Fabric in the color and type of your choice. A lightweight fabric is ideal for this type of dress, such as cotton, voile, jersey, or viscose rayon. [2] X Research source You will need about 3 to 5 yards (3 to 5 m), depending on the desired width and length of your dress. Elastic. You will need enough elastic to go around your chest and shoulders separately. Choose elastic that is about ½” (1. 3 cm) to 1” (2. 5 cm) wide. Scissors Measuring tape Pins Safety pin Sewing machine

If you want the piece to be slightly ruffled, then it will need to be about 1 and ½ times the width of your shoulders. [6] X Research source For example, if your shoulder measurement is 30” (76. 2 cm) then your shoulder piece will need to be about 45” (114. 3 cm) wide. You can also increase the ruffling by doubling or even tripling your measurement if desired. Make sure that the shoulder piece will be long enough to cover your chest without extending down too far. Add a 2” (5 cm) seam allowance to the width and length as well.

Add 2” (5 cm) to each measurement to provide seam allowance. Make sure you take careful measurements, especially around your chest—the bodice of the dress needs to fit perfectly for the off-shoulder part to look right. [7] X Expert Source Kpoene Kofi-BruceCouture Bridal Designer Expert Interview. 28 January 2021.

Make sure to add a 1” (2. 5 cm) seam allowance to each piece.

The shoulder piece should look like a long wide strip of fabric.

Make sure that you are folding the edge of the fabric over towards the wrong side. Make sure to fold over and pin the dress piece and the shoulder piece.

Make sure to sew the dress piece and the shoulder piece.

The fabric will bunch up as you go, but you can adjust it after you are finished to ensure that it is evenly spaced along the elastic. Make sure to insert the correct elastic pieces into their corresponding pieces of fabric. For example, your shoulder elastic piece will need to go into the seam of the shoulder fabric piece.

Make sure to sew the fabric on the wrong side so that when you turn the pieces inside out, the seam allowance will be hidden.

Use a thread color that will blend in well with your fabric. This will help to ensure that the stitching is not as noticeable. Make sure that there is an even amount of shoulder piece fabric on either side of the dress piece. Otherwise, your dress may end up looking lopsided. Make sure to sew through both layers of the elastic and fabric.