So finally I have a tutorial for you! You know how I love to create skirts & clothes from old items? Well, my husband had a pile of shirts he was giving away and I knew I had hit the jackpot. This shirt was a 4XL and I knew it would be perfect for a dress.
Man’s Shirt to Woman’s Dress
Not sure the picture to the left really shows you how big it was. It was big! This project was actually pretty simple, and as usual, I messed up and ended up having to fix it. But it worked in the end!
- Lay the shirt flat like shown above.
- Measure your bust, waist, hips, and butt, minus 1 inch from the bust, 2 inches from the waist, 3 inches from the hips & 4 inches from the butt.
- Divide these measurements by four (because you’ll be folding the shirt in half).
- Fold the shirt in half and mark it using measurement calculated above.
- Cut out the sides of the shirt on your markings.
- Cut out a piece of coordinating material like a long triangle starting with 1 inch (plus seam allowance) and gradually expanding to 2 inches at the waist, 3 inches at the hips, and 4 inches at the butt.
- Place right sides together and sew, one side at a time.
- Flip inside out and you’re done!
- I added a thin (1 inch) strip of black to under the arm as well, but you could just cut this the right size and sew it up. You don’t really see it.
So for literally next to nothing (I just bought the black material), I have a new dress! I wore it to church a few weekends back and really like it. I love it when my projects turn out like I wanted or even better! Which isn’t always the case…
Well, what do you think? Is this a project you would try to tackle?
Happy Friday!
















Oh wow, this is amazing and looks so good!!! I can’t wait to try!
I hope you do!
You, my friend, are CRAZY TALENTED!!! That dress looks uber expensive and is so, so flattering!
Thanks girl! It really wasn’t too hard!
you look gorgeous!
and the dress is pretty
Thank you!
Great job! I am cracking up at the fact that you could chop up your hubby shirt and still make a dress out of it. He must be one tall guy! I know he is a BBall player so I can only imagine
Great job and I think I could def tackle this. Like how you added the extra material on the sides. Adds some visual interest and is slimming too….not that you even need it
Yes, I thought the same thing about the fabric on the side, I need it like the rest of us! And yes, my mom gets a kick out of how I sew too, a little crazy, but mostly it works out. And ya, my husband is 6’7″ so I had some room to spare!
This looks so cute! Unfortunately my husband is only like an inch taller than me, so if i made a dress out of his shirt my lady parts would totally be all up in everybody’s business…
lol
yours looks great though!!!
You crack me up! I literally started laughing out loud! But I made a shirt out of one of his shirts too, so there are options!
Yes!!! I totally want to try this! You did great; you look awesome!
Amanda
Yes, give it a try! If it works out, it’s a free dress!
very impressive! i love this!
p.s. you are gorgeous!
you’re too nice, thank you!
I’m sitting here in awe of the before and after. You should give yourself a huge pat on the back… amazing transformation! LOVE the black inset. Your instructions were great; but this project is beyond my ‘sew only in a semi-straight line’ capabilities. In heaven I will know how to sew and I will make adorable clothing like this! fabulous!!! xoxo jules
Thank you so much for your compliments! Honestly, it wasn’t that hard, it kinda is sewing in a straight line! It just might look intimidating. And totally understand your comment about sewing perfectly in heaven, there are so many things I can’t wait for in heaven!!
Awesome project!
Thank you! Hopefully more coming soon!
This has to be the best shirt refashion ever! LOVE IT xXx
Wow! Thank you for the compliment! I appreciate it!
That’s so great!!!! I can’t believe how chic it turned out!
Kacie
Thank you! I am glad you liked it!
This is so cool! I’m dying to try it now!
Thank you! It’s a cheap & easy way to have new clothes!
Stunning! Can I have it !? Lol
If I wasn’t so proud of it, then yes! But I am, sorry
That looks SO good. I love it, and especially the short boots you paired it with…and the red lipstick. It just looks so good! Great job!
I have a weekend link party if you’d care to join:
http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/10/weekend-warmth-7.html
Thanks, Bobi
Thank you I am so honored! I will check out your linky party now! Thanks!
Whoa! That is amazing! I can hardly believe it was the same shirt that is in the first picture! Great job!!
Thank you so much!
Oh my gosh. I love it!
Thank you!!
I am always keeping an eye out for men’s shirt refashions and this is the cutest I have ever seen- wow- thank you so much for the tutorial. I can’t wait to try it
Thanks,
Shannon
Wow, thank you so much! I feel honored!
Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday, I featured this on my blog today! Come stop by and grab a featured button: http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2012/10/your-whims-wednesday-83-and-features.html
Thanks for the feature!
You are gorgeous!!! I’m soooooooo making this dress!!!
So glad you like it! Thank you!
This is so super cute!!! I want a sewing machine for Christmas and will definitely try this project!
-Samm @ LittleHouseintheBigD
I am so glad you liked it!
I love this! I’m in the middle of trying to make a dress like this and I was using another web tutorial and it made no sense! This one is simple! I had an “oh i get it now” moment! Hahaha! Thank you!
So glad that was helpful!! Sometimes I don’t know if I explain it well enough, glad to know it has helped at least one person!
I am incredibly impressed!! What a fabulous refashion!! Well done!
Thank you so much! It turned out better than I had thought for sure!