DIY Encanto Isabela Dress

Learn to make a DIY Encanto Isabela dress using a store-bought dress as a base.

Our Encanto obsession is real. I fully admit I often listen to the music even when the kids aren’t around. My daughter is particularly taken with Isabela’s songs, flowers, and style. She was missing just one component of her frequent Encanto dance performances – an Isabela dress. After looking into buying an Isabela dress, we decided to make our own instead.

Rather than make a dress from scratch, we used a store-bought dress as a base. Even easy dress patterns can be tricky. I frequently get hung up on the bodice and sleeves. Sprucing up a store-bought dress cuts out the complicated sewing steps. In our design, we tried to capture the feeling of Isabela’s purple dress, with multiple layers and flowers. We found an inexpensive dress at Target; even if the exact dress isn’t available, look for a simple dress with a plain bodice and elastic waistband.

With a splurge on floral embroidered tulle, our DIY Isabela inspired dress wasn’t much cheaper than buying an actual Isabela dress. But, we’re so happy with how the dress turned out and had so much fun designing and making the dress together. Of course, we took our Isabella dress when we visited Disney World. Even though we didn’t meet Mirabelle or Isabella, my daughter loved wearing her dress in the Parks. If you’re planning a trip to Disney, check out our DIY Disney autograph books.

@creativelyhome

🎶I just made something unexpected 🎵 🌸✨DIY Encanto Isabela Dress ✨🌺 Creatively Home #encantomovie #encantodiy #isabelamadrigal #sewingprojects #sewforgirls #disneydiy

♬ What Else Can I Do? – Diane Guerrero & Stephanie Beatriz

Sewing Tip: Rotary Cutter

We use our handy rotary cutter to cut the fabric on our DIY Encanto Isabella dress. A rotary cutter is a cutting tool with a sharp circular blade, mostly used in quilting. Coupled with a quilting ruler and self-healing mat, the rotary cutter makes measuring and cutting straight lines a breeze. Plus, the sharp wheel can cut through multiple fabric layers at one time. Because of that sharp wheel, the rotary cutter should not be used by kids.

The process is quick and fun, but can take a little practice. Working on a self-healing mat, use the quilting ruler to measure the cut. Hold the quilting ruler firmly in place and run the rotary cutter along the ruler’s edge.

Looking for other sewing projects? Check out some of our favorites:

• Stuffed Animal Mermaid Tail
• Kids Outdoor Pants
• Baby Blanket Lap Quilt
• Sisu Inspired Dress – Attach Tulle Skirt to a Dress
• Girl’s Tiered Skirt

DIY Encanto Isabela Dress – Materials

How to Sew a DIY Encanto Isabela Dress

1. Design Isabela Inspired Dress

Using images of Isabela from Encanto, have the kiddo sketch an Isabela inspired dress. Don’t let logistics limit the kiddo’s creativity. Explain that the child’s design will be used as inspiration and that the actual dress may be different. I also drew the basic design to calculate measurements.

2. Sew Floral Tulle and Trim on to Bodice

Lay dress flat and place the floral embroidered tulle on the bodice. Cut tulle into desired shape, leaving an extra 1/4″ on all sides. Pin tulle onto bodice staying right above the elastic waistband.

Sew with straight stitch using 1/4″ seam allowance. Be careful not to catch bodice back in the stitch line.

Trim along stitch line on sides and top, leaving 1/8″ seam allowance. If using a wider trim, the seam allowance can be left longer. Just make sure the trim covers both the seam allowance and stitch line. Don’t trim tulle along waistline.

Place and pin silver trim on tulle along the sides and top, covering the seam allowance and stitch line. Pin every 1″ around curves to hold the tulle in place. Do not add trim along the waistline.

Sew trim onto bodice with straight stitch. Cut off any tulle that extends past the trim.

3. Sew Middle Satin Layer Onto Dress

Use the dress to calculate the middle satin layer’s measurements. Measure the waist circumference where the layers will attach and add 8″ (“Adjusted Waist”). The extra inches allow room to gather the fabric. If the fabric is wider than the Adjusted Waist, cut one panel. If the fabric isn’t wide enough, cut two equal sized panels – each 1/2 the Adjusted Waist.

For the length, measure from the waist to the dress’s bottom hem. Cut the middle layer 3″ shorter; after the seam allowance and hem, 4″ of the dress will show under the middle layer.

Our dress measured 40″ around the waist and 16″ from the waist to the bottom of the dress. Measurements for the panels: Waist = 48″ (waist circumference+8″); panel width = 24″ (48/2); panel length = 13″ (16-3). We cut 2 panels 24″ wide by 13″ long.

On the front panel, cut a diagonal line – we used the 60° angle on the quilting ruler. Cut the curve with scissors.

Pin front and back panels right sides together, along the full side seam (not the shorter side that starts the diagonal cut). Sew straight stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance. To prevent satin from raveling, sew along the seam with zigzag stitch.

Create the hem by folding the bottom, side, and diagonal raw edges under 1/4″ so that wrong sides are together. Fold over another 1/4″, iron (temperature based on fabric), and pin. Sew straight stitch 1/8″ from folded edge. Don’t hem the waist.

On waistline, turn down 1/2″ so wrong sides are together. Pin, then sew 3/8″ from folded edge. This will prevent raveling.

Increase sewing machine stitch length to a basting stitch. Sew basting stitch 1/4″ from the top folded edge on waistline. When removing fabric from the sewing machine, leave the thread long to make gathering easier. Gather by holding the free end of 1 basting string and pushing fabric down the string, until the width matches the waist circumference. Spread gathers evenly.

Pin gathered layer onto dress, evenly spreading the gathers. Return machine to regular stitch length and sew over the basting stitch line.

4. Sew Top Tulle Layer Onto Dress

Create the top layer from the floral embroidered tulle. If using a single tulle layer, follow instructions for the middle layer (step 3) with two modifications. First, cut the top layer 5″ shorter than the dress’s bottom hem (the width is the Waist – same as the middle layer). Second, cut the diagonal the opposite direction, so it slopes toward the other side.

For our top layer, we cut 2 panels 24″ wide by 11″ long.

We made the top layer slightly more complicated by adding chiffon under the tulle on the front. This required one extra step. After cutting the tulle and chiffon panels, lay the tulle on top of the chiffon (so the wrong side of the tulle faces the front side of the chiffon) and pin. Sew around all sides with straight stitch leaving 1/4″ seam allowance. Then, sew front and back panel together at the full side seam.

Resume instructions for the middle layer to hem, gather, and sew top layer to dress.

5. Sew Floral Trim On DIY Encanto Isabela Dress

Cut floral trim 1/2″ longer than the waist circumference and pin over the stitch lines on the dress waist.

Sewing our three-dimensional floral trim with the machine would have flattened the design. Instead, we hand sewed the trim to the dress. If using a flat trim, a straight stitch on the machine will work fine.

Use extra trim for a matching head band.

How to Involve Kids – DIY Encanto Isabela Dress

With the slippery, gathered fabric, this project doesn’t have much easy sewing. If your kiddo is old enough to sew, work together on the bodice – that is the easiest sewing. For younger kids, encourage them to design the dress, select the fabric and measure the panels. Kids will learn a TON about sewing just by watching and listening to you explain the process.

If you try out this DIY Encanto Isabela dress, let us know how it goes.

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