Q&A for How to Sew a Dress

Practice! I love zippers and they are also very intimidating. You can install a regular zipper with a normal foot, but if you want to master invisible zippers (and also learn to sew on lace, sew over beading, and do other magic sewing tricks), get acquainted with your zipper foot will change your sewing life. I recommend Youtube for good videos you can sew along too, especially for trickier types of closures like hidden zippers.

Wear a bra that is unpadded and measure above your bust (the tape will be in your armpits), at the fullest part of your bust, and then below your bust. Most commercial patterns will give you more ease around the bust and waist than you will probably want, so just be aware of that as you choose your pattern.

Yes. Make sure you have parental permission first. Ask your mom or dad to go shop for fabric, and make sure you have supervision while using a machine. A sewing machine can be very dangerous if used incorrectly.

The only way to make it longer is if you have extra material. Buy at least three yards of fabric just to be on the safe side. Once the fabric's been cut, however, you can no longer change the length.

Cut excess fabric to the size of your (or someone else's) arm, pin it to the shirt, the sew it on with the dress inside out.

Yes, you can. It just requires a steady hand and a good eye.

You just leave it blank and sew an elastic on so it won't fall off you. Make sure it is not too tight; you have to measure correctly.

To sew a dress you need the bust size, the waist size and the hip size.

See Use a Sewing Machine and articles related to the garment(s) you're sewing for specific advice.

A Cool Maker generally will not work for anything but felt, which you should not make a dress from.

It depends. If you are using a sewing machine, it is will be easier to make. If you are sewing with thread and needle, then it will be harder to make.

Use a piece of chalk to outline what you are going to cut, then use sewing scissors to carefully cut it out. Sewing scissors are important because they are sharp and meant for cutting fabric properly.