Got a t-shirt that's way too big for you? Don't throw it away! Make it a pretty dress! The options are endless, from a simple dress that tightens at the waist to a bodycon dress. If you are working from a tight t-shirt, you can add a skirt on the lower part, to make it a bodice dress.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make a simple t-shirt dress
Step 1. Take a large t-shirt
This dress will have an elastic sewn at the waist, which will give it a vintage touch. You will have to work with a baggy t-shirt: a tight t-shirt will not do. The garment should also be long enough to make a dress (it should reach you at least mid-thigh). A men's t-shirt will be perfect for this!
Step 2. Put on the t-shirt and make a mark at your waist
Start by turning the t-shirt inside out to keep the outside clean. Put on the t-shirt and make a mark at your waist. You can do this with a pin or a chalk or a tailor's pencil. Remove the t-shirt when you are finished.
Step 3. Draw a line on the front and back of the t-shirt
Lay the garment flat on a flat surface. Using a straight-edged object, draw a line across the width of the t-shirt, from edge to edge. Use the mark you made earlier as a guide. Turn the garment over and do the same on the back. It is on this line that you will sew the elastic.
On a dark t-shirt, use tailor's chalk. On a light garment, use a tailor's pencil
Step 4. Cut the elastic
Measure your waistline. Cut a 1 cm thick piece of elastic to the length of the measurement taken. On a dark colored t-shirt, use a black elastic. On a light-colored t-shirt, use a white elastic. If you can find an elastic in the same color as the garment, that would be even better!
Step 5. Secure the end of the elastic to the t-shirt
Bring the right side seam of the t-shirt to the back of the garment, so that it lies flat. Pin one end of the elastic to the seam, lining up the short edge with the seam. Make sure the elastic is level with the line you drew. Do not pin the rest of the elastic to the t-shirt.
Step 6. Sew the elastic to the t-shirt
Lower the shoe and sewing machine needle onto the t-shirt and elastic. Pull the elastic to tighten it. Back stitch, then walk forward in a zigzag stitch. As you sew, keep the elastic taut. The fabric will wrinkle as you sew.
- Make sure to sew the elastic on the previously drawn line.
- Make sure the color of your yarn matches that of the garment.
Step 7. Continue sewing the elastic to the t-shirt
Flatten the left seam of the garment to sew over. When you reach the right side of the t-shirt, also flatten the seam and sew over it. Keep the elastic tight.
Step 8. Superimpose the two ends of the elastic
Sew the elastic to the back of the t-shirt. When you come back to your starting point, overlap the two ends of the elastic by 1 cm. Make a few stitches back and forth on both ends.
Step 9. Cut off the excess elastic
Tie off the small threads that protrude, then cut them. Discard the rest of the elastic.
Step 10. Consider changing the neckline
It won't actually be necessary, but it will make your dress look even prettier. Start by cutting out the existing neckline. Then, cut the front of the neckline into a V-neck or round neckline. The material the t-shirts are made of will not fray, but you can cover the cut edges with a bias tape or a cotton strip.
Step 11. Turn your dress over to the right side
Your dress is now ready to be worn. For an even more successful look, wear a thin belt around your waist, to hide the seam of the elastic.
Method 2 of 3: Make a tight t-shirt dress
Step 1. Take a tight t-shirt and a baggy t-shirt
The tight-fitting t-shirt will act as a pattern, so make sure it fits you well. The loose t-shirt will form the dress. Make sure it is at least mid-thigh or it will be too short.
Large men's t-shirts will be perfect for this project
Step 2. Fold the two shirts in half lengthwise
Start by turning the large t-shirt inside out. Then fold the two shirts in half lengthwise. If you want to make a sleeveless dress, tuck the sleeves of the tight t-shirt so that they don't get in your way.
Step 3. Lay the tight-fitting t-shirt over the large t-shirt
Make sure the two long folded edges overlap. The two garments should overlap at the shoulders and neckline.
Step 4. Outline the tight fitting t-shirt
As you trace the outline of the garment, leave a margin of 1 cm. This will be the seam allowance. Outline the armholes and sides. Stop when you get to the bottom edge of the tight fitting tee. Do not trace the outline of the bottom of the t-shirt.
On a light colored fabric, use a tailor's pencil and on a dark fabric, a tailor's chalk
Step 5. Extend the line to the bottom corner of the large t-shirt
Place a long ruler or other object with a straight edge on the large t-shirt. Tilt the ruler so that it connects the bottom corner of the tight-fitting t-shirt to the bottom corner of the wide t-shirt. Draw this line, then remove the ruler.
Step 6. Cut on the lines
Start by removing the tight-fitting t-shirt and set it aside. With fabric scissors, cut along the lines you drew. Make sure to cut through all 4 layers of fabric.
Step 7. Unfold the t-shirt and pin the edges
As you place the pins along both side edges, leave the correct side of the garment inside. Do not place a pin at the armholes or the end of the sleeves.
Step 8. Sew the sides of the t-shirt
Leave a seam allowance of about 1 cm and sew in a zigzag stitch. If you added sleeves, sew along the bottom and top edges of the sleeves, but not at the openings.
Step 9. Hem the dress
The fabric of the t-shirt will not fray, but a hem will give your dress a more professional look. Fold the lower edge back about 1 cm. Flatten it well with an iron, then sew along the entire length, in a zigzag stitch, 3 mm from the inner edge.
You can also hem the sleeves or armholes in the same way
Step 10. Work the neckline
Most baggy t-shirts have a basic, somewhat boring neckline. For a more successful result, start by cutting the neckline. Then cut the front part into a V-neck or round neckline. Fold the edges about 1 cm and sew them in place in a zigzag stitch. Otherwise, you can cover the edge with a bias tape or a cotton strip.
Step 11. Turn the dress over to the right side
It is now ready to wear! If the dress is too flared for your liking, turn it inside out and sew the bottom edges together so that they are not so slanted.
Method 3 of 3: Make a bodice t-shirt dress
Step 1. Choose the t-shirt and the fabric of the skirt
This style of dress will consist of a bodice and a pleated skirt. Choose a tight-fitting t-shirt that looks good on you, without being too tight on your body. Then choose the fabric you will make your skirt. You can use a cotton coupon of the same color as the t-shirt or a large baggy t-shirt. You can choose a matching t-shirt and fabric or a completely different one.
For an interesting result, use a solid color t-shirt and printed fabric for the skirt
Step 2. Make a mark on the t-shirt where the bodice will end
Turn the t-shirt inside out and put it on. Decide at what level the bodice of the dress will end and the skirt will begin. It will usually be just below the bust or at waist level. Mark this level with a pin or pencil or designer chalk. When you are finished, remove the t-shirt.
Use chalk on dark fabric and pencil on light fabric
Step 3. Cut the t-shirt crosswise
Cut about 1 cm below the mark. If necessary, use a ruler and a chalk or tailor's pencil to first draw a line across the garment. Cut out the two layers of the garment, approximately 1 cm below this line. This extra space will be your seam allowance.
Step 4. Decide how long you want the skirt to be
With a tape measure, measure your desired length down from where the bodice will end and the skirt will begin. Add about 1 cm of seam allowance at the top edge and 2.5 for the bottom hem. You can give the skirt the length of your choice.
Step 5. Cut out the fabric
You will need to cut the fabric to your chosen length, adding the additional 3.5. The piece of fabric should be at least 4 times as wide as the width of the t-shirt. The larger the fabric, the more voluminous the skirt will be!
Step 6. Sew the sides together to make a tube
Fold the skirt fabric in half with the correct side on the inside. The piece of fabric should be the length you have chosen. Sew the open edges, leaving a seam allowance of approx. 1 cm, in a straight stitch.
If you are using elastic fabric for the skirt, sew in a zigzag stitch
Step 7. Sew two rows of basting stitches to the top of the fabric
The first row will be approximately 1cm from the top edge and the second row will be 2cm from the top edge. To make a basting, work in long straight stitches and do not tighten the thread too much.
The color of these threads does not matter, as you will remove them later. Using a contrasting color will even help you find those stitches when it's time to remove them
Step 8. Pull the basting threads to pleat the skirt
Grasp the threads on the back of the fabric. Pull both threads at the same time. The pleating will be more regular. Stop pulling when the width of the top of the skirt is the same as that of the bottom of the bodice.
Step 9. Pin the t-shirt to the skirt
Turn the t-shirt right side up. Tuck it into the top of the skirt. Overlap the bottom edge of the t-shirt with the pleated edge of the skirt. The t-shirt will now be in the skirt. Make sure the seam of the skirt is centered on the back of the t-shirt. Pin the two pieces together.
Step 10. Sew the t-shirt to the skirt
Work in a zigzag stitch or overcast stitch. Leave a seam allowance of about 1 cm.
Step 11. Measure and cut the elastic
Measure around your chest or torso (where you want to end the bodice and start the skirt). Cut a 1cm wide piece of elastic to the measured length. Use a white elastic if your dress is light in color and a black elastic if it is dark.
Step 12. Sew the elastic into the hem
Pin the end of the elastic to the center of the back of the dress, just at the seam. Sew elastic to hem, zigzag stitch or overcast stitch. As you sew, stretch the elastic. This will make the skirt pucker more and allow it to stretch when you put it on and take it off.
Step 13. Finish sewing the elastic
When you come back to your starting point, overlap the ends of the elastic by about 1 cm. Make a few stitches back and forth on both ends, then cut off the excess. Tie off the thread and cut it.
Step 14. Pull the threads from the gathers
Do you remember those threads you used to gather the skirt? The time has come to withdraw them. Locate their ends and pull on them to fully exit the threads of the fabric.
Step 15. Fold and iron the bottom of the skirt to hem it
Fold the bottom edge of the dress over 1 cm all the way around. Iron it. Fold it back over 1 cm and iron it again. If necessary, insert pins.
Step 16. Sew the hem
Sew 3mm from the inside edge of the hem. Use a thread that matches the color of the fabric. Work in reverse stitch to start and finish the seam and remove the pins as you sew.
Step 17. Turn the dress over to the right side
If you want, you can adorn it with a belt at the waist or by sewing decorations on the shoulders.
Advice
- Inspect the dress and cut the protruding small threads.
- You can make t-shirt dresses of all sizes and even in child size.
- Adult t-shirts will make great dresses for kids.
