Making a Summer Dress from an Old T-Shirt or Tank Top

Making a summer dress from an old t-shirt or tank top is a great way to give new life to a worn item of clothing. This project is perfect for a top that shrank in the dryer and is now to short or older tops with ragged hems or stains on the lower half. To make a cool summer dress from an old t-shirt or tank top, you will need:

T-shirt or Tank Top

Matching or Coordinating Cotton or Cotton/Poly blend fabrics

-Good choices for this include seersucker, quilter's cottons, or even old bed linens if the are in good shape

Standard Sewing Supplies

-scissors, tailors' chalk, sewing thread and needles

You do not absolutely need a sewing machine, though having one will be helpful.

Start by trying on the shirt and marking the mid-drift area. Trim the bottom of the shirt off in a straight line at this level. Measure the shirt across the bottom and cut a strip of fabric that is between 3 and 5 inches wide by this measurement plus one inch. For instance, if the shirt is 15 inches across, cut a piece of fabric that is 4x16 inches. Cut another piece that is this height and the original width minus 2 to 3 inches. So, using our example, this piece would be 4x13 inches.

These pieces are the front and back mid-drift/waistband. Sew them together into a tube, matching the short ends and using a ½ inch seam allowance. You can add ribbons or fabric ties to these seams if you'd like to have a dress that ties in the back to adjust the fit. The shorter piece is the front of the waistband.

Pin the waistband onto the bottom of the t-shirt, matching the side seams and center fronts. To make it fit, you'll have to gather the t-shirt onto the front waistband. Center the gathering under the bust area, or use a few darts or tucks instead. Experiment until you find a look you like.

After you've sewn the waistband to the t-shirt, try it on and measure the length from the bottom of the waistband to the desired length of the skirt. Remember to factor in the ½ inch seam allowance, so add an inch for the waist seam, and the hem, so add 2 inches for the hem. After you have this measurement, you can cut two skirt pieces that are this measurement by the original width measurement plus 5 to 10 inches, depending on how full you want the skirt to be. For our example, the skirt pieces might be 20 inches long, by 22 inches wide. Sew these together into a tube and then pin them to the waistband, matching the side seams and center front and back. The easiest way to attach this skirt is to use a long stitch length and then pull the bobbin threads up, making the skirt fit the waist circumference and forming gathers. The skirt can also be pleated or tucked to fit the waist.

After sewing on the skirt, try the dress on a final time, and mark the hem length. The hem can be formed by your preferred method. A quick and fun hem is to sew rickrack down the center at the hemline on the right side, fold it back and press it in place, top stitching it to keep it turned back. This makes very pretty little scallops on the hem. Bias tape or a rolled hem on a serger are also quick options. Or the fabric can be cut so the selvedge is the hem, taking advantage of a ready made finished edge.

This dress is a quick and versatile project that can be as simple or as complicated as you like. The t-shirt might be appliquéd with leftover pieces of the skirt fabric, or there could be matching trim added to the neckline and skirt. Pockets can be added, or the leftover t-shirt material cut up and used as trim on the skirt, such as a ruched ruffle, or waist ties. The skirt can be gathered tiers or flared, straight or ended in a deep ruffle. Making a summer dress out of an old t-shirt or tank top is a forgiving and fun thing to do, especially because it can be sewn from free or reused materials.