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From: mozeyrn
Date: 04-24-2006, 11:22 AM (1 of 10)
I made a t-shirt dress for my dd Friday night. It consisted of three t-shirts. I used to make these for myself when I was in college and they looked cute so I figured I'd try one for her. I stitched it up and added some decorative stitching at the hem and sleeves. When I tried it on her in the morning, it was huge! I mean HUGE!  Is it because I bought a pkg of boy's t-shirts that the dress turned out so big? I bought the boy's pkg of shirts since they're cheaper and my dd is a bit of a Marvin (I swear she brings home half of the playground). If it looked cute and she liked it I would try a nicer set of shirts. Her normal size is 3T-4T. Are boys clothes bigger than girls? Is it because I didn't buy a toddler size? She can wear the XS shirts at Target that say they're size 2-4. If my computer at home worked I'd post of pic of it... - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: Caren F
Date: 04-24-2006, 12:29 PM (2 of 10)
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I'd try washing it to see how much it shrinks in the wash. I wouldn't panic because it is to big; she will at least grow into it. Next round try a smaller shirt. Do you have a link or a picture of this dress? I'd kind of like to see how it looks as I have 2 DD myself. Caren |
User: Caren F
Member since: 12-14-2005 Total posts: 6 |
From: mozeyrn
Date: 04-24-2006, 12:49 PM (3 of 10)
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I joined photobucket.com and they say they can accept pics from cell phones. I'll take a pic and see if my pc at work will play nice but getting a signal in the building is iffy.
- Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: stephi
Date: 04-24-2006, 12:54 PM (4 of 10)
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Maureen- Consider it a test project! Some clothing brands run big and some shrink horribly in the wash, so you may want to wash it first. If not she will grow like a weed here soon mine went from a 4t to a 6 in a matter of months. We outgrew our winter clothes before winter was done!! Stephi Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361 
|
From: mozeyrn
Date: 04-24-2006, 01:12 PM (5 of 10)
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Test project? Absolutely! That was the whole point of buying inexpensive stuff (cheap) to see how it turned out. I did realize one thing: I need to gather the skirt part of the dress instead of pleating. I was lazy and didn't take the time to read up on how to gather (I used to use the gathering attachment on my grandmom's machine before it went kaput). I liked how the decorative stitching turned out and may try using embroidery thread next time. It'll be interesting to see how much it shrinks in the washer/dryer! I'll put it in a mesh lingerie bag first. - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: Sews4kate
Date: 04-24-2006, 02:12 PM (6 of 10)
I would love to see a picture of the dress  Did you use a pattern? Are there directions available somewhere?
Wendy
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User: Sews4kate
Member since: 08-20-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: mozeyrn
Date: 04-24-2006, 02:49 PM (7 of 10)
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Let's see if I can describe this properly: It's a drop-waist dress Stuff to have: three t-shirts (same size), pins, thread and scissors - there is no pattern. 1. Take the first t-shirt and cut off the hem part (this will become the top of the dress) 2. Take the second & third t-shirt, cut straight straight across under the arms (you'll have two tubes of fabric, this will be the "skirt" part of the dress). 3. Split open the "tubes" and sew sides together to make one big circle (with the gathering attachment, I used to sew one side together and run it thru the gatherer twice, then sew up the other side - it seemed a perfect fit) 4. Pin the gathered section to the bottom of the first t-shirt (right sides together) and sew. Voila! The dress I made has a grey top with a white skirted bottom. It looked kind of blah so I stitched on some bright pink built-in decorative stitches (no embroidery machine..................yet). I hope this makes sense to anyone reading it. You don't have to use t-shirts - there are sooo many different ways to do this (different fabric between top & bottom, pleating/gathering the skirt, etc.) - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
From: esrun3
Date: 04-24-2006, 06:51 PM (8 of 10)
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I've made these using cotton for the skirt part-I just cut the width of the fabric however long you will want it plus seam allowance and hem-One full width of the fabric is enough altho I've used a full width and a half as well as 2 full widths-depends on how full you want the skirt. Make it the same as mozeyrn. They turn out reallly cute. I know Target has toddler t-shirts for $3.99-those are what I used, most of them have a cute little applique on them already, then I just used color coordinating fabric. Uses a stash up well!
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 04-24-2006, 09:11 PM (9 of 10)
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I made these all the time when my DD was small. She is 14 now & says I dressed her dorky ( she always chose the fabric). I would cut an applique from the skirt fabric & put it on the shirt. Then I would make matching shorts to go under. My daughter was (and still is) a tomboy so we needed something to cover the panties. I was thinking about making some for bday presents to use up some stash. Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: Sews4kate
Date: 04-24-2006, 11:11 PM (10 of 10)
Thanks Mozeyn! It made perfect sense! I've made them with fabric skirts, never thought of using additional tshirts! Liking that idea! 
Wendy
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User: Sews4kate
Member since: 08-20-2005 Total posts: 182 |
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