DIY T-Shirt Dress

I've been overcome with the sewing bug, and I love it! A few weekends ago, I introduced you to my very first sewing project, a DIY Maxi Dress, which I think was a smash hit! I can't wait to wear it when it finally warms up here in Texas. I had so much fun making it that I wanted to make another t-shirt dress to share with you! This one was a little more challenging because I needed to add a lining so that the skirt was not see through. The same concept I used for the maxi dress applies. Using a t-shirt for the top portion of the dress and jersey fabric for the skirt.

For this project, you'll need one t-shirt, enough fabric to wrap around your body 1.5 times (I used jersey knit), dress lining (the same amount you bought for the fabric), elastic thread, cotton thread, ball point needle, walking foot (for the sewing machine), pins, and scissors.

First, cut your t-shirt where you want the skirt to attach… In my case, it was right under my chest, to create a high-waisted dress. Leave a little room to sew the t-shirt to the skirt.

Wrap the fabric 1.5 times around your waist where you want the skirt part of the dress to start. Cut off any remaining fabric. You can save this fabric for a sash or just belt the the dress like I've done in the picture. Next, cut your lining to match the size of your skirt fabric. Using pins, secure the lining to the WRONG side of the fabric to hold in place, and sew all four sides using the cotton thread.

Fold the fabric in half so that the pretty side is visible on both sides and the lining is now on the inside. Now, to begin creating the skirt, place the edges together creating a rectangle, and sew up the side using the cotton thread. The skirt will now look like a rectangle with two open ends. I had already put a hem in as you can see below, but in hindsight, I would wait until the end.

Flip the skirt inside out so you no longer see the hem edges. Next, we add the elastic thread around the top of the skirt. In this step, we will use the elastic thread, but only for the bobbin thread. The top thread will remain the regular cotton thread. Below is the kind you should get, I found mine at Jo-Ann's Fabric Store.

Wind the bobbin by hand, but make sure not to do it too tightly. With the dress right side out, sew all the way around the top of your skirt with the elastic thread on the inside, the side that would be touching your skin. It should begin to gather like you see below. You want it to gather!

Before the next step, turn the skirt inside out so the lining is on the outside.

Next, slide the t-shirt into the skirt, making sure the t-shirt is right side out. Slide it in the skirt, shoulders first, as pictured below:

Pin the cut edge of the t-shirt to the ruffled skirt edge, making sure that the seam on your skirt is in the middle of the back of your t-shirt. The seam will run down the back of your dress. I would suggest pinning it in that spot first and then working your way around, spacing out the ruffles.

While your dress is turned inside out, carefully trim the excess fabric at the waistband. Flip your dress right side out and inspect your work. At this point, you can try on your dress and pin the hem at the length you want it. Sew in your hem and voila! Grab some heels, add a belt, and go look fabulous! PS this dress only cost me $13!!