re making a cool, comfortable, and beautiful summer dress with straps for girls. Once you make one, you won’t be able to stop.
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This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
What you’ll make
Make the Galdana, a relaxed summer dress for children with shoulder straps and snap fasteners. Its sleeveless shape is adapted from the Maó Dress.
The dress is designed for stretch fabric and has facings for a clean upper edge. Its roomy shape allows comfortable movement in warm weather.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Trace the Maó size and preserve its markings.
- Convert the short-sleeve pattern to straps.
- Extend each back strap by 5 cm.
- Draft matching front and back facings.
- Place the pattern for print direction and crosswise stretch.
- Sew knit fabric without stretching the seams.
- Align the facings and install snaps.
Choosing fabric
Choose a knit with some stretch, such as jersey, lightweight sweatshirt knit, viscose knit or modal. Place the greatest stretch across the body rather than vertically.
A ballpoint or jersey needle and a walking foot help handle the knit. Without a serger, use a regular seam with a zigzag finish as demonstrated.
Make it your own
For larger children’s sizes, check the strap width at the shoulder and narrow it if it feels too broad.
Use snaps as shown, substitute a button and buttonhole or add two snap positions. Leave the hem raw, serge it or finish it with a turned hem.
Pattern size range
The Maó base patterns cover 0–3 months through ages 5–6 and ages 7–8 through 12–13. Trace the required size before making the Galdana alterations shown in class.
The video class includes the two downloadable Maó base patterns used for the Galdana adaptation.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.
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