Style Your T-Shirt Dress: A Guide

There are several ways to make a T-shirt dress. One way is to add a skirt to a T-shirt. This can be done by cutting the T-shirt to the desired length, creating a skirt from your chosen fabric, and sewing the two together. Another way is to create a fitted T-shirt dress by using a fitted shirt as a template to cut and sew a larger shirt into a dress. A third method is to make a bodice T-shirt dress by sewing a fitted shirt to a gathered skirt and adding elastic to the waistband.

Adding a skirt to a shirt

Next, you will need to create the skirt. Choose your favourite fabric and cut it to the desired length, adding a half-inch seam allowance on both sides and at the top, and a full inch at the bottom for the hem. Fold the raw edge of the bottom of the skirt under a quarter of an inch and press, then fold it under another three-quarters of an inch and iron. Sew the hem half an inch from the bottom edge.

Now, you will need to gather the skirt. Lengthen your stitch length to between four and five and sew a straight stitch a quarter of an inch from the raw edge. Repeat this process, sewing a second line half an inch from the raw edge. Pull the thread ends to gather the skirt until it matches the width of the shirt opening.

With the shirt facing right-side out, insert it into the waist of the skirt, which will now be inside out. Pin the shirt and skirt waist together and sew using a half-inch seam, or serge or zigzag stitch the edges to prevent fraying.

Finally, you can add a bow or other embellishments to the dress. You can also sew elastic into the seam allowance between the skirt and shirt to ensure the skirt does not stretch out the top.

Using elastic for a vintage-style cinch

Adding elastic to the waist of a T-shirt dress is a great way to create a cute, vintage-style cinch. This method is a quick and easy way to alter the shape of a dress and create a flattering silhouette.

Firstly, you will need to mark the waistline. Put the dress on inside out and place a narrow belt or piece of elastic around your waist to determine the desired waist location. Mark this position with chalk or pins. Take the dress off and use a ruler to draw in the full waistline.

Next, cut your elastic. You will need to cut the elastic 1 inch shorter than your waist measurement. Join the two ends by overlapping them by 1/2 to 1 inch and secure with a zigzag stitch.

Now you will need to attach the elastic to the dress. With the dress still inside out, fold it in half by lining up the side seams. Mark the centre back and front of the dress with a pin. Slide the elastic over the dress, matching up the pins on the elastic with the side seams and centre back and front. Sew the elastic to the dress using a large zigzag stitch, making sure to pull the elastic as you sew.

Finally, finish the casing. Overlap the elastic ends by 1 inch and stitch them together securely. You can now stitch the bottom open edge of the casing by hand or machine, then turn the dress right side out and spread out the elastic gathers.

Creating a fitted T-shirt dress

To make a fitted T-shirt dress, you will need two T-shirts: a fitted one to use as a template, and a large, baggy one to turn into a dress. The baggy T-shirt should be at least mid-thigh length or longer.

First, fold both T-shirts in half lengthwise, with the larger one inside out. Place the fitted T-shirt on top of the larger one, making sure that the long folded edges are aligned, and that the shoulders and collars match up. Trace about half an inch around the sides of the fitted T-shirt, which will be your seam allowance. Then, extend the line to the bottom corner of the large T-shirt and cut along the lines through all four layers of fabric.

Next, unfold the large T-shirt and pin the edges, keeping the right sides facing in as you pin along the two side edges. Sew the side seams using a half-inch seam allowance and a narrow zigzag stitch. You can also hem the dress if you want, by folding the bottom hem up by half an inch, pressing it flat with an iron, and sewing around it using a narrow zigzag stitch.

If you want to modify the collar, cut it off and trim the front into a V-neck or scoop-neck. Fold the edges down by half an inch and stitch them in place using a zigzag stitch, or bind them with bias tape or extra ribbed/jersey fabric.

Finally, turn the dress right side out, and it's ready to wear! If the dress flares out too much, you can sew the bottom edges narrower so that they don't angle as much.

Modifying the collar

First, cut the ribbed collar off. Next, cut the front part of the collar into a V-neck or a scoop-neck shape. T-shirt material does not fray, but you can bind the raw edges with bias tape or jersey fabric if you'd like. Fold the edges down by 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) and stitch them in place using a zigzag stitch. Alternatively, you can bind them with bias tape or extra ribbed/jersey fabric.

Making a bodice T-shirt dress

Step 1: Prepare your T-shirt

Start by choosing a T-shirt that you want to transform. It's best to pick a T-shirt that is slightly larger than your actual size, as this will give you more fabric to work with. If you're using a new T-shirt, wash and dry it first to prevent shrinkage later.

Step 2: Cut the T-shirt

Use scissors to cut the T-shirt just below the armpits, creating a straight line across. This will separate the top portion, which will become the bodice of your dress. You can also cut off the sleeves at this point if you prefer a sleeveless dress.

Step 3: Measure and mark the skirt portion

Take the bottom portion of the T-shirt and measure the width of the cut edge. This will be the waist of your skirt. Mark the centre point of this edge. Then, decide on the desired length of your skirt and mark this measurement from the cut edge, creating a straight line. Cut along this line to get your skirt piece.

Step 4: Create the skirt pattern

Fold the skirt piece in half lengthwise, matching the side seams. Measure and mark the centre point of the cut edge, which will be your waistline. Now, decide on the desired fullness of your skirt. For a fuller skirt, you can add more width to the side seams. Cut along the marked lines to create your skirt pattern.

Step 5: Attach the skirt to the bodice

Place the skirt pattern piece on top of the bodice, matching the centre points and side seams. Pin them together, ensuring that the skirt piece is evenly distributed around the bodice. Sew along the waistline, securing the skirt to the bodice.

Step 6: Finish the dress

Try on your new dress and check the fit. You can adjust the length of the skirt or the fit of the bodice as needed. Hem the bottom of the skirt and the armholes if necessary. Add any desired embellishments, such as a belt or decorative trim, to complete your T-shirt dress!

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