T-shirts Versatility!!

I love making t-shirt dresses and here is a link to a tutorial on that subject http://sewdelightful.blogspot.com/2012/12/t-shirt-dresses.html

In the tutorial it talks about making high-waisted, low-waisted and natural waisted dresses.  I realized I had just made two of those with the same t-shirt so thought I would show you the different looks.  Have a wonderful day all!!

T-Shirt Dresses

This another quick and easy dress that is suitable for some cultures where they require the girls to have sleeves.  I often have people ask where I get the t-shirts... well I use my Kohl's coupons for $10 off and shop the clearance racks.  I also shop at Goodwill, Value Village and garage sales... but there is a word of warning.  Please make sure that the t-shirts are "like new"... no visible signs of wear.  Also, please do not use t-shirts that have writing (even Daddy's Little Girl may not be appropriate if a little girl has never known her dad)... No skulls, no patriotic symbols, no organizational symbols... just generic designs like flowers and butterflies or plain solid colored t-shirts.

The first thing you have to decide is do you want the fabric attached in a high-waisted style, at the natural waist or at the hip.  All three work well... sometimes the design dictates where the fabric should be attached.

Here is an example of a dress I made yesterday...

I like to choose bright colors as you can see.

The first step is to find the size of your t-shirt and

then use this chart to determine the full length of your dress

Size                                     Total Cut Length (including t-shirt and fabric)

Baby  (size 1/2 and 1)                           16"

Extra Small (size 2  and 3)                   20"

Small (size 4 and 5)                             25"

Medium (size 6 and 7)                         29"

Large (Size 8 and 10)                           33"

Extra Large (Size 12 and 14)                38"

These sizes include 1/2" for hem and 1/2" for serging together... so the finished length is 1" shorter.

Lay your t-shirt over the edge of your cutting board.  The chart is for our regular pillowcase style dresses, so we are not measuring from the top of the t-shirt... we are measuring from the point that would be the same as the top of a pillowcase dress.  I always put my hand on my chest and visualize where I would want the top of a dress to be and that is the point on the t-shirt we will measure from.

I decided to make a slightly high waisted dress.  The measurement from the top middle chest to where I cut the t-shirt is 5"  Now I subtract that 5" from the total length of a size 3 dress (which is 22") and I need to cut m fabric 18" long (this includes the extra 1"… see above) by the full width.  I want my fabric to be about double the width of the circumference of the t-shirt so on larger dresses I might need to cut 1 1/2 lengths of fabric and sew a seam to get this double the width of the t-shirt.  Depending long how long you cut your t-shirt… you will adjust the length of the shirt… not all dresses need to be high waisted…you can also make the dress at the natural waist or even a low-waisted dress.

Sew the side seam and then finish the bottom of your fabric.  Make sure that you finish your side seam... by either serging or by sewing a straight stitch and then a second row of zig zag stitching...

so that the seam does not ravel.

I chose to add lace to my hem.  You can also do a traditional hem or a rolled hem.

If you are using the traditional method for gathering fabric pull your bobbin thread to the top

Set your machine onto it longest stitch.  For my machine that is a 5

Stitch two rows about 1/4" apart

I have not done a side seam because I am not doing the traditional way of gathering

(I will show you how I gather in a moment)

Now you need to pull your gathering stitches gently forming gathers

Gather your fabric the amount you need to fit onto your t-shirt

Using a serger or a zig zag stitch with right sides together attach your gathered skirt 

to the bottom of the cut t-shirt

Now for the way I am doing my dresses...

My serger has a ruffling foot

Check you machine and if you have a ruffling foot it can save much time on the gathering part of this project.  You will need to follow the instructions for your machine.

On my machine I ruffle or gather the fabric and attach it to the t-shirt in one step… 

using this method you do not sew the side seam!!

The fabric is placed face up under the ruffling foot and the t-shirt is placed face down into the slot on the ruffling foot.  The serger automatically gathers the bottom fabric while attaching it to the t-shirt.  You have to be careful to ease your t-shirt gently so that you do not run out of fabric.  Some rufflers just gather the fabric and then you attach to the t-shirt in a separate step.

This saves so much time when making a t-shirt dress

Once the fabric is attached I sew the side seam

And you are done!!

If you have any questions about the process please email me at

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

I found that this process is actually easier to do than it is to explain how to do.

Making T-shirt Dresses

I love these coupons I get form Kolh's.  They have provided the t-shirts for quite a few dresses.  Between the clearance racks, the coupons and about $7 dollars from me I made 9 dresses this weekend!!

These dresses are very quick to make.  I take the t-shirt and measure down from the point that would be at the same height as the top of a pillowcase dress (DO NOT measure from the neck... your dress will be too short).  I decide where to cut off my t-shirt.  For example: from that upper chest area to the bottom of  t-shirt in number one (the horse dress) was 11 inches... I was making a size 4 so my fabric needed to be 13 inches long plus the hem.  The t-shirt part of the dress can be different lengths... depending if you want an empire style dress or a low-waisted dress or also depending on where the design is on the t-shirt if there is one.  I attach the two parts together using the ruffler foot on my serger.  If you do not have a serger, you will need to gather the fabric and sew to the t-shirt using a zigzag stitch (if you use a straight stitch the fabric will ravel and you will not have the give you need when a child pulls the dress over their head).

Bargain Shopping

I received a Kohl's $10 off of any purchase coupon... so on Sunday afternoon I stopped in their store.  I headed straight for the little girls clearance rack and I hit it big!!  I bought 5 t-shirts ranging in price from $1.70 to $3.20 and with my coupon they cost... $4.71 (including tax)!!!  I was very excited because these t-shirt are so cute and now they are 5 dresses for little girls in need!!!

My favorite is this last one...

Please join us in helping little girls in need!!

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

T-Shirt Dresses

I have been on vacation for a week and yesterday was my first sewing day back... I was cleaning up the sewing room so that we could sew here today BUT I could not resist sitting down at my machine.  I have been given some t-shirts and thought...Oh that would make a quick dress... well 4 dresses later I finished cleaning my sewing room.

Did I mention that I am going on a trip to Appalachia to deliver dresses.  I think that I might put these four dresses into a package and begin making dresses for that trip.

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Talking to Myself

I have had fun sewing this last week or so... I have made quite a few dresses.  Someone asked me how I make sew many dresses?  Well, I think that I am a fairly fast sewer and as I am sewing and choosing fabrics I talk to myself and challenge myself to make more dresses for little girls and to make the cutest dresses I can... quickly.

If someone gives me fabric or pillowcases I want to get at least one dress made so they can see it. 

This dress is made from a set of pillowcases a stranger bought for me in Ross Dress for Less last week

If I have scraps or smaller pieces I challenge myself to put them together to create a dress

These pieces came from a donation after an estate sale

another dress from the estate sale donation

mixing and matching what I have

If I have fabric that normally would be not be used for little girls I challenge myself to make it cute

Black is always a fun challenge

And more black

If I find a good price on a sheet or bedskirt I challenge myself on how many dresses can I make

8 out of this $6.99 sheet

7 out of this $4.99 bedskirt

And discount t-shirt

Finding them is a challenge

$0.50 from thrift shop

$1.50 from Ross

$1.50 from Ross

Sew this is what I do...

I talk to myself and I sew

If you would like to challenge me to sew with something you have just email me 

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com