Make a T-Shirt or T-Shirt Dress Out of a Bed Sheet

This tutorial will show you how to make your own T-Shirt or T-Shirt Dress

I was SO happy when I made my first shirt! I mean really, what is better than making your own clothes. I dont know what is.
The best thing about this project is that you don't have to hem anything! Stretchable fabrics take their own shape, so hemming isn't necessary. Unless you want to of course. 

Step 1:

Step 2: What You Will Need

What You Will Need:
-A Stretchable Bed Sheet or Stretchable Fabric: no matter what you use make sure it stretches! Thrift stores always have jersey cotton bed sheets. I would recommend looking there first. More fabric for your money!

-Your Favorite Stretchable T-shirt: make sure the t-shirt you use stretches too!
-Scissors
-Sewing Machine
-Push Pins

Optional:
Hand Sew

Step 3: Lets Begin!

1. Fold your fabric in half. Smooth it out.

2. Lay your T-Shirt over the fabric.

3. Starting at the bottom cut around your shirt until you get to the middle of the neckline

T-Shirt  Makers: Cut 2" away from your shirt
Dress Makers: Cut 3-3 1/2" away from your shirt


To Make a Dress
Give yourself more fabric at the bottom.
If you want you can measure from your shoulder down to where you want your dress to end.
Add the additional inches to the bottom of the fabric.
You will also want cut a few more inches away from the shirt to give room for your hips!

To Make a T-Shirt
Add a few inches of fabric to the bottom of your shirt
You can always cut off extra fabric if it is too long when you are done

Note:
I like to use the part of the bed sheet that is hemmed at the bottom so my shirt is hemmed at the bottom. If you want the bottom to be hemmed it will save you time. Dont worry if you dont have a hemmed edge. That's why we are using stretchable fabric. It takes its own shape, so you dont have to hem anything!

Step 4: Remove Shirt, Fold Over, Cut the Rest of the Shirt Out

4. Remove your shirt. Fold the shirt over and cut the other side out. This will ensure both sides are even

5. After you cut your shirt out, turn the right-sides so they are is facing in. The wrong-side should be facing out.

6. Line up your shirt so all sides and corners are matching

8. Pin your shirt where the black lines are on photo 4 

Step 5:

Step 6: Now We Sew

9. Sew where the black lines are on the photos

Sew 1" from the edge of the shirt with a straight or zig-zag stitch. 

Do not sew where your body parts are going to be: waist, arm holes, neck.

Step 7: Try It On

10. Fold your shirt right-side out.

Try it on

If it is too big, hem the sides in another 1/2"-1"

YOU'RE FINISHED!!!

Unless you want to make it a swoop neck.

Step 8: How to Make a Swoop Neckline

1. Start by putting the shoulder seams together and laying the shirt flat

Notice that the sleeves will be touching.

2.Smooth out the shirt so you get a clean cut
In photo 5 the top left of the shirt will be my front, the top right will be the back of my shirt
It doesnt matter which one you choose since they are the same.

3. Cut a scoop out of the top left.

Note:
The closer you cut to the shoulder seam the wider the neck will be.
For example: if you cut close to the shoulder seam you can get an "over the shoulder look", but if you cut a few inches away from the shoulder seam your neckline will not be as wide and will be more like a t-shirt.

I would start by going 2-3" away from the shoulder seam, then cut 2-3 inches down and over. If you want more scoop you can always come back and cut more off.

4. Do the same to the top right side, except you wont cut as far down this time.
You dont want as big of scoop cut out like you cut on the front of the shirt. 
Cut 1-2" down and over until you hit the end of the shirt

Step 9: YOURE FINISHED!!!

Ta-Da!
Use scissors to fix any jagged edges. (Pun unintended)
You can also pull on the shirt a little to get the material to roll up a bit.

If you liked this tutorial you can find more DIY Projects here: http://korrinewojcik.blogspot.com/


Happy Crafting!!