Verified answer

If you don't know how to sew, yes, you need a pattern, preferably one for beginners. You will need the instructions on how to correctly lay out the pattern on the fabric, cut it, and then how to sew it together, and what parts in what order. You will also need to know the shapes and sizes of the pieces to be cut.

Please go to the library and pick up a couple of basic sewing books and read them through before you start, and you'll greatly increase your chances of more success and less frustration.

Or even better, take a sewing class or two.. there's a lot you can learn more easily in person than from a book or video.

well yes you need a pattern though you can get the pattern right off of clothing you already have and taking out the stitches on an old dress so that it comes out right. dress patterns are a great tool for a beginner to intermediate sewer. if you are just going to wing it with out a pattern and its ur first time sewing something as big a project as a dress, i suggest using cheap on sale fabric. buy more than you would need such as 3 and a half yards if its a knee length dress and ur smaller than a size 11... use a couple inch strip of it to practice on the machine before you start diving into it. if its ur first time and ur not using a pattern, it wont turn out looking too hot just to warn u lol. there are many many trendy dress patterns especially by McCall and vogue. choose a simple pattern for ur first time....buy a large cutting board and grab some paper bags or tissue paper as well as pins and a fabric crayon/ pencil...make sure u buy some new sharp scissors as well if ur scissors have trouble cutting well as they did the first time u opened them.