Sew a Gown for Graduation

Sewing a gown for a graduation ceremony may be accomplished with few materials, a good pattern and investment of time. Even though the gown is loose fitting it is important to determine the correct measurements both to purchase the needed material and to ensure proper length and fit.

Purchase a Pattern

I found patterns suitable for both an adult and for a child. Both patterns are suitable for graduation gowns, church choir robes and robes for other purposes. The yoke is the main difference in the gown design; offered are a circular yoke, a rectangular yoke and a more square yoke. There is an option for a removable collar also.

Modify a Dress or Nightgown Pattern

A pattern may be made by using a nightgown pattern or loose fitting dress pattern which has the desired yoke shape and raglan sleeves. Use the yoke and sleeve pieces of the pattern you already own to create a graduation gown pattern from tissue paper. Select the pattern pieces for the yoke front and back, raglan sleeves and dress/gown front and back and place each piece on a piece of tissue paper, pin the pattern piece onto the tissue paper and use a marker to draw the new pattern piece. The yoke pieces may need to be adjusted to accommodate a solid back and front opening. Adjust the length of the raglan sleeve to accommodate the needed arm length and also the dress or gown pattern to create the loose bottom of the graduation gown allowing for the proper length plus a hem. When the pattern pieces are completed remove the original pattern pieces and cut out the new pattern pieces that you crated and fit them onto the fabric, cut the pieces from the fabric; cut the yoke pieces from interfacing also. Assemble the gown by sewing one layer of the yoke front and back and interfacing, attaching the raglan sleeves and the front and back gown pieces then complete the yoke; sew the side seams followed by the front seam including a separating zipper from below the yoke to the bottom hem edge. Hem the sleeves and bottom of the gown.

Materials

The amount of material needed will be determined by the size of the gown being made; follow the guidelines on the back of the pattern package. Notions will also be listed.

Pattern: purchased or created, adult Butterick 5626 and child: Butterick B4542 shown

Fabric: lightweight satin, sateen, lightweight poplin or crepe

Thread: coordinating color, sewing weight

Zipper

Interfacing: lightweight, iron in or sew in

Sewing machine: general sewing foot, zipper foot

Scissors

Straight Pins

Tissue Paper (optional, for making your own pattern)

Marker (optional, for drawing pattern)

Helpful Hints

Measure the height and arm length of the person the gown is being made for before buying the pattern so that the proper amount/length of fabric is purchased.

Read the pattern back panel to help determine the correct amount of fabric and the needed notions to be purchased. Purchase the fabric, thread and zipper at the same time to assure that the colors match.