Cut and sew A-line gown with bell sleeve

Fashion is a powerful way to express oneself, and when a loved one trusts you with creating a unique piece, it becomes a joyful challenge. Recently, my sister handed me a beautiful fabric and shared her vision of an A-line gown with bell sleeves. Excited by her trust and enthusiasm, I took on the task of turning her dream dress into reality.

Here's a detailed account of the process I followed to design and sew the gown, complete with measurements, cutting, and finishing touches.

The fabric my sister chose was vibrant and elegant vintage material , and it was perfect for the flowy design of an A-line gown.
I got my tools ready

• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine,
• Hemming gum

To determine the width of the fold, I used her hip measurement, divided by four, and added 7 inches for the flow down.

I started by marking the gown length. Since my sister wanted a gown 36 inches long, I added an extra 2 inches for hemming.

Next, I mapped out the vertical measurements on the fabric, with a ½ inch allowance added to each:

• Bust point: 10 inches
• Under bust: 13.5 inches
• Half length: 16 inches

For the horizontal measurements, I added a 2-inch sewing allowance to. I marked in the Horizontal measurements divided by four except the shoulder which is divided into two:

Shoulder: 15 inches divided by two
Full bust: 35 divided by four+ 2 inches sewing allowance
Under bust: 29 divided by four+ 2 inches sewing allowance
Tummy: 30 divided by four+ 2 inches sewing allowance

Using my tape measure, I connected the points and outlined the curves, ensuring the dress would flow beautifully.

I also extended the curve from the half-length to the bottom edge for the characteristic A-line shape:

Then I cut it out with my scissors.

I also folded another fabric, the same width plush one inch allowance. Then placed the front piece to it and trace out the back with my scissors

After that I cut the necklines for both the front and back, the back neck a bit higher than the front piece.

After this I cut out the bell sleeve for the dress (Might do thus sleeve illustration in another post)

Then I cut facing for the front and back piece too, so I could use them to turn the necks since I'm not using lining for the dress

After that I headed to the sewing machine to start sewing the pieces together.

The first task was sewing the facings to the necklines (right side to right side).

After that, I took it to iron, placed hemming gum in the neck and ironed it in to ensure smoothness in the neck area

Next, I joined the back pieces along the zip allowance, leaving 18 inches at the top for the zipper. I then attached the zipper, ensuring it aligned neatly with the fabric pattern.

Next step I joined the back piece to the front piece, sewing out the two inches allowance I had added to it. I then joined the shoulder parts. Below is what I had after that!

Next I joined both sleeves to it

For the hem, I folded the bottom edge by 2 inches, added hemming gum, and ironed it for a smooth finish.

I then secured it by running a stitch on top.

After assembling the gown, I gave it a thorough ironing to enhance its crisp, professional look. The result was a stunning A-line gown with bell sleeves, exactly as my sister wanted it. Below is how it turned out!

The best part of this process was seeing the joy on my sister’s face. She loved the dress, especially how it fit her perfectly and matched her style. Knowing I could bring her vision to life was incredibly fulfilling. Fashion projects like this remind me of the beauty of handmade clothing—it’s not just about the outfit but the love and effort stitched into it .

Thank you all, and I hope you understood the process, I'm open to questions in the comments!
See you next time 🤗

_{All the images used in this post belongs to me}