Introducing our Off-the-Shoulder Babydoll Dress Sewing Pattern! Designed for drag queens, this pattern features a charming circle skirt with an elastic band around the shoulder, bicep, and upper chest. With a mini skirt length, it's perfect for a modern drag look and ideal for performances. A staple for drag queens looking to shine. Suitable for stretch fabrics, this pattern is easy to sew, making it perfect for beginners. You can combine this pattern with corset tops, fairy dresses, and more to elevate your drag queen costume wardrobe. Ideal for rave outfits, pastel goth styles, festival wear, and oversized dresses, this versatile sewing pattern ensures you’re always ready to stun.
Sizing Details
This pattern is available in our unqiue drag queen sizes (XS-4X). Please review our sizing guide for more information on our size measurements.
Fabric Suggestions
Suitable for 4-way stretch fabrics:
- Spandex
- Milliskin
- Lycra
- Stretch Vinyl
- Stretch Knits
Notions
- 1.5" - 2" Elastic
Fabric Yardage
This pattern requires the use of streth fabric with a fabric yard width of 58" inches. Please find the yardage needed for each fabric type below.
| Size | Yards | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 2.75 y | 2.5 m |
| S | 2.75 y | 2.6 m |
| M | 3 y | 2.8 m |
| L | 3.25 y | 2.9 m |
| XL | 3.5 y | 3.1 m |
| 2X | 3.5 y | 3.2 m |
| 3X | 3.75 y | 3.3 m |
| 4X | 4 y | 3.5 m |
For information on converting inches to meters, please check out our conversion guide.
Sewing Instructions
Fabric Pieces
Once your fabric is cut you should have the following pieces: Two front (half circle) pieces and two back (half circle) pieces. As well as, two off-the-shoulder bands, one front band, and one for the back.
Stitches
Preferred stitches: Stretch stitch, zigzag stitch, or serger overlock stitch. You can use a straight stitch only on non-stretch areas like the half circle seams.
STEP 1
Gather your off-the-shoulder bands. Stack them right sides facing each other, and sew them together at the ends, creating one big loop. Then open and press the seams on the wrong side of the band.
STEP 2
Fold the band vertically in half, so the right side of the fabric is facing up. Then press the fold.
STEP 3
At this step you can try on the band. Position it above your bust and around our biceps to measure its stretch.
Place pins at the notches around the underarm. Pin the front and back notches so the band fits securely around the bicep and above the bust.
STEP 4
If you need more tightness you will need to insert elastic in-between the fold of the band. To do this you will need to leave an unsewn gap 2-3 inches at the center back of the band.
Elastic should be slightly shorter than the width of your off the shoulder band.
Then Insert elastic with a safety pin attached to one end. Guide the elastic through the unswend gap and pull the safety pin to help feed the elastic through the tunnel.
STEP 5
Once the elastic is in the tunnel, sew the elastic ends together, then sew the fabric gap closed. Then stretch the band so the elastic is evenly distributed inside and add pins to the center front and center back and side seams.
STEP 6
Sew the front half circles together, right sides facing each other, along the center front seam.
Note: the center front seam is slightly longer than the side seam, and is longer than the center back seam.
STEP 7
Repeat step 6 for the back half circles
STEP 8
Stack the front and back halves, right sides facing each other, and sew them together along the side seams. Creating one large circle skirt.
STEP 9
Gather your band, flip it upside down and wrong side out. Position the band over and outside of the dress. The dress should be right side out.
Pin the band around the top edge of the dress. The center front and center back seams of the dress should match up to the center front and center back pins of the band. And the side seams of the dress should line up to the side seams of the band.
STEP 10
Sew the band around the dress, right sides facing each other, using a stretch stitch, zig zag stitch, or serger.
STEP 11
Once sewn, flip the band right side up, and press the seam so it faces down. You can then top stitch the band seam facing down around the top edge of the dress.
STEP 12
On the right side of the band, sew the front and back notches of the band together using a bar tack, positioned under the arm around the armpit.
You can also use a zigzag stitch or a couple of straight stitches to secure this seam from ripping.
STEP 13
Lastly, hem around the bottom of your skirt.
Optionally you can add lining, underlayers, or petticoats under the dress to give it more volume.
Need help assembling the pattern?
For information on how to print and assemble the downloaded pdf pattern, please check out our printing guide article and video.
