Beach dresses are products with a spacious cut made of light, flowing fabrics for hot climates. The purpose of some styles of beach dresses is limited to the swimming area, pool area or terrace. Other models are no different from things typical for spring-summer street fashion, or from classic cocktail dresses.
Patterns are usually simple to construct, and sewing products does not require special skills. The process of processing a beach dress can take about 5 minutes. A beach dress can also be made from a pareo scarf.
Creating a pattern and cutting material
To create a pattern or cut fabric without a previously drawn pattern, it is important to know the parameters of the figure.
Required measurements:
- length of shoulder, front and back to waist;
- half-circumference of the waist, chest, hips and neck.
The length of the product is also indicated in advance. When developing a beach dress pattern, a small increase is included in the measurements for a looser fit. When cutting symmetrical items, use half values. The finished pattern is folded in half, thus checking the specularity of the lines.
You can avoid cutting errors if you first draw the pattern on a sheet of tracing paper or graph paper.
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How to make a beautiful dress model for curvy ladies
For overweight ladies, the so-called “square-vest” model is ideal.
First you need to cut a rectangle out of fabric, fold it in half, and draw a shoulder line from the middle. Mark the neckline (about 30 cm), cut it, try it on and make sure it fits. Start sewing the sides, leaving armholes. Next, work on the bottom, neckline and armhole. If the material does not fray (not knitwear), you can not process it at all. This style is best made from chiffon.
Tips for cutting and sewing
To make summer clothes, especially for the beach, you don’t need to look for complex patterns and sewing techniques. The best options would be elementary patterns with a minimum number of seams.
Some tips on how to sew a beach pareo with your own hands if you have no experience in cutting and sewing:
- It is necessary to qualitatively trim fabric sections, if any. Threads hanging from the finished product will be a sign of sloppiness and unfinishment.
- If it is not possible to process the cuts with an overlocker, then you can use a satin ribbon or braid. A piece of fabric is placed in it and stitched.
- There is no need to make additional cuts or create many seams. It is better to use decorative elements as clamps and holders.
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Cutting and sewing
Important! For more complex manipulations in terms of sewing, it is worth considering more complex options for work, so the advice will be more meaningful.
When choosing tools and materials, you need to stock up on only high-quality devices with sharp blades. The color of the threads should match the base tone of the item.
Knitting a cape
In order to crochet a beach cape, we will need:
- hook;
- synthetic yarn, for example, microfiber and polyamide.
If the cells are large, then it will not be hot in it. In addition, synthetics are distinguished by bright colors, shine, interesting yarn twist and silk texture. But if desired, you can use cotton or linen yarn. Many patterns contain tips on choosing yarn. But it is best to first make a sample of at least 10 by 10 square centimeters, which will allow you to analyze the data, calculate the rapport and compare the result with a schematic image.
The finished product must be:
- With a mesh or openwork pattern;
- Have universal colors;
- Combination with a swimsuit;
- Free model;
- Short length.
The purpose of a tunic worn over a swimsuit is not to hide it and the body, but to emphasize beauty, creating a beautiful appearance.
The cape of this model consists of 4 rectangular parts connected with a fillet pattern. It can only be made from cells with small decorative elements. If you wish, you can make armholes on the back and front, and roll-ups on the sleeves. With the help of a fillet pattern, the fabric is plastic and soft.
The fillet pattern makes it possible to obtain a plastic and soft fabric, so don’t even worry about the folds of the square sleeves, because they will not spoil the pleasant impression of the item.
The fillet network is created by combining double crochets, chain stitches and single crochets. The most popular techniques for creating this pattern are:
- Creating a canvas from semicircular cells, that is, from five air loops and single crochet columns;
- Nets with square-shaped cells, that is, from double crochets and two air loops.
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The cape like in the image above is knitted using the first technique.
Necessary tools and preparatory work
Strict adherence to the sequence of work stages will help you sew a beach dress quickly and efficiently. Once the pattern has been selected, it is important to prepare all the necessary equipment for work.
To sew a beach sundress you will need:
- sewing machine (it’s good if it’s electric with an overlock function);
- tailor's scissors;
- pins, measuring tape, tailor's patterns if possible;
- various decorative elements (cords, lace, braid, buttons, zippers, elastic band).
Separately, it is worth studying the issue of material selection. Beachwear is made from natural, hygroscopic fabrics. Textured linen, light staple, and openwork lace are ideal. Never use synthetic, thick fabrics for beach dresses. It is simply impossible to wear such outfits in the heat.
The selected material must be properly prepared before work. The fabric is decated (moistened and ironed) so that the fabric shrinks as much as possible. Such manipulations will help to avoid annoying situations when an already sewn dress shrinks to size after the first wash. Then loose sections of matter are processed with a closed seam. If the fabric does not fray, then the bottom of the beach sundress can be left untreated. For a beach dress, a piece of fabric 100 cm long and 120 cm wide is sufficient.
How to wear a pareo
A pareo is a very functional large size beach scarf that can be tied in several different ways. There are completely simple and well-known options, but some are complex in terms of implementation and require preparation.
Options for wearing pareos
From an ordinary scarf you can make not only a skirt, but also a real dress. You can create a “suit” that will follow the contours of the swimsuit. Some girls use such patterns for tying pareos not only on the beach.
Tunic options
Every girl, girl or woman has in her wardrobe a light tunic or pareo for going to the beach. Beach scarves can additionally become a wonderful basis for sewing diverse summer items. It turns out that working with such material will not present many difficulties and will be within the capabilities of a novice needlewoman.
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Sewing the product
A beach dress is easy to create with your own hands. Often, a complex pattern is not even required. A piece of beautiful, flowing fabric (a ready-made pareo is perfect) and in ten minutes the sundress for a beach holiday is ready. When creating a pattern, it is important to maintain the symmetry of the parts and do not forget to leave allowances for a loose fit and seams.
On the drawstring
If you want to sew a beach dress with a drawstring with your own hands, the first thing you need to do is choose a fabric. It will be good if they are light, translucent fabrics that do not crumble when cut (for example, spandex or lycra). To work, you will need a cut no more than a meter long. You will also need sharp tailor's scissors, a sewing machine, thread and needles.
Sequencing:
- A 2 cm strip is cut along the edge of the fabric. The cut edge is carefully folded inward, and the improvised lace is stitched on a sewing machine. The steps can be simplified by purchasing a ready-made decorative cord in the store.
- The upper right and left corners of the fabric cut are folded so that a drawstring is formed. It is also sewn on a machine.
- A lace is threaded into each drawstring so that a ring is formed.
- We try on the finished dress. To do this, put a ring of decorative cord on one shoulder, wrap a piece of fabric around the body and fix the fabric on the other shoulder using a ring of decorative cord.
Another option for a beach dress with a drawstring is possible. To make it, two rectangular pieces are cut out of fabric. The width of the product is the volume of the chest with an allowance for a loose fit. The rectangles are sewn along the side line. The bottom of the product is folded and stitched. The upper section of the fabric is folded and stitched, but later a decorative ribbon will be threaded into the resulting drawstring. With its help, the dress is fixed on the shoulder.
Wide sundress
The main point in sewing a wide sundress for the beach is to correctly choose the right fabric for the texture. It should be a light, flowing material that forms soft folds. As an option, underwear knitwear, jersey, natural silk, and satin are considered.
Next, all the steps are simple and clear:
- We select a T-shirt of the desired size and trace it in a circle on a sheet of Whatman paper or graph paper. The length is determined as desired. You can achieve symmetry of the pattern lines by bending the piece along the center fold line.
For girls with a large bust or ladies expecting a baby, the front hem line needs to be made a little longer. Otherwise, when landing, the dress will ride up and look very ugly.
- We place the pattern on the selected piece of fabric, trace it, and cut it out taking into account the seam allowances.
- We sew the seams along the shoulder line and side sections. After preliminary fitting, if the product fits the figure well, the basting can be sewn on a sewing machine.
- We process the neckline area and sleeve line. The easiest option is to fold the edges of the fabric inward and stitch. The finishing can be complicated. To do this, bias tape is purchased in hardware stores, which is used to process the cut of the armhole or neckline.
Square vest
It’s easy to sew a light beach dress with your own hands. It is enough to show a little patience and carefully study the main stages of the work.
The pattern of a beach sundress like a vest looks like a square. To work, you will need a piece of fabric whose length is twice the width. The cut is folded in half and the shoulder lines are marked along the center fold line. To do this, the fold is divided into three equal parts. A neck of the desired shape is cut in the center. Having determined the depth of the armhole, we sew two pieces of cut along the side seams.
If you want to diversify the silhouette along the front and back, you can make an assembly. To do this, attach a drawstring to the wrong side, which is then tightened. You can sew a vest dress from a pareo. In this case, there is no need to process the bottom edge.
Step-by-step instructions for sewing the best models
Sewing beach or summer tunics from pareos or light fabric can come down to completely basic manipulations - the formation of short seams. You can also sew a beach scarf in advance. The pareo pattern is a square or rectangle, the cut edges of which require overlaying. Next, a tunic model and the simplest option for sewing it are selected.
Sewing tools
Each model has its own sewing pattern. This manual may have some recommendations and clear instructions. If you follow all the recommendations, then making a summer item will not be too difficult.
Silk pareo tunic
If you take a silk pareo as a base, you can get a very light and beautiful tunic. You can use this thing for going to the beach and walking around the city. You can sew such a thing as follows:
- Fold the top edge along the neck line and iron it. This element is formed according to the principle of a turn-down collar.
- In the shoulder area, make a seam 10-15 cm long. To make a more open turn of the shoulders, then 2-3 cm is enough.
- You can connect the details of the shoulder seams with large buttons or brooches. Regular pins will do.
- The location of the side seams needs to be adjusted to fit the figure, so fitting is required. It is advisable to try on the blank at each stage of the formation of a new element.
- On a tunic made from scarves, 10-15 cm may remain free from the edges to the seam. This seam length can be adjusted as desired.
- The main seam is formed from the armpit to the hips. You can shorten its duration by stepping back a few cm from the indicated points. Then the thing will turn out to be more spacious and lighter.
Pareo tunic
In this case, you do not need to have any special skills in terms of creating a pattern or sewing - production is done through basic manipulations with a needle and thread.
Tunic "sun"
The simplest option for sewing a tunic seems to be a simple “sun” pattern. To work, you need to prepare a piece of fabric, chalk, scissors, and a needle and thread. To create such a masterpiece, you should use the following manufacturing scheme:
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Tunic-sun
The finished item can be worn on the beach. If you are interested in decorating the neck area, then the tunic can be perfectly combined with a pencil skirt and classic-cut trousers. Can be combined with other types of products.
Bat tunic
It is quite simple to sew a pareo for obese women with your own hands, but then it can be reconstructed into a unique tunic. Such a thing will be more functional and visually attractive. You can turn a beach scarf into a blouse, which is known as a “bat”. You can use this pattern as a basis:
Pattern "bat"
There is another, namely a more modern option - boho. The main thing here is to stick to a loose cut, which will emphasize the features of the figure in some places. This is the simplest type of sewing pattern:
Boho style tunic
It combines a spacious silhouette of the entire product and a framing detail in the form of an elastic band, which can emphasize a full bust. An adjustable belt can serve as this type of accessory.
Tunic with spaghetti straps in fine jersey
A regular pareo seems like too simple a beachwear option. Usually, many problems arise in the process of fixing a beach scarf on the body. It seems that there is a huge variety of fixation options, but there is no one that is most convenient.
To avoid such trouble, it is worth making an improved model of this accessory. You can sew a pareo with straps yourself using a simple pattern:
Tunic with straps
Typically, thin knitwear is used for this option. At the same time, an ordinary pareo turns into a multifunctional sundress.
Additional Information! Patterning a pareo with straps involves using knitted fabric, a sewing machine and 1 meter of elastic (ribbon).
You need to cut out a rectangle, the sections of which need to be overlaid. Sew elastic bands in the form of loops onto the symmetrical corners. It is important that the diameter of the formed loop is several cm larger than the circumference of the arm in the shoulder and armpit area.
Cotton tunic without pattern
You can sew an ultra-fashionable and easy-to-make cotton tunic. The material will be pleasant to the touch, the skin will not “burn” in the sun. In this case, there is absolutely no need to build a complex pattern, a simple diagram is enough:
Cotton tunic without pattern
This model will have a strap, which is a fastener for the whole thing. You need to cut out two rectangles. Sew them together. Tuck the fabric on one side and form a tube. Thread a ribbon into this tunnel. As a retainer for such a ribbon, you can use a lush bow created from the ends of the ribbon itself.
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Simple tunic made of light chiffon
A simple pattern can be a wonderful basis for a graceful and elegant tunic. Chiffon always remains a relevant material not only for the beach, but also for everyday wear. This is possible if multi-colored chiffon is used as the base material.
Sketch for a chiffon tunic
You can use a chiffon beach scarf as a base. This fabric is light and pleasant to the touch, easy to work with. Thanks to its bright colors, it does not require additional decorative finishing.
Tunic made of bright scarves
To make a tunic or summer sundress for going to the beach, you can use pareos or light scarves as a base. They can be completely different in color, but fit within the general concept. You can make the simplest type of thing using the following scheme:
Scarf tunic
Pareo-tunics for the beach are easy to sew if you have a few beach scarves in stock, which came with already worn out and discarded swimsuits. This way you can get a new item and get rid of items you have lying around.
Model options without patterns
You can sew a comfortable, beautiful summer dress for a beach holiday with your own hands without a pattern. One option is a bandeau dress. This is a strapless dress model with a bodice stitched with elastic threads.
Main stages of work:
- Two rectangular cuts (the width is equal to the volume of the chest with an allowance for a loose fit) are sewn together on the sides.
- Marks are made along the bodice line for sewing in elastic bands. In order to correctly determine the bodice area, the rectangular section is conventionally divided into six equal parts. The upper part is the area for sewing in elastic threads.
As an option, one elastic band can be sewn only along the upper edge of the dress and several at the waist. Let's consider another option for a very spectacular summer beach dress with draperies. To sew it, you need to prepare a rectangular piece of fabric at least two meters long (the length is determined by the parameters of the chest volume and the frequency of assembly on the sundress). The fabric chosen is light, flowing, and easily gathers into beautiful folds.
The dress will have only one seam - along the back. Next, the fabric is cut in the center (the fabric is folded in half), defining the neckline area.
The upper edge of the fabric is folded with a drawstring and stitched on a sewing machine. Next, a decorative ribbon is pulled into it. The ends of the drawstring are pulled together on the chest and tied into a beautiful bow. If desired, the ends can be tied at the back of the neck. A beautiful summer dress will not only diversify your wardrobe, but will also help protect your beauty’s delicate skin from the scorching sun and effectively highlight your figure.
Beach cover-up
Making a cape with your own hands is not difficult. To do this you will need fabric and some free time. Even a novice needlewoman will cope with the task and will be able to bring any ideas to life.
You don't even need a sewing machine to create a cape. And the process itself will take no more than 5 minutes.
- knitted fabric 108x160 cm;
- scissors;
- chalk.
- Fold the material in half. Make sure the front side is on the inside.
- We measure 9 cm from the top along the fold and make a mark. We retreat 18 cm from this point and make another mark.
- We measure the center between the marks, draw lines 18 cm long. We do this at a right angle.
- Smoothly connect all 3 marks, cut out a piece of fabric.
- Let's try on the outfit. We thread the arms and shoulders through the neckline.
The fashionable cape is ready, you can tie it in different ways. If you want, you should attach your favorite brooch, it will help complement the image.
When packing your bags for vacation, you need to think about summer outfits. It turns out that you can easily make them yourself. Even a beginner can handle the job. Such capes and pareos will attract everyone's attention and allow you to stand out in the crowd. What else do you need for an unforgettable vacation and a good mood?
A serious debate broke out in our editorial office about whether this thing, a pareo, is a good thing. I believe that you should not ignore this piece of fabric, but just learn how to wear it. The advantages of a pareo over other things that can replace it (dress, tunic, towel) are undeniable.
A flowing fluttering translucent pareo turns a girl walking along the beach into a nymph who has emerged from the sea foam, the waves echo her steps, the wind blows her hair, and the sun flirts with her, reflecting and sparkling in the lenses of her glasses. Such a picture, you see, cannot leave either men hungry for female beauty or women on the beach indifferent.
Fabric selection
Summer versions of airy blouses and dresses for the beach and summer walks should accordingly be made from light, breathable fabrics. In some, more complex options, several types of fabrics are combined, which as a result form a wonderful ensemble of colors and textures.
Pareo and beach tunics
Note! It is better to choose exclusively natural textiles as a base, since synthetics can cause allergies.
The most popular base materials are the following options:
- plain or multi-colored chiffon;
- natural silk of different colors;
- thin cotton;
- summer knitwear.
Fabric options
It is worth paying attention to the color of the material. Much depends on where exactly the product will be used. For the beach and walks, bright colors with a plot pattern can be used. For women, it is better to choose plain fabrics.
Child model
The method for creating a beach cape for a child is very similar, only the materials differ. You can combine a cape with a towel and create not only a beautiful, but also a useful thing that will protect your baby from the sun and wind.
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Below is a selection of dress and cover up ideas for the beach. Easy to sew patterns for quickly creating a beautiful outfit.
Pattern of a beach cape with an open shoulder.
Short sleeve cape option.
You can also sew a beach tunic with long sleeves.
A beach cape made by yourself will create an unusual and unique look, helping you to be irresistible. It is worth paying attention to the color scheme: bright colors will attract attention in the daytime, black color is perfect for evening walks, white color will add lightness and help hide from the sun. Additional accessories, such as a belt or bracelet, will look beautiful.
Construction of beach dress patterns
A beach dress pattern is usually a rectangle drawn on paper or an outline drawn directly onto the fabric. Patterns for most models are based on the principle of symmetry of two main parts.
It is more convenient to work with the simplest designs of beach dresses with a drawstring, based on a square pattern, based on a T-shirt, with a rubberized bodice.
Beach dress with drawstring
The cutting of different styles of dresses using a drawstring (a hollow strip of material to tie it together) is elementary.
For the sareo dress model, you will need one piece of fabric equal to the width of the hip circumference with the addition of the desired width of the wrap. The length of the canvas corresponds to the desired length of the product.
- Fold the fabric in half, cut off the upper right and left corners according to the size of the armhole.
- Create a narrow drawstring, securing it with machine stitching.
- Sew two laces from two strips of fabric.
- Thread laces through both drawstrings.
- The bottom can be rounded or decorated with flounces.
- They put on the dress by wrapping it in linen and threading their arms through the straps of opposite corners. Worn over a tank top or T-shirt.
A variation of the dress with a drawstring consists of two rectangles of the same size.
- Machine stitch the two sides together.
- Decorate the upper edges of the front and back in the form of drawstrings.
- Thread two ribbons into the resulting cavities, which will be tied on both shoulders.
- The product can be made fitted if the side seams are curved at the desired level. Provide the side seam at the same height with a hidden zipper.
The pattern for a dress with a drawstring with drapery is one rectangle of sufficient length necessary for the folds of the desired thickness.
- In the center of the rectangle, make a 5-10 cm incision equal to the desired neckline depth.
- The upper edge of the canvas is drawn into a drawstring along the entire width.
- Thread two ribbons into the cavity (from both edges to the neckline slits).
- Sew the ends of the ribbons into the only seam of the dress on the back.
- When worn, the ends of the ribbons coming out of the neckline are tied at the back of the neck. The dress is secured with tape under the bust.
Square beach dress
A square dress is constructed using the principle of a rectangle pattern.
- Take a piece of fabric whose length is twice the width.
- In the middle of the rectangle, mark a line of shoulders dividing the material into equal squares (front and back).
- Exactly in the center of the shoulder line, cut a segment - the neckline of the desired configuration.
- Mark the width of the armhole and machine stitch the side edges together.
Based on a square dress, a drawing of a model with sleeves and a V-shaped neck is built.
- Provide a rectangular pattern with trapezoidal sleeves. The perpendicular emanating from the smaller base of each trapezoid should coincide with the line of the neck. Sleeves can be rectangular.
- Mark and cut out the neck hole.
- In the center of the front of the product and (or) on the back, you can make an assembly using an elastic band (drawstring) sewn on the wrong side.
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Chiffon tunic
The first option is as simple as possible: sewing a garment does not involve any cutting, and therefore even a beginner in sewing can cope with this task. The only difficulty at first glance is processing the edges of the chiffon product. But after such an experience it will be easy to make a scarf or pareo from this summer fabric.
For a tunic, in addition to regular chiffon, you can take crepe chiffon or viscose chiffon, as well as staple, cambric, silk and cotton. You need to choose a fabric that is plain or with a chaotic pattern, since tailoring involves a single piece of fabric. A print that has a specific direction (vertical, horizontal, angular) may look strange and even ridiculous when turned over.
For a tunic you will need a cut 2-2.5 m long and 1-1.5 m wide, depending on the height and volume of the figure. It is worth buying with a 20 cm margin in width, then there will be enough for a belt and trim for finishing the neckline (the fabric for them must be cut in advance).
The process then proceeds according to the following plan:
- Do a test on a small piece of chiffon to see if the sewing machine is pulling on the material. If this happens, you need to slightly reduce the thread tension and check again. It is better to take a needle No. 65 or No. 70.
- You need to start sewing by processing the edges of the fabric; to do this, you will first have to remove the frayed edge, and then lay down 1-1.5 cm of the fabric and sew a straight stitch along the front side. It is necessary to do this as close to the edge as possible - 2-3 mm and make sure that the fabric folded on the wrong side does not change the width. At the end of each seam, bartacks are always made.
- Using scissors, cut the folded edge close to the stitching.
- Each side of the cut must be processed in this way in turn, otherwise chiffon will collect in the corners, which will be difficult to remove after stitching.
- When all the material has been processed, you should fold the edges again by 0.3-1 cm and stitch along the front side. This method is called “Moscow seam” or “American”.
- The result was a beach pareo. To make a tunic out of it, you need to fold the fabric in half lengthwise and then crosswise.
- In this position, secure the fabric along the edges with pins or clothespins, otherwise it is unlikely that you will be able to cut the neckline straight - the chiffon will slide.
- That corner of the folded fabric that does not have open edges is the place of the future neckline. From it you need to measure 3 cm down and 9-11 cm along the fold, connect the points with a rounded line, drawing with chalk or soap.
- Cut out what is marked and trim if necessary.
- Unscrew the corner and deepen the armhole on the front side of the future tunic by 5-10 cm. Finish the neckline with tape or any usual seam, including the Moscow one described above.
- Next, you need to determine the location of the armholes, so you will have to lay out the tunic again and secure its edges with clothespins or pins.
- Then, from the side where the neckline is located, along the seams you need to step back 20-23 cm, and then from this point deep into the fabric - 25 cm. The resulting mark is the beginning of the armhole. It is necessary to lay a straight line from it to the hem, and then stitch it without removing the clothespins. The thing is ready, all that remains is to cut off the extra threads.
Beach dresses and tunics like these are very easy to sew yourself. You can adjust the depth of the neckline, add decoration to the neckline, lengthen or shorten the item.