The Easy Tee-Shirt Dress

I’m excited to share with you a super easy (and cute!) kid’s tee-shirt dress tutorial from Seams Sew Cool Studio, a sewing school for kids out of Duluth, Mn. The tutorial uses a pre-made jersey t-shirt for the dress top which not only greatly simplifies the pattern, but also lays the foundation for a comfy summer dress for your little one!

Materials List:

• size 2t (toddler size) t-shirt (I used a $5 top from Target.)
• marking tool
• fabric 15″ cotton fabric 42 to 45″ wide
• coordinating thread
• iron
• sewing machine
• scissors
• 4″ x 25″ piece of fabric (for optional rosette)
• hand sewing needle (for optional rosette)

T-shirt:
1.  From the bottom of the armhole sleeve where it intersects with the t-shirt,  measure down the seam 2-1/4″ and place a mark. Repeat on other side. Draw a horizontal line from mark to mark. Cut through both front and back layers on the line. Quarter mark the circumference of the bottom of the t-shirt (divide into 4 equal parts).

Skirt:
2. Place fabric right sides together, making sure selvage edges are even and to the right.  Pin and sew the side seam with a 5/8th inch seam allowance. Press seam open.

3. Gather the top edge of fabric:

• Quarter mark the circumference of the top edge (divide into 4 equal parts).
• Gather top edge using two rows of a gathering  stitch.

4. Attaching the skirt to the t-shirt:

• With right sides together pin starting with the skirt seam matching up with a t-shirt seam, pin each quarter mark of the t-shirt with a quarter mark  of the skirt. Adjust gathers and pin to t-shirt. Sew using a 5/8″ seam allowance.
• Press seam down.

5. Double fold hem:

• Turn up the hem 1/2″ to the wrong side and press. Then turn up and pin the hem again. This time 1″. Press, and sew the hem.

Rosette (optional):

6.  Cut a 4″ x 25″ piece of fabric

7.  Fold wrong sides together lengthwise, so cut edges meet. Press.

8.  Sew 2 rows of gathering stitches along the cut edge.

9.  Pull the stitches to gather,  gather the fabric up tight.

10.  Start at one end and start rolling the fabric. With a needle and thread, stab stitch through the layers closets to the gathering stitch to keep its shape, roll some more and stab stitch, repeat. Lock your stitch and bury your thread.

11. To attach to dress, either sew on or attach with a safety pin.