Released July 31, 2009
by Gina Roberson
A newer style dress that I just love to make for my girls is the T-Shirt dress. I embroider the little t-shirt before I make the dress and that really makes it cute! It’s so simple and easy to make. I thought I would share the instructions with you along with some pictures of one I just made. These instructions will work on an infant size up to a girl size 6. On an infant you could use a Onesie as the top. The pictures you see of the cupcake t-shirt dress I made is for a girl who wears a size 4T/5T.
Step 1 – Embroider something pretty on your little girls
t-shirt. I used an Appliqué Alphabet letter “A” on this dress to stand for my daughter’s first name.
Step 2 – Take the shirt and cut it off to be an empire waist (you can serge around the bottom of the shirt if you would like a finished edge). Select a pretty 45″ wide fabric that will compliment the color of the shirt fabric. You will be attaching this fabric as the skirt. In my case, I used a fabric with the same little cupcakes that I used for my appliquéd letter.
Step 3 – The 45” wide fabric works perfect for the width of the dress. All you need to do is to figure out how long you want your dress to be and cut the length appropriately (but leave the width as 45”). On a bigger child it will have less gathers, and on a little child it will have more gathers. Then simply hem the bottom of the dress and apply rick-rack, etc. while you still have the dress open. Once you’ve hemmed the dress, you can sew the open sides together to make the side seam.
Step 4 – Gather the top of the skirt all the way around.
Step 5 – Notch the front and back centers, then turn the skirt inside out. Place the shirt down inside of the skirt so that right sides are together. Match the side seams and the front and back center notches. Pin. Then sew the shirt to the skirt.
Step 6 – Turn the dress right side out again and you should have a finished dress. I like to add rick-rack where the waist of the shirt meets the gathered skirt, you may want to add some trim as well.
These little dresses are so much fun to make and look so cute on your little one ~ so ENJOY!
Love this!!! I’m going to start making my nieces some school dresses!!! THANKS
Comment by Kathy — July 31, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
Thanks so much for the idea! I have a niece I sew for and stashes of cute fabric! I can’t wait to get sewing!
Comment by Kristi Richards — July 31, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
those are one of my favorite dresses to wear. I made this for my daughter when she was 5. she is now 17. I made one for myself a few years ago and wear it all the time. it’s SO comfortable.
Comment by Gina — July 31, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
The dress is adorable, my granddaughters would love it, but they are in a size 8 I think, I am going to find out. You have done a marvelous job. It is a great way to use older T-shirts that the kids ruin and still get another outfit out of it. With todays economy, we all have to pinch our pennys. Way to go girl!!!!
Comment by Linda King — July 31, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
This does look like fun. I’m going to try making it for my granddaughter. Thanks
Comment by Diana — July 31, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
VERY COOL, except I have a son and another boy on the way and no girls!!!!!
Comment by Janette in Hawaii — July 31, 2009 @ 10:57 pm
I now have 3 DGD’s and the 2 oldest like to dress alike. The newborn would also look cute with a matching outfit. I will have to try this for the girls. I think Walmart has some fairy or princess fabric that would do just fine. Thanks for the idea.
Comment by Barb Porter — July 31, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
So simple and yet so effective - thank you for the idea, I will just HAVE to try this one!
Comment by Dianne — August 1, 2009 @ 12:59 am
This is just precious!! My granddaughter’s birthday is next Saturday and this is just in time for me to make her a couple!! Thanks so much!!!
Comment by Pat — August 1, 2009 @ 1:02 am
This is SOOOO cute, I have a tiered ruffle skirt to make for my grandaughter and this idea will work out perfectly.
Thanks for sharing, love it
Comment by Jann — August 1, 2009 @ 2:30 am
Very very cute, thanks for the instructions
Comment by Barbara — August 1, 2009 @ 2:53 am
What a brilliant idea
Lily
Comment by lily — August 1, 2009 @ 3:21 am
This is simply adorable and can not believe how easy it is to make.
Thank you so much for sharing
Comment by Pam — August 1, 2009 @ 4:17 am
Thank You Gina ! What a cute idea. These also will work for long sleeve t-shirts for winter, I can not wait to get started. Thank you again for sharing.
Comment by Beverly — August 1, 2009 @ 6:15 am
Thank you Gina!! I used to make these for my granddaughter when she was small - now I have a Greatgranddaughter and she would look so cute in one of these!! Thanks for the reminder!! I’m going to make her some today!!
Comment by Barb D in Maine — August 1, 2009 @ 6:38 am
Very cute and easy. One could also be used the length of the T’s to make a dropped waist with a shorter skirt. That was a style that look so sweet on my daughter as she was tall and very thin.
Comment by Jennifer — August 1, 2009 @ 6:47 am
Ah this is so cute, I wish I had little girls to dress!
Comment by Anonymous — August 1, 2009 @ 6:52 am
What a darling dress and so easy. I am going to make one today for my grandaughter,
Comment by suzanne — August 1, 2009 @ 7:09 am
ADORABLE!!!! You have inspired me to try one of these for my 5 year old granddaughter. Thanks so much for sharing.
Sue
Comment by Sue — August 1, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Excellent idea…
Comment by Jolene — August 1, 2009 @ 7:31 am
What a GREAT project! I will be trying it
this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Lynn — August 1, 2009 @ 7:33 am
very good idea
Comment by ie — August 1, 2009 @ 7:36 am
Wow, what a simply super idea.Thank you for sharing.Now all I need is to find some little girls to sew for.LOL.
Comment by Peachy — August 1, 2009 @ 7:40 am
What a darling dress. I am anxious to make one for my granddaughter’s. thanks for the idea.
Comment by Carol — August 1, 2009 @ 7:45 am
Thank you sew much for this adorable design.Your little dress is precious and looks expensive! Thanks for the step by step easy instructions. Before the embroidery machine came around I used applique fabric to tee shirts and use fabric paint. Or use iron-on transfers.
Comment by sandra — August 1, 2009 @ 7:54 am
There are wonderful for us older folks with just a bit of modification. You add some material to the width or find 60 inch material to use,soft drappy material is great, and when you join the t-shirt and the skirt put in a bit of elastic to draw it in to our more mature figure. I also add pockets, love pockets.
Comment by Linda — August 1, 2009 @ 8:13 am
Great article and love the little dress. Your instructions are excellent. I think I’ll attempt making one for myself. After all I’m just a older version of a little girl…tee hee.
I bet your girls love having these unique dresses that no one else has.
Thanks bunches for sharing you idea.
Comment by watermelon — August 1, 2009 @ 8:23 am
Thanks so much for this idea. I hate cutting out things and this will keep me from having to. I can do all kinds of things with this idea. My husband will love it if I can get rid of some more of my stash. I like that I can do an applique design to match the bottom also.
Comment by Edie — August 1, 2009 @ 9:23 am
That is adorable, thanks for sharing
Comment by Melissa Williamson — August 1, 2009 @ 9:50 am
Adorable! I also made some T-shirt dresses for my little granddaughters. But instead of high waisted, I made them drop waisted and embroidered the designs onto the skirt part. Just another variation which uses less material if you only have a small amount of fabric to use.
Comment by Tody — August 1, 2009 @ 10:08 am
Love it! Can you share the name of that alphabet collection? It’s adorable.
Comment by Susan — August 1, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Very cute. My great granddaughter is about to start P-K and these would be great for her. Cute cute idea and beautiful work. Well done
Comment by Ethel Lizarraras — August 1, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Thanks for posting this article, Gina. Very very cute simple dress. My granddaughter will definitely benefit from this one. I appreciate that you’ve shared it with us. Best, irene
Pockets could be added to the shirt, too. There are never enough pockets in clothes for kids.
Comment by Irene — August 1, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
I have made several of these for my granddaughter. I make a wide seam when sewing the T-shirt to the skirt and insert elastic into the seam allowance. It makes for a closer fit for the thin ones. I have also cut the sleeves off and serged with a rolled hem into the “lettuce” effect. Each is just a little different that way.
Comment by Glenda Lambertson — August 1, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
This little dress is delightful. Thankyou for the instructions and the memories. It’s a great way to use old, short t-shirts but it’s worth buying new ones, too. I love the ric-rac trim, too. I made similar dresses many years ago, not machine embroidered though - hand-embellished in many ways. This style, lower-waisted, makes a great house dress for ladies on hot days, too. It’s comfortable, cool, quick to make, change and launder so a person can look clean and cool even on the worst summer day. I had forgotten this style until I saw your letter and photo.
Comment by Alma — August 1, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Love the idea. I may try it for myself. I have a few T shirts that shrank and are now too short.
Comment by Carol4700 — August 1, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
Love the idea. I may try it for myself since I only have grandsons. I have a few T shirts that shrank and are now too short.
Comment by Carol4700 — August 1, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
great idea very jazzy
Comment by susan timmiss — August 1, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
I love the cute idea. I have 4 GGD’s all ages.
Great idea for Birthdays.
Comment by Mary — August 2, 2009 @ 12:30 am
This looks like something I could do. Thank you for the idea.
Comment by Jean — August 2, 2009 @ 3:53 am
I love these articles. This t-shirt dress is wonderful. It would be great if you could print just the article to download, comments etc are not needed to download but the printer does it’s job and prints it all. Thanks, Love this site.
Comment by Nancy Collier — August 2, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
great design will use it for underpriveledged children in cambodia
Comment by Barbara — August 3, 2009 @ 4:50 am
Gina, what an adorable dress… Love it… the cupcake fabric is so cute.. This gives me loads of ideas.. thanks for the article.. Judy
Comment by Judy — August 3, 2009 @ 6:26 am
This is really cute. I will have to share it with my daughter in law who loves sewing little dresses for her daughter.
Comment by grandma shari — August 3, 2009 @ 10:21 am
adorable!! going to have to try this for my four year old
Comment by Sharlyn — August 3, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Wow thank you for sharing, what a great idea
Comment by Ann — August 3, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
i made t-shirt dresses for my daughter when she was pregnant! joanne’s fabric has t-shirts on sale now, 5 for $10 in a wide variety of colors.
Comment by priscilla clark — August 3, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
What a lovely idea, I can’t wait to try it for my Granddaughters
Comment by Heath3r — August 4, 2009 @ 2:30 am
I can tell by all the comments that this is a hit. I wish I had a little girl in the family to do this for , my niece’s have all had boys and I don’t think they would allow them to wear this. LOL
Comment by suzy — August 4, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
I just got done making one of these dresses for my granddaughter! It turned out so cute! THanks for sharing your idea!
Comment by Deb — August 9, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
I must try one for myself. Not sure whether to make it at waist level or below. If you have made one for an adult a few more suggestions would be appreciated. Think I will try at the waist with elastic. I am on the larger size so I will make the skirt longer and of soft material.
Comment by Anonymous — August 11, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Cutest item I have seen yet. I think I will have to do this one right away!
Comment by JoAnn Lister — August 18, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Thanks so much for sharing the instructions for this dress. It’s just what I have been looking for to make for my 5 year old niece.
Comment by D.S. Lane — August 22, 2009 @ 10:34 am
What a nice dress, can I ask you how you gathered the dress at the waist? And also, for a onsie, would you cut the bottom off????Thank you
Comment by candy — October 30, 2009 @ 11:37 pm