How to Make a Dress Out of a T-Shirt

How to Make a Dress Out of a T-Shirt

T-shirts are the most versatile piece of clothing you have in your closet. You can even turn a t-shirt into a dress with minimal sewing. This cute jumper-style dress is a cinch to make, I'll show you how to make a dress out of a t-shirt in just a few minutes.

What You'll Need:

Scissors [recommended scissors]
Needle & Thread
A T-shirt
Chalk
(optional) Buttons

Once you have your materials assembled, we can get started.

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Mark the Front of the Shirt

Draw on your T-shirt as pictured here with your chalk. Chalk is best because it can be dusted off and won't stain your garment. Note that there is about a 1" space between the collar and the inner lines.

Once you have your lines drawn, you can start to cut.

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Cut T-Shirt and Sleeves

When you cut through your t-shirt, make sure that you have a nice sharp pair of scissors so that you get a good cut.

If there is print on the back of the shirt that you would like to save for patches, then cut the collar only on the front layer of the shirt. If you're not trying to save any print on the back, then go ahead and cut through both the front and back.

Cut the sleeve along the underarm seam like the image on the right.

Now you are ready to make the straps.

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Cut Straps from the Sleeves

Open up the cut sleeves. Cut along the seam where the sleeve met the rest of the shirt. Then cut about an inch away from this line. Use the above photo as a guideline. Repeat this step with the other sleeve.

You can cut thicker straps if you like, but the t-shirt fabric tends to roll up on the sides and appear thinner.

Once your straps are cut, it's time to mark the back of the shirt.

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)

Mark the Back of the Shirt

Draw a straight line across the back of your t-shirt, connecting the bottoms of the arm holes. Cut all the way across this line. Now measure this line and mark the exact middle of the shirt by dividing your measurement in half. Mark the line all the way down the shirt.

Measure your bust for the next step. Now you can measure how much you need to cut away from the shirt.

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)

Measure to Resize

You will need to adjust the size of the shirt so you don't look like you're wearing a potato sack. Measure around your bust line. Measuring here will ensure that the back of the dress drapes nicely on your booty. This is because your bust is typically somewhere between your booty and waist measurements. If you've got some voluptuous junk in the trunk and your t-shirt is already tight on your butt, skip this part.

Multiply width of the back of the shirt by two to find the size of the whole shirt. Now subtract your bust line measurement from the entire shirt width. The number you are left with is how much you will need to cut away from the shirt.

For Example: You bust line is 36" and the back of the shirt is 20". Multiply 20" by 2 to get 40". 40" - 36" = 4". In this example, your cut-away measurement would be 4".

Start your measuring tape at the line you drew down the middle of the shirt. Measure half of the cut-away measurement from the middle line. Mark with chalk. Measure from the other side of the line and mark with chalk too, like in the above photo. Make these marks all the way down the shirt. Use these marks as a guide to cut away this extra middle material.

Now you will sew up the back of the shirt.

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Stitch up the Back of the Dress

Turn your shirt over so that you are looking at the front, and flip the sides in as shown above.

Now you will just need to sew straight up the back of the dress. I suggest pinning the fabric in a few places before you start sewing because t-shirt material likes to stretch. The pins will help to keep you on track.

Use a simple straight stitch all the way up. When you are done, then you can attach the straps.

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To attach the straps, you can use a button or just tie on the straps. Buttons are fun because you can match the print on the shirt. If you are using a button, be sure to sew a buttonhole stitch around the button holes on your straps. This will keep the button holes from stretching or ripping.

Tied straps are great, too because they are so quick.

Tips:

Use a different color t-shirt or ribbon for the straps to change it up a bit.

Add a patch pocket to the lower front of the dress with the leftover shirt material.
Try some more t-shirt surgery by turning a t-shirt into a tank top.