Easy play dress - added to downloads

[sewingmel]

I know this has been explained many times in MG, but I don't remember a tutorial for it. I took pics this time.

Items needed:
-your favorite girl's t-shirt pattern
-knit fabric for bodice
-woven or knit fabric for skirt
-foe or binding for neckline

Step 1:
Adjust your favorite t-shirt pattern. Mine is Otto 4/04 #36. If you don't have this issue, please buy it today! It is so worth it!

A: Draw a line from the underarm seam to the center of your shirt. I drew it slightly sloping down, but you can go straight across if you like. This is the dotted line.

B: Draw a solid cutting/folding line as far away from the dotted line as you like. I just did a 1" line this time, but I do 2-3" for bigger sizes.



Step 2:
Cut out front, back, and sleeves. This can be done with long sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves (you would need foe for the armholes).



Step 3:
Sew up shoulders, and attach sleeves. Pretend that you are sewing up a regular t-shirt for now.



Step 4:
Finish sleeve hems any way you like. I just folded under and used a zig-zag stitch. You could also coverstitch, use a rolled hem, use trim, or use foe. The choice is yours! Be creative!


Step 5:
Pin each arm and underarm together. Sew last seam in shirt.


Step 6:
Decide how long you want to make your skirt. I made mine 16 inches for a 2T/86.

Cut a long rectangle the width of your fabric (if woven) or about double the width of your waist by your desired length.

If you are making a much larger dress, you may need 2 lengths of fabric for the skirt.



Step 7:
Finish your hem any way you like. See step 4. I turned mine under 1/4" and again at 1".



Step 8: Please remember this step! I always forget it!
Mark your four equal parts (front, sides, and back). Your back seam is not finished at this point. I kept in mind that I would use 1/2" seam to take care of the selvage I did not cut off.



Step 9:
Sew 2 gathering lines about 1/4" apart along top edge of fabric. (Pay no attention to the presser foot. The stitches are on the far right.) Gather up skirt.


Step 10:
Match up midpoints of skirt and shirt and pin fabric right sides together. Sew back seam shut.


Step 11:
Sew bodice to skirt.


Step 12:
Finish neckline with foe, binding, or ribbing. I chose foe.


You are finished!

[deweysred]

great tut

[foxxfamily]

Thanks, I have been wanting to do something this and was hesitating just branching out on my own. I'm not quite ready to just wing it!

Amy

[Vanessa]

Great tut, Mel! I have some of that same cord in my stash waiting for me to use it.

[mummy_chelle]

Now it makes sense to me! Thanks so much for explaining.

[tuffykenwell]

Very nice tut!

Steph

[DUMPDUCK3]

Great tutorial! Thanks for taking the time to type it out and take pics.

[SGRAHA]

great tut, i will definately try it out soon

[fiddlestitches]

thanks I have been wanting to try this.
Kelley

[3chickadeesandme]

Great tute!! that does look easy!

[shannonmamato4]

Thanks, I am going to make a few of these. They look like they sew up pretty fast.

[rquebedo]

Thanks.. I think I am going to do this for my dd. I am going to use the shirts that are too short for her instead!!

[jcburningham]

super cute!

[Sheena]

Really cute! Thank you!

[Bluemoon]

this is great.
and can you tell me about the way you traced your pattern?
is the front and back on the same one?

[kathy_sews]

Great tutorial! I do mine slightly differently, I only sew one underarm/sleeve seam, then I gather my skirt material with my ruffler or gathering foot and sew it on to the bodice. Then I sew the remaining underarm/sleeve/side seam last because I don't like to attach the skirt in the round (just like I don't like to attach sleeves in the round). I guess I'm just lazy this way. Of course, my method has backfired at least once where I gathered the skirt up to tightly and it didn't fit.

[joyfulpraise]

yey thank you!!!

[rebeccahuff]

really cute! i like it!

[Carmen74]

Really cute. Thanks for the great detail/photos

[sewingmel]

this is great.
and can you tell me about the way you traced your pattern?
is the front and back on the same one?

Most t-shirt patterns are the same for the front and the back with the exception of the neckline. I just trace both necklines on one piece.