Today we have a free pattern for you that can be used with a variety of outfits! A waist sash is a super cute way to add a pop of color or make the waist of a dress more fitted. Some patterns have a sash already attached but even if it doesn't, you can add one with this independent, stand-alone sash!
I have always been a big fan of the sash. I even had one made for my wedding dress! I like that they can be tied on the side, in the front, and I especially love a big bow tied in the back. If you're not as much of a bow person, you can simply tie the sash in a knot.
I made this cute dress for a customer a few years back and we received so many compliments on it! I even sewed the sash into the seam on one side, to help it stay in place for the little one.
It's not just for the little ones though! This free pattern is covering from newborn to adult 4XL. The steps will all be the same and I think we're ready to get started!
First, cut your fabric to the measurements listed above. It's easiest if you have a cutting mat and rotary cutter. Note that you will cut two pieces for most of the sizes. The reason they are not the same length is because we generally don't want to have a seam right in the center front of the outfit. By having one longer than the other, it offsets that seam.
Also note that you can make your sash longer or shorter if you want! These are just for an average project. Sometimes I use the full width of fabric (44") but I do make sure to not have the two pieces be the same length.
After cutting your pieces, you should have a pile similar to the photo above.
(Sizes NB to 0/3 months will only have one piece, while sizes
2X to 4X will have three pieces.)
Take the two pieces and match them with right sides together on one end. Sew them together as shown in red, using a 3/8" seam allowance. (Sizes 2X to 4X need to repeat with the third piece.) Serge or zigzag the edge you just sewed. You should now have one long strip of fabric.
Fold the fabric over with right sides together. Match the long edges and pin in place. Depending on your fabric, you may need a lot of pins or just a few.
Sew along all three raw edges, including both ends, using a 3/8" seam allowance. Leave a 2" opening near one of the ends, as shown in red. Be sure to read the tip below before sewing!
When you get to each corner, put your needle down 3/8" from the edge. Lift the presser foot and rotate the fabric so it looks like the photo above. Check to make sure you are still 3/8" from the edge. Then begin sewing again. This helps create a square corner.
After sewing the three edges, use scissors to clip the corners. This helps reduce bulk inside later. Make sure you don't clip the stitches!
Use a dowel, chopstick, or wide end of a knitting needle to push the fabric through. Make sure you are not pushing directly on the end stitches because it might tear through. Instead, create a small base of fabric about an inch from the end, and push that through instead.
Keep pushing through until it comes out the 2" hold you left. Pull the dowel and fabric all the way through the hole. Then repeat on the remaining end of the sash.
(This may be tricky your first time, but it works!)
When your sash is turned right side out, it will look something like this! It might be a bit wrinkled now, but we'll fix that soon!
Use a dowel, fabric creaser, or the end of a ruler to make the corners nice and square, as shown above.
Then use an iron to press the full length of your sash. As you iron, make sure the seam is positioned exactly at the side so your sash will look good on both sides. As you iron, you will also be ironing the folds where the opening is, and it should end up looking uniform.
Topstitch all four edges of the sash by sewing 1/8" from the edges. This helps make it so you don't have to iron it as often! A trick I always use for topstitching at 1/8" is that I set my needle setting to be 1/8" to the side, and then I aim the edge of the fabric straight down the center of the presser foot. See the photo above. It is much easier and faster to aim down the center than to keep a steady 1/8."
Again, when you get to the corners, be sure to lower your needle, lift the presser foot, rotate the fabric, then put the foot back down and continue sewing.
Make sure you get all four edges! It should look like the photo above.
You did it! Your sash is complete!
The first time you make a sash, it might take a bit of effort while you get familiar with the process, but after just a few times you'll be able to do it super fast!
As I mentioned at the beginning, you can tie your sash in a variety of ways! Your length will be similar to what is shown here. You can tie a bigger bow, smaller bow, or no bow at all!
Now you're ready to add a waist sash to a variety of projects!
If you have any questions about this pattern or any other project, feel free to reach out! We have a fun sewing group on Facebook and you're also welcome to email us any time. We would love to see the projects you make!
Happy Sewing! ~ Kristen
