T-Shirt Dress

T-Shirt Dress

The following instructions are for both adult and child sizes. The fabric amounts will vary according to the size you choose to make. Since T-shirts come in varying lengths, you must use your own measurements.

SKIRT LENGTH: Figure the overall length of the dress you wish to make by measuring from the shoulder seam of the T-shirt to the place where you want the hem to be. Subtract the actual T-shirt length from the overall length of the dress to get the length of the skirt that you will be adding. To the length of the skirt measurement, add the hem and seam allowances which are 1/2" for the top seam and 1" for the hem. For example, if the shirt is 20" long and you want the dress to be 32" long, your skirt fabric length would be 12" plus 1 1/2" or 13 1/2".

SKIRT WIDTH: Measure the bottom opening of the T-shirt. Double that measurement for the width of the skirt. For example, if the bottom edge is 36" all the way around (front and back) you will need a piece twice that long, or 72". To make the skirt, cut TWO pieces 36" long.

SLEEVE MEASUREMENT: Measure the opening of the sleeve, all the way around. Add 1" to that measurement for the seam allowance (1/2"). Choose the depth of the sleeve or cuff, double that amount plus add 1".

SKIRT: 1. Mark the center top of the two skirt pieces. Place the two skirt pieces together with right sides facing each other. Line up the side seams so that they are even. Stitch together, using a 1/2" seam allowance.

2. Gather the top edge by sewing a zig-zag stitch over a gathering cord like crochet cotton or string. Be careful not to stitch into the cord or it will not slide smoothly when pulling up the gathers. Do not pull the gathers up yet.

3. Fold under 1/2" on the bottom hem and press with an iron. Fold under another 1/2" and iron again. Machine stitch the hem.

4. Mark the side seams, center front and center back on the T-shirt hem. It will be divided into four equal parts. You can make a chalk or pencil line or place a pin at those places to mark them.

5. Lay the right side of the skirt to the right side of the T-shirt. Arrange the side seam of the skirt to the side seam marks on the t-shirt. Line up the center front and center back of the skirt to the corresponding marks on the T-shirt. Use pins to hold the skirt and T-shirt together at the marked spots.

6. Gently pull up the gathers so that the skirt edge is the same length as the T-shirt edge. Adjust the gathers evenly, pin into place if needed. Machine stitch along the gathered edge, joining the T-shirt and skirt. Cut off the excess gathering cord.

SLEEVE CUFFS: Note: Follow this process for each cuff.

1. Fold under 1/2" along the long edge of the sleeve piece to the wrong side of the fabric and press. Repeat for the other long edge of the piece.

2. Fold the piece in half lengthwise with the right sides facing out and press the center fold, being careful not to unpress the upper edge folds.

3. Open the cuff up again, place the short edges together, right sides facing, and stitch them together using a 1/2" seam allowance.

4. Re-fold the piece along the pressed lines. 5. Insert the T-shirt sleeve into the cuff, lining up the cuff seam with the underarm seam on the T-shirt. Pin evenly into place and machine stitch the cuff onto the T-shirt sleeve about 1/8" from the edge where the two meet.