Rangers (baseball) T Shirt Dress How-TO

Well, well, well, its that time again! Time for Baseball! 

I had a friend ask me to make her a dress from her over sized shirt, and of course I was up for the challenge.

So without further ado...

You will need:

Two t shirts ( one with the team you desire big enough to cut up and another one the same size for the bottom trim)

Elastic two sizes 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch

safety pin

ribbon

matching thread

The above list is probably obvious but hey, I sometimes decide to do a project and then forget I don't have the elastic, etc.

Anyway...

I first started by having my friend try it on. I measured how much on each side I needed to take in. On hers I needed to take it in about 1 inch on both sides.

I then measured how long the dress needed to be. We decided on 26 inches for her.

I then flipped the shirt inside out and began pinning it and marking where I needed to sew it...

As you can see I actually measured a little tiny more than 1 inch. I knew we had a lot of room though to work with. But accuracy is the best for sure.

Then sew both sides, and then cut it afterwards leaving about 1/8 inch hang over.

Then make a straight line across the top of the shirt as close to the collar as possible.

Then cut and fold down about 1/16 inch and sew. Then flip it down again about 3/4 and inch and sew again. Sorry I was tired and forgot to take pics of this process. 

The reason I say to sew 1/16 first is so that there will be a nice finish. Its hard to fold it under and have it stay put. Its easier and quicker to sew it and then go back and sew again. When you sew the 3/4 fold be sure to start at one of the side seams and when you make your way all the way back around stop about on the other side of the seam, leaving a pocket to insert the elastic in.

Once you have done that, get your safety pin and pin it to one of the 1/2 inch elastic. Feed it all the way through, making it as tight or loose as you desire. Then sew the two end pieces together and then sewing back the elastic opening.

Now put the top on you or on your model and decide where you breast end in the shirt. You should add your second elastic about 1/4 inch below that mark.

Then again at the same seam you started your top piece, began sewing in the elastic but immediately start tugging on it so that it will be tight and gathered.

Continue holding and tugging on the elastic the entire time you sew it on, don't let go at all while you foot is on that pedal.

After that measure the shirt, and when you make your bottom ruffles make sure you cut it accordingly to how long you want the total length of the dress to be. Based on that then cut your bottom piece. I did mine 6 inches. The dress was 22 inches long before the bottom part. And I cut an extra 2 inches to have room to make the ruffles and then sew it on.

If your using a t shirt material then you'll need to stretch it about twice the width of your dress, so that you it will be the correct width after ruffling it.

Then starting at the seam, (if there is one) go around using the highest stitch. I set mine on 9. And slowly go around about 1 1/2 inches down from the top. Remember when you start sewing not to back sew, you want to be able to pull on those threads. When you end it, then you should back sew so it won't unravel. Remember not to cut the beginning or the end threads after you sew it.

Then pull on the threads slowly pulling the ruffles down as you go, until the entire piece has been ruffled. Then take your threads from the beginning and then end and tie them together, this will keep your starting point from unraveling.

Then sew it onto the dress going above the stich but high enough to where you can't see the ruffle stitches. Then after that add your trim or ribbon to complete it. Sorry I wish I had taken more pictures. I was so tired when doing this

Here is the end result...

Looking at this picture it could have been ruffled a bit more at the ends and we should have cut the shirt more like 3/4 inch wide but likes it tight :)

 For kicks I took the left overs and made t shirt flowers out of it, and made a hair clip out of them These pics is not good though, as you can still see the hot glue before I picked it off. Oops.

And there ya have it, without interruptions this would take about 1 hour. I had two kid bothering me constantly, lol. All while trying to cook in between.

Thanks for tuning in! If you have any questions, just holla! Oh and don't forget to follow me ;)