I taught a class a few weekends ago to the girls in my Relief Society on how to make my t-shirt dresses. I created a handout with step-by-step instructions, and showed them how to cut out and attach each of the pieces. I created this dress in the class, and figured that I would share it with you all as well.
Since we are now in full fledged winter mode, I decided to use a long-sleeve black top, and paired with with some gray linen I picked up at the LA fabric district.
If you don’t know how to sew, or know the basics but are interested in learning more, Merrick and I have created The Modern Girl’s Guide to Sewing, online sewing courses that teach you everything you need to know about clothing construction. You can take our Beginner Course or our Intermediate Course, and learn how to follow tutorials like this one! Make sure to check out moderngirlsewing.com!
Get the tutorial below….
that mark and cut across shirt. The added 1/2” will be for your seam allowance.
measurement to allow for 1/2” seam allowance per side, and cut out 2 strips of fabric that are the
amount you calculated long, and 3” wide. Surge or zigzag stitch around all of the edges of both waistbands to keep from fraying.
*The finished waistband will be 2” wide. You can adjust this however you would like.
the width of the skirt. The wider the width of the skirt, the fuller it will be. So feel free to make it 2 1/2 times the width of the shirt if you would like a fuller skirt. Have the length of the skirt hit at least 5” below your knee (make sure you hold up the fabric where you want the top of the skirt to hit). This will give you plenty of fabric to work with when creating the hem of your skirt at the end. Cut 2 of these pieces (one for the front, one for the back). Surge or zigzag stitch along the top and sides of these 2 pieces to keep from fraying.
allowance. Set aside.
and the second row 1” away from the edge. Now, pull on one side of the thread to gather your fabric. Gather it so that it becomes smaller than the width of your waistband. With right sides together, place the top of the skirt on the bottom of the waistband so that the raw edges meet. Match up the side seams and pin. Now gently loosen the gathered skirt so that it becomes the same size as the circumference of your waistband and pin in place. Make sure that the gathers look even.
waist of the skirt. Match up the side seams of the shirt with the side seams of the waistband and pin in
place.
to where you marked for your hem, and cut. To hem, surge or zigzag stitch along the bottom of the
skirt, iron 1” under, and sew 1” from the bottom. If you don’t have a surger, you can also iron the
bottom under 1/4”, then under again 3/8” and sew in place.