How To Sew A Simple Summer T-Shirt Dress

Learn how to sew a summer t-shirt dress with the season almost up! Don’t go on a clothing shopping spree and end up with an empty wallet before the season ends. Instead, empty your closet and look for the perfect material you can up style. You will learn how to add material to a t-shirt to make a dress, here. Follow this easy DIY t-shirt dress pattern and simple design and let’s get started!

DIY Summer T-Shirt Dress To Up Style Your Tees

What you will need:

• Sewing machine with a ballpoint needle
• 60″ x 60″ piece of knit fabric
• Knit tank in matching colors
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Fabric pencil

Steps on how to sew a summer t-shirt dress

Step 1. The knit fabric

Fold the fabric in half, then fold it in half again. Make sure you fold it nice and straight.

Step 2. The tank top

Fold the tank top in half across its length, then line it up with the fold of the other material. Line up the edges of the folds straight.

Step 3. Mark

You will have to cut up a hole in the fabric, so you need to mark the width of the folded tank on the knit fabric.

Step 4. Cutting the hole

To get the perfect hole, you need to make a thin slit cut, straight to the marking on the knit. Set the folded tank top aside and cut through the fabric.

Step 5. Mark below the knit

Place the knit over the tank. It would be best to place it on a dress form or yourself to see how it goes. Position it where you want and pin it in place. You will need to mark a line half an inch below the knit fabric.

Step 6. Cut along the marked line

Remove the knit, then cut the t-shirt along the marked line. It is best if you cut the tank top or shirt on a dress form because you can freely move it around as you cut the cloth. If you don’t have one, then cut it on top of the table.

Step 7. Match both side seams

After cutting the t-shirt, match both side seams of the tank top.

Step 8. Stuff the tank

As you tuck the tank in, match the center front to one end of the slit and the center back to the other end of the slit.

Step 9. Pin the tank and striped knit

Before you sew these two pieces together, you need to pin the tank and striped knit together. Pin side seams and centers first and then in between.

Step 10. Sew the tank top and knit fabric

Use the zigzag stitch to sew the tank and striped knit together with about half an inch seam allowance. Stretch the knit a bit while you sew. Learn how to handle stretchy knit fabric here.

Step 11. Cut the hem

Now that you have the t-shirt dress, it is time to cut the hem. But we’re not done yet with a finishing touch to go.

Step 12. Finishing touch

Cut as many strips as you can for some ruffles to add around the neckline of the tank top. This is optional and you can look for different designs and make them your own.

Step 13. Sew the strips

Using a straight stitch, create ruffles by smashing the fabric under the presser foot as you sew. Overlap the pieces to get the length you need. The scraps from the fabric should be enough.

Step 14. Make enough ruffles

This is how the ruffles should look. Make enough to circle the neckline.

Step 15. Put the ruffles around the neckline

Pin the ruffles around the neckline first before you start sewing it on the tank top.

Watch the full video from Mark Montano to learn how to sew a simple summer T-shirt dress:

Now you have a pretty good idea of how to sew a t-shirt dress, you can go ahead and up style any dress you want any time. With a closet full of rich materials to work on, you can always style an outfit in the latest fashion.  Think about always looking trendy without breaking the bank!

Will you try to sew this simple summer t-shirt dress? We would love to hear your plans for it in the comments section below!

Up Next: Re-purpose Your Skirts Into Stylish Summer Shorts

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Editor’s Note: This post has been originally published on May 30, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Originally posted on June 18, 2018 @ 9:00 AM