How to make a toddlers dress out of a men's shirt - tutorial
This tute is now hosted here at http://handmadethings.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/toddlers-dress-mens-shirt-tute/  due to me shifting my blog.  Change your links ;)  Ta :D

My first tutorial ;) Feedback welcomed!



Your results will depend entirely upon the fit of your pattern (as seen in the photos above ;) ). No responsibility taken for you cutting up your hubbies best shirt!


Make a toddlers dress or pinafore out of a mens shirt, using the back to make the front, while the existing buttons on the front of the shirt becomes the back closure of the dress.

I apologise in advance for my bad grammar. I type like I speak...

Please note: this is not a tutorial that will teach you how to make a dress for a toddler, neither will it provide a pattern with which to do so. This tutorial is "How to make a toddlers dress out of a men's shirt" and so has minimal (if any) actual sewing directions. This tutorial assumes you know how to sew, and can already make a basic toddlers dress according to the pattern it assumes you already have. This tutorial will show you how to utilise existing hems and closures, while refashioning an unused item into a usable one (while looking cool!).

Click images for a closer look.

Take one oversized men's shirt. I found this one at the sallies for $6 :) Give it a wash, and a good iron. This will make it easier to cut.


Take your toddler dress or pinafore pattern. My pattern has facing pieces, but I am not going to include instructions here. You may choose to make a facing, but you are on your own ;) To be honest, I recommend binding the neck and armholes using bias, as making a facing for a project like this does my head in! You can find instructions on how to apply binding on the internet. Google is your friend :)



Cutting:

Undo the buttons on the shirt and fold flat so the two opening edges meet. Place your back pattern piece so the centre back line sits along the button line. If you place the centre back of the pattern on the very edge, the back of the dress will be too small. You have to allow for the overlap of the existing buttons and buttonholes of the shirt.

I have placed my pattern so the back opening will have a button at the top (be sure to allow for seam allowance). As you can see the pattern is sitting higher than the hem of the shirt. This will make the dress a little longer, but won't cause any major problems as long as you remember to place the front pattern piece an equal distance from the hem of the shirt when you cut! Cut the back piece out :)



Fold the shirt so the crease is down the centre back. This is where you place the centre front of your dress pattern. Remember to move it up from the hem the same amount as the back piece or you will have problems later :( Cut it out :)



Sewing:

You should now have:
Two back pieces, with the buttons/buttonholes still there, and the hem already done
One front piece, hem still intact.

Sew the dress, using your commercial pattern instructions, or do what you usually do.

I found that I got a more 'just like a bought one' (professional) finish if I duplicated the topstitching and finishing of the original garment. For example, the green dress I made had twin rows of top stitching along the front opening of the shirt (became the back opening of the dress). So I did the same thing around the neckline and armholes. The flame dress only had a single row of stitching, so I did the same.

In case of complete cluelessness, here are the basics: (I know, I should have taken pictures, but I didn’t think of it)

Sew side seams (front to back, right sides together). Match markings and hem. Zigzag or overlock.
Sew shoulder seams. Zigzag or overlock.
Press (you should always press as you sew!).
Apply binding using your googled instructions.
And that’s it!


Optional extras:

Patch pocket - if the shirt you are butchering has a patch breast pocket, carefully unpick it before cutting. Before sewing your dress up, pin it to the centre of the front piece in a logical place and carefully top-stitch on, following the original stitching lines. Like so...


Your toddlers new dress, buttons go at the back!




Questions? Comments? Critiques? Honestly, if something doesn't make sense or an instruction is not clear, please let me know so I can fix it!