With a small piece of paper or scrap fabric, cut a rectangle 2″ x 4″ for sizes 12 months through 4T and 2" x 5" for 5T through 10/12.

Now draw a curved line to round off one edge of the piece. This will be your pattern piece to create arm hole areas on the bodice.

To create the armholes from the paper pattern you just created, fold one main dress piece in half with right sides together. Line up your little pattern piece with the outside and top edges of the bodice.

Cut around the pattern piece.

Repeat with the other sleeve piece along that same main dress piece.

Now that the sleeve pieces are sewn onto one of the main dress pieces, it is time to bring in the other main dress piece. Line up one sleeve with the other main dress piece along the armhole, with right sides together.

Sew along the curved sleeve with a 1/4" seam.

Repeat with the other sleeve, so that the four pieces (the two main pieces and the two sleeve pieces) are attached in a circular fashion.

Fold the dress in half with right sides together, so that the bottom raw edges of the two main pieces are lined up.

With the front main piece and back main piece lined up at the armpit, pin from the bottom of the hem all the way up around the armpit and to the bottom of the sleeve.

Repeat with the other side of the dress.

Sew up the side seam and down the inside of the sleeve with a 1/2" seam.

Repeat with the other side.

Finish off the raw edges inside with a serger or tight zigzag stitch.

Fold the top edge of the dress down 1/2" and then another 1/2", with the raw edges hidden inside.

Press in place.

Sew the neck casing down with a 1/2" seam, leaving a 1" space open for the elastic.

Use a safety pin to push the 3/8" piece of elastic through the casing (refer to the sizing guide for the length).

Overlap the two ends of the elastic about 1"; back and forward stitch several times over the elastic to attach it together and make sure it doesn't come out.

Sew the elastic opening closed with a topstitch.

Hem the sleevesPress the ends of the sleeves up about 5/8" and then another 5/8", hiding the raw edges inside.

Sew the sleeve hem in place with about a 1/2" seam.
*You can make the sleeves longer for a long sleeve dress, or crop them for a short sleeve dress.

Add the waist tie and elastic waistline:
On the short ends of the waist tie piece, press over ½” toward the “wrong side” of the fabric.

Fold the waist tie piece in half all the way down the long side, right sides together, and sew a ¼” seam. Leave the two ends open at this point.

Using a large safety pin at one corner, turn the waist tie piece right side out.

Press the seam flat.

Line up the middle of the waist tie piece with the middle of the dress and pin it in place. (Refer to the waist tie placement guide below to find out how far down the waist tie should go for the size that you are making. For example, after I centered the waist tie on the dress, I placed the top of my size 8 daughter's waist tie 7" down from the finished neckline.)

Sew a narrow seam along the top of the waist tie, from one side seam to the other.

Repeat with the bottom of the waist tie piece.

For the two ends of the waist tie that are still hanging off the dress, topstitch all the way around with a narrow seam.

Push the 1" elastic piece through the waist tie, attached to the front of the dress, with a large safety pin.

Secure it at both ends of the elastic, near the side seams with several back and forward stitches to hold it in place.

Stitch just beyond the elastic on both side seams to hide the elastic inside.

Hem The Skirt (Option 1)
Fold the bottom hem up 5/8" and then another 5/8", hiding the raw edges inside.

Press in place.

Sew all the way around with a 1/2" seam, making sure to back and forward stitch.

Add The Ruffle (Option 2)
Stitch the two ruffle pieces together at the two short ends, with right sides together, with a 1/2" seam.

Use a serger or tight zigzag stitch to finish off the raw edges.

To sew a hem in the bottom of the ruffle piece, press the bottom of the ruffle up about 5/8"" and then another 5/8", hiding the raw edges inside.

Sew the hem in place with about a 1/2" seam.

Sew a gathering stitch in the top of the ruffle piece.

Pull the gather strings until the size of the ruffle piece matches the bottom of the dress piece.

Pin the ruffle piece to the main dress piece with right sides together, and the side seams lined up.

Sew the ruffle to the main dress piece, sewing closely to the gathering stitch.

Use a zigzag stitch or serger to finish the seam.