How to Sew the Holiday Gift Dress – Complete Guide (with Size Chart!)
The Holiday Gift Dress is a beautifully detailed dress inspired by the elegant gift wrapping style seen in Japan — where even the way a present is wrapped is an art form. The delicate pin tucks running down the front and back bodice, paired with a bow tie at the neckline, create the look of a beautifully wrapped gift. It's a dress that feels as special as it looks.
👉 Get the Holiday Gift Dress Pattern on Etsy
What Is the Holiday Gift Dress?
The Holiday Gift Dress is a long-sleeve, pull-on dress featuring:
- Pin tucks on both the front and back bodice, folded toward the side seams
- A bow tie at the front neckline — like a ribbon on a gift
- A faced neckline with interfacing for a clean, structured finish
- Long sleeves with elastic wrist hems
- Two pocket options — standard serged pocket or French seam pocket
- Available in sizes US 0 through US 30 — one of the widest size ranges in the naminami collection!
Watch the Tutorial Videos 🎬
Two YouTube tutorials are available — the full sewing process walkthrough, and the French seam pocket tutorial for those who want the neatest possible pocket finish.
Full Sewing Process Tutorial
French Seam Pocket Tutorial
⚠️ Important: How to Choose Your Size
Measure the circumference of your chest at the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Compare your measurement to the size chart below and size up if you are between sizes.
⚠️ Note: The bodice measurement may be reduced after the pleats are folded. Please avoid selecting a size smaller than your bust circumference.
What You'll Need
Main Fabric
Light to medium-weight, non-stretch, woven fabrics are recommended:
- Cotton or linen poplin
- Batiste
- Denim (lightweight)
If the main fabric is too heavy, use a lightweight lining fabric for the pockets.
Required Fabric Yardage
| Size | 120 cm / 47" wide | 140 cm / 55" wide |
|---|---|---|
| US 0 – US 8 | 2.5 yd / 2.3 m | 3 yd / 2.8 m |
| US 10 – US 30 | 3 yd / 2.8 m | 3 yd / 2.8 m |
* Based on a skirt length of 50 cm (20"). If you lengthen the skirt, you will need additional fabric.
Required Notions
- Elastic band (1 cm / 3/8" wide): two pieces, each cut to your wrist circumference plus 3 cm (1.2")
- Fusible interfacing (lightweight, woven, minimum width 40 cm / 16"): approximately 0.5 yd
- Bias tape (optional, for finishing the lower edge of the neckline facing instead of serging):
- US 0 – US 18: approximately 1 m
- US 20 – US 30: approximately 1.5 m
- Recommended folded width: 1/4" – 1/2" (0.63 – 1.27 cm)
Sizing Guide
Body Measurements
| Size | Bust cm | Bust in | Waist cm | Waist in | Hip cm | Hip in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 0 | 79 | 31.1" | 65 | 25.6" | 89 | 35" |
| US 2 | 83 | 32.7" | 69 | 27.2" | 93 | 36.6" |
| US 4 | 87 | 34.3" | 73 | 28.7" | 97 | 38.2" |
| US 6 | 91 | 35.8" | 77 | 30.3" | 101 | 39.8" |
| US 8 | 95 | 37.4" | 81 | 31.9" | 105 | 41.3" |
| US 10 | 99 | 39" | 85 | 33.5" | 109 | 42.9" |
| US 12 | 103 | 40.6" | 89 | 35" | 113 | 44.5" |
| US 14 | 107 | 42.1" | 93 | 36.6" | 117 | 46.1" |
| US 16 | 111 | 43.7" | 97 | 38.2" | 121 | 47.6" |
| US 18 | 115 | 45.3" | 101 | 39.8" | 125 | 49.2" |
| US 20 | 119 | 46.9" | 105 | 41.3" | 129 | 50.8" |
| US 22 | 123 | 48.4" | 109 | 42.9" | 133 | 52.4" |
| US 24 | 127 | 50" | 113 | 44.5" | 137 | 53.9" |
| US 26 | 131 | 51.6" | 117 | 46.1" | 141 | 55.5" |
| US 28 | 135 | 53.1" | 121 | 47.6" | 145 | 57.1" |
| US 30 | 139 | 54.7" | 125 | 49.2" | 149 | 58.7" |
Finished Garment Measurements
| Size | Bust cm | Bust in | Sleeve Length cm | Sleeve Length in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 0 | 84 | 33.1" | 58 | 22.8" |
| US 2 | 88 | 34.6" | 58.5 | 23" |
| US 4 | 92 | 36.2" | 59 | 23.2" |
| US 6 | 96 | 37.8" | 59.5 | 23.4" |
| US 8 | 100 | 39.4" | 60 | 23.6" |
| US 10 | 104 | 40.9" | 60.5 | 23.8" |
| US 12 | 108 | 42.5" | 61 | 24" |
| US 14 | 112 | 44.1" | 61.5 | 24.2" |
| US 16 | 116 | 45.7" | 62 | 24.4" |
| US 18 | 120 | 47.2" | 62.5 | 24.6" |
| US 20 | 124 | 48.8" | 62.5 | 24.6" |
| US 22 | 128 | 50.4" | 62.9 | 24.8" |
| US 24 | 132 | 52" | 63.5 | 25" |
| US 26 | 136 | 53.5" | 63.5 | 25" |
| US 28 | 140 | 55.1" | 64 | 25.2" |
| US 30 | 144 | 56.7" | 64.5 | 25.4" |
- Skirt length: 50 cm / 20" from waistline (all sizes)
⚠️ The pattern's sleeve length may be longer than your actual arm length. Measure your arm length from the shoulder point, over the elbow, down to the wrist bone with your elbow slightly bent.
Recommended sleeve length = your arm length + 1 cm (3/8") + seam allowance of 3 cm (1 3/16")
Difficulty Level
| Skill Level | Details |
|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐ Intermediate | Pin tuck construction, faced neckline, bow tie, set-in sleeves with eased sleeve cap, French seam pocket option |
The pin tuck marking and folding process takes patience, but the result is stunning. The full sewing process is covered in the YouTube tutorial, making it much easier to follow along.
Key Techniques in This Pattern
1. Folding the Pin Tucks
The pin tucks are the signature detail of this dress. Vertical pleat lines are marked on the right side of both the front and back bodice using the pattern as a guide. The pleats are folded toward the side seams, using the center line as a reference, then pressed and stitched along the folded edges on the wrong side.
- Back bodice: 12 pleats for US 0–18 / 14 pleats for US 20–30
- Front bodice: 10 pleats for US 0–6 / 12 pleats for US 8–18 / 14 pleats for US 20–30
2. The Bow Tie
Two bow ties are made and sandwiched into the neckline seam during facing assembly, sitting 1 cm (3/8") below the center point of the front neckline. They are caught in the facing seam as it's stitched, then pulled out and pressed after the facing is turned to the inside — creating the signature gift ribbon look.
3. The Faced Neckline
The neckline is finished with front and back facing pieces, both interfaced for structure. The facing is joined at the shoulder seams, then stitched to the bodice neckline with the bow ties sandwiched in between. After trimming and clipping, the facing is turned inside, understitched, and optionally hand-stitched at the shoulder seam allowances to keep it from shifting.
4. Sleeves with Eased Sleeve Cap
The sleeve cap is eased — not gathered — using one or two rows of long stitches pulled gently to shape the cap. This creates a smooth, professional set-in sleeve without any visible gathering at the shoulder. The sleeve wrist has a folded hem with elastic threaded through for a soft, comfortable cuff.
5. Pocket Options
There are two ways to add pockets:
- Standard pocket (Step 3-1): The easier method. Pocket pieces are serged and attached to the bodice side seams before joining front and back.
- French seam pocket (Step 3-2): More advanced, but results in a beautifully clean finish with no raw edges visible inside the pocket.
📹 Watch the French Seam Pocket Tutorial on YouTube
What's Included in the Pattern
- Pattern files for sizes US 0 – US 30
- Available in A0, A4, and US Letter formats (print at home or at a print shop)
- Step-by-step photo instructions (25 pages)
- YouTube tutorials for the full sewing process and French seam pocket
💡Pattern Hack: Make It a Blouse!
Want a shorter version? You can skip the skirt entirely and extend the bodice instead to create a chic short dress or longline top. Here's how:
- From the pleat stitch end line, extend the bodice down by 31 cm (12 1/4")
- Extend the side seam outward by 7 cm (2 3/4")
- On the front bodice only, add 2.5 cm (1") at the hem — start with a straight line, then blend into the side seam with a curve
Ready to Sew?
👉 Download the Holiday Gift Dress Pattern on Etsy
Once you've made your dress, I'd love to see it! Share your creation on Instagram with #HolidayGiftDress and tag @naminamidressmaker. 🎁
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