The Loom Muse : How To Re-Fashion a T-Shirt That is Too Big to Be a Dress For a Little Girl

How to Re-Fashion a T-Shirt for Little Girl To Be a Dress!!!

Before

After

My folks ordered this great t-shirt because it had donkeys on it and my little girl is obsessed with donkeys and well farm animals in general. Problem is they got the smallest size available in kids but it was still too big by a lot. So I sad I would fix it and make a dress. I took a photo by photo process on turning this into a dress and how to do it if you want to do it yourself for your little girl who loves a t-shirt that is too big.

Items you will need:
Oversized Shirt
Button
A package of 3yards of lace if larger than small 2 packages of 3 yards of lace
Needle
Thread that matches color of shirt
Scissors
Package of Bias Binding 1" that is a similar color to shirt
Elastic that is thin
Safety Pins
Pins

If you buy a sewing package half this stuff will probably be included, those packages are great to have for little projects like this. If you have a machine feel free to use it for this as well, I personally am more gifted at hand sewing.

First you will need to cut all the edges off your shirt and the sleeves see image for how sleeves are cut. Keep it very close to the seams on the neckline and bottom of shirt. Stretch the bottom and sleeves out after cutting to make wider. Cut a slight V in the neckline by folding the shirt in half with the front center being your fold. I usually make sure I cut very little off, just want it to meet the curve of the neck with a slight V. Makes for a prettier neckline. You can skip this if desired.

Next you will need to set up your elastic waist band in the back.
Step 1: Turn Shirt inside out and the back facing you, cut your bias binding measuring the length of the back of the shirt right at the bottom of the sleeve hole.

Step 2: Pin the middle in place making sure the front of the shirt does not get involved in the pinning. Then pin the upper section.

Step 3: Sew the top binding down, then the bottom down, then a seam through the middle leaving the ends of the binding open for adding elastic.

Step 4: Cut a single piece of elastic the length of the back, it will be sent through the upper part of the binding then woven to the lower part of the binding your created. Sew together your ends of the elastic. This makes it really easy. Always pin off your starting elastic so it doesn't get lost in the send through. You will need your safety pin for the putting in the elastic. This completes the elastic section.

Then you will gather a small area at the bottom sides weaving the needle in and out to desired gather up and pull and tie off. Measure to make sure it is same on both sides.

Now to add your lace. I never cut the lace I sew as I go and cut when I finish the edge for as little to no waste as possible. I started with the sleeves. Pin in the lace if you do not trust to free hand sew, also feel free to use a machine if you would like.

Then I sew down the lace around the neck line. At the front I add a button to hide the point lace connection center front. I would suggest sewing down the bottom edge of the lace, you might want to pin this part down for a smooth sew down.

Now sew the lace trim at the bottom of the shirt.

If the neckline is too large, which mine was I add an extra little seam at the top of the lace to allow be to put a small piece of elastic in the back to close the neck line in. You can also hand gather, or pleat the top.

After this your done!!! Yes you can do this for an adult size shirt, you will need more lace for the project very likely.