T-shirt Dress

M E L A N I E   C R A B B E

 


Make this clever dress in just a few hours. An innovative button treatment draws in the garment back for a flattering fit.

 

 

 

 

Materials

 

Make a purchased T-shirt go the distance!

  • Purchased T-shirt
  • 1/2 yard each of six coordinating rayon prints or 2 1/4 yards of one coordinating fabric
  • Water- or air-soluble marker
  • 8"-length of cord elastic
  • Six to eight assorted buttons
  • 3/8"-wide clear elastic (optional)

 

 

Preparation

 
  • Launder all fabrics and the shirt as you plan to wash the finished garment.

 

  • If you're making your own T-shirt, cut the pattern to end 1" above the natural waistline. Complete the T-shirt according to the pattern guidesheet, leaving the bodice lower edges unfinished. If using a ready-to-wear T-shirt, cut the shirt 1" above the natural waistline. If the bodice fabric is particularly stretchy, it may need to be shortened to 2" above the natural waistline, because the skirt will pull it down.

 

Narrow lower edge.

 

  • To narrow the shirt bodice, position it wrong side out on a flat surface. Using a water- or air-soluble marker, redraw the side seams from the underarm seam to 2" inside the shirt lower edge.

 

 

 

Pieced Skirt Option

Arrange fabrics in alternating rows.

 
  • Cut two 12" x 18" rectangles from each skirt fabric.
  • Lay out the pieces offset like bricks, in three rows of four rectangles . Avoid putting the same prints next to each other.

 
Stitch each row into tube.

 



 

  • Sew four rectangles together at the short ends to make a strip. Repeat to make two more strips.

 

  • Sew each strip into a tube .

 

  • Keeping the blocks offset and with right sides facing, stitch the tubes together to make the skirt.

 

 

 

Attaching Skirt to Bodice


Stretch & Sew 332
(modified)

 
  • Baste 5/8" from the skirt upper edge. Baste again 1/4" inside the seam allowance. Quarter-mark the bodice lower edge and the skirt upper edge. Pull the basting bobbin threads to gather the skirt. Match and baste to the bodice lower edge.
  • With water- or air-soluble pen, mark the waistline seam position for the elastic loops on the dress back, 4" in from each side seam.
  • Cut the cord elastic in half and make two loops by tying the cut ends together with an overhand knot.
  • Using a small crochet hook, pull an elastic loop through the basted seam to the dress right side at each marked spot, leaving the knot on the garment wrong side.
  • Stitch the skirt to the bodice. If serging, be careful not to cut the elastic knot.
  • If the T-shirt knit ripples after sewing, stitch clear elastic into the seam allowance, stretching slightly as you sew.
  • Evenly space and sew two buttons on either side of the center back. When finished, the elastic loops will hook around these buttons to draw in the waist. Sew six to eight more buttons--evenly spaced--on the front waistline seam for added interest.
  • Hem the dress to the desired length.

 

 

 

Single Fabric Skirt Option

 

To make an even faster version of the T-shirt dress, make one with a skirt made from a single fabric.

  • Cut two 40" squares from the fashion fabric. Note: Check skirt length before cutting; adjust as needed.
  • Right sides together, stitch the side seams.
  • Complete as described for the patchwork version.

 

 

 

More Options


 
  • Use ponytail holders for cord elastic loops. They come in a large variety of colors.
  • Try different fabrics. Use a sweatshirt for the top and flannels for the skirt.
  • Trim the neckline with a bias binding to match the skirt fabric.