How to make a baggy shirt into a T shirts dress

This weeks instructable is one for the girls, i'm going to show you how to make a baggy boys shirt into a cute t shirt dress for wearing over leggings or hotpants. A great way for making all those old band shirt you've got hiding in the back of your wardrobe cute and wearable! :)

A new Instructable every Monday on www.alittlestranger.com

Step 1 You Will Need

You will need:
a) A t shirt that fits you
b) Your t shirt you want to modify. Try and get it as large as possible so you've got lots of fabric to work with, as sizes go larger they get longer too. The one i'm using here is a XL skinny fit t shirt.

Tools:
c)Marker Pen
d)Thread in same colour as your chosen shirt
e) Pins
f) Fabric Scissors
g) Sewing machine

Comments

[chihuahualover112]

wait, so what if the sleeve of the shirt that you're altering is MUCH bigger than the other shirt, such as this? will it still work? i don't have any sort of shirt as big as that yet still slim. :C

[airicknuin]

 i dig your hair.

[sires6]

I would make one minor suggestion:  I know it would make the instructable longer, but posting line with the picture would make it soooo much easier to understand.  Also, slightly better pictures and comments about the little piece you cut off and what you did with it...  JMHO being a decent sewer and knowing what you were trying to say.

[emilygracedavis]

 This is adorable!

For all those who can't tell the difference--before the shirt was baggy and would have looked huge. She basically fitted it to be a long, skinny shirt instead. 

[codongolev]

I'm going to need to know where you got that shirt, because I want one.  

[alittlestranger]

i got it from Primark about a month ago, i couldnt resist the print :)

[cheaplazymom]

Great instruction on how to custom fit a tee-shirt.  But, for most people it needs a little more length or a little skirt added to call it a dress.

[alittlestranger]

I'm 5'5" and they always turn out long enough on me, you could always add a band to the bottom if the shirts not long enough.

[pandeixon]

Great tutorial :D i was looking for it for so long :D thank you thank you thank you!

Just a question: is it necessary to use an over locker? Can I sew with a straight stitch?

Oh, love the hair :D

[alittlestranger]

i've made these before just using a straight stitch and they still come out great, because the jersey fabric wont fray theres no need to hem the seams. :)

[pandeixon]

That's great! I'll try this out as soon as possible! :D
Thank you again :]

[Taresa]

Was the shirt already long enough to be a dress in the first place?  It looks like you shaped it to make it more flattering, but didn't change the length. 

[alittlestranger]

The length stayed the same, thats why i recommend at the begining of the instructable to get the biggest shirt you can - when im at gigs ill pick up a shirt in a XL so you've got as much fabric to work with as possible :)

[moqca]

 Well, thats hot.

[bigo72]

I'm surely stupid, but I can't see the difference between the first and the last shirt... o.0

[alittlestranger]

they're the same shirt :)

its looked like this before...

[bigo72]

OK about "before"....I think "after" is the real problem ;-)
If you publish a picture of the after, maybe readers can understand wich is the difference between "before" and "after ;-)

[AngryRedhead]

I think this might classify as a micro dress.  If you bend over and all your business shows, it's a micro IMO.  I love the print on it BTW.

Random:  I'm impressed you have a Bernina.  That's pretty bad ass.

 

[alittlestranger]

"your business shows" ha ha!

I count a t shirt dress as one of those long t shirt things, like for covering your arse over leggings.

After i uploaded the pics i realise i look kinda naked, i should have worn black leggings, not sparkly pink hotpants ha ha!

[AngryRedhead]

Being a child in the early 90s (and 80s), leggings and a long t-shirts were pretty radical, but the t-shirt wasn't ever called a dress.  I had some pretty spectacular (aka horrible) leggings and long New Kids on the Block t-shirts.  Don't ask about the hair - it was too horrible to describe.  And then my older sisters would dress me up...  OH THE SHAME!  Once one of my sisters put me in a huge tie-dyed t-shirt and cinched it with a belt around my waist and combed my hair into a side pony tail.  I must have been 6, but I still remember it and thinking, "This sucks.  I look stupid.  No, it is not adorable.  It's awful."

 

[ashleybmeyer]

lovely! what kind of seam do you use on the sides (and sleeves)?

[alittlestranger]

I used an over locker but i've made them before just using a straight stitch on a sewing machine - as its made from t shirt jersey the edges wont fray.

[RoosterSocks]

No cute monsters?!?  Who are U and what have U done with Holly?

[alittlestranger]

ha ha! dont worry im sure ill make something monstery soon! :)

[NitroRustlerDriver]

 That is the coolest sewing machine I have ever seen.

Oh, and to be redundant, you are really cute. :) Love the hair.

[alittlestranger]

thanks! Its slowly getting more stickery!   :D

[sansuifidelity]

Yeah SWEET shirt but i also fail to see the difference

[rbland]

Agree :P you are very cute!

[lazarus441]

Its a very (!) short dress i suppose =D

Do you can make cut-scheme for a little longe dress out of t-shirts?

Thx

[l8nite]

some how I doubt Id look as cute in this as you do, your "ibles" are always well laid out and informative

[Schym]

you're cute !

[ryborg5000]

is there anybody less cute you could put in your instructables? (not really complaining) but i mean i have no sewing skill or desire to sew, and i end up posting on here anyways. nice instructable though. please dont take it as creepy, i just find it funny.

[Kryptonite]

Very nice, your skill with a sewing machine never caeses to astound.