For a PDF on this project click here to Download Tutorial Tuesday
Somehow I feel the need to apologize for all of the recent posts on fancy bows and embellished little dresses. Although Strawberry Patches is first and foremost a quilt store we love all kinds of fabric crafting. It has always been my philosophy that it really doesn't matter what we make as long as we do something creative every day.
You know what they say:
Some of you have asked for instructions for the little tee shirt dress I showed you here last week. (I'm happy to say that we got in some bigger shirts today in lots of fabulous colors).
It's one of those projects that you can whip up in a few hours and it's a great excuse to play with all kinds of fabric combinations and embellishment techniques.
Here's what you'll need:
A tee shirt to fit your little princess (These measurements should fit a child up to 3T).
1/4 yard of fabric for main body of skirt
1/4 yard of fabric for ruffle
1/2 yard fabric for contrasting bias bands
woolly nylon serger thread - optional
embellishments of your choice
matching thread and general sewing notions
Here's what you do:
Put the shirt on your princess and mark where you want the skirt to attach.
Carefully take the shirt off and measure and mark the cutting line. Add 1/4" and cut the tee shirt. (for my size 6 -12 months tee shirt I measured 6 3/4" down from the arm hole and cut).
Cutting the strips:
main body: one strip 6 1/2" x 44"
ruffle: two strips 3 3/4" x 44"
bias hem band: enough 1 3/4" bias strips to equal 88" long
accent band: 1 3/4" x 44"
Sew the two ruffle strips, right sides together, so they measure 3 3/4" by 88".
Sew enough bias strips together, right sides together, to measure 13/4" by 88" to form hem band.
Press the bias strip in half lengthwise with right side out.
Lay bias strip (hem band) on WRONG SIDE of ruffle fabric, raw edges together, and sew with 1/4" seam.
Press seam up and
fold hemming band up onto right side of ruffle fabric. Press.
Top stitch in place using your edge stitch foot and needle position to the left.
The blade of the edge stitch foot will follow along the folded edge of the band and with the needle to the left, will create a straight even stitch.
Gather the top of the ruffle.
I'm using a ruffler here but you can use the gathering method shown below if you'd like.
I just like the even pleat type ruffles it makes.
Your ruffle should be gathered two times fullness - 88" will become 44".
Sew the accent band to the bottom of the main fabric, raw edges even then attach ruffle.
Serge or overcast the seam with your sewing machine to finish the edge of your seam.
Working from the right side and using your edge stitch foot, move your needle position to the right and top stitch with matching thread.
The photo below shows the hem band and how it finishes the hem. The accent band is between the main body fabric and the ruffle. At this point the skirt is in one long strip which makes attaching the ruffle and top stitching so much easier than working with a tube.
Now it's time to sew the ends together to make the strip into a circle.
With right sides together sew the skirt into a tube, matching hemming band and accent band edges. Serge or zig zag seam to finish.
Gather top of skirt by zig zagging over a heavy thread. This is a way cool trick if you haven't tried it.
By putting the thread you are zig zagging over on top of the foot it will keep you from sewing it into the skirt. The idea is to create a casing for the thread to slip through.
Pull the heavy thread until the top of the main body is the diameter of the bottom of the shirt. With the skirt seam in the center of the back, pin right sides together with raw edges even. Serge or sew to connect.
Turn right sides out, label
embellish
and twirl!
Encourage one another,
A special thank you to Beverly for helping me to develop this pattern and for being my sewing double.
