Yes I did. I chopped up one of my hardworking man’s old dress shirts and turned it into the cutest little dress for Grace. My interest in such a project was piqued by others in blogland and by a darling little dress I saw in the kids Garnet Hill catalog. I didn’t take pictures along the way because I did it at night and I honestly wasn’t sure it would turn out. But if you want to give it a go, I scribbled some lines on a photo for you. If you try it and get stuck, shoot me an email and I’ll tell you what I did. Here’s the basic rundown:
- remove upper collar, topstitch lower collar closed again
- remove pockets
- chop up shirt into basic A-line dress, leaving collar and buttons intact (be sure to cut front and back together, they’ll be connected at the top)
- use sleeve fabric to cut out two new sleeves – here is a great little tutorial on how to sew a puff sleeve and here is a standard sleeve pattern that you can download and use that tutorial to sew for this dress.
- sew front to back along side seams
- hem bottom
- attach new sleeves
- sew rows of shirring across front; I sewed 9 rows about ¼ inch apart each – be sure the two sides of shirring match up when the shirt is buttoned closed
- sew on cute bows (or not!)
If you’re lucky, your cute little model will have as much fun in her new dress as mine did!
Comments & Reviews
Kim H. says
I found this via pinterest, and it’s super super cute! Did you shirr the back too? And you did the shirring AFTER adding the sleeves and everything, right?
Stef says
Yes, Kim, I did the shirring last, but I did not do any shirring on the back!
Julie Fletcher says
I am blown away. I wish you could make another one and post step by step how to do this.
Anonymous says
Lovely! I am thinking it would be great for me with leggings as I have no girls to wear it 😉
paula says
i loooove your blog. i found you via pinterest! i have two little girls and you have inspired me in so many ways! ill keep on reading
Kristie-Creating Chaos says
I made each of my girls a cute dress this morning using your mini tutorial. Thank you so much Stef. You should think about calling your site Girl. Inspiring. ^_^
http://minasarah.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-turn-at-his-work-shirt-to-her-school.html
carla says
This is so great. I must give it a try for my girls!
Christina says
I absolutely love this dress!!!
Melissa says
Simply AMazing!!! This is the best repurposing ever! 🙂
Fifi says
L.O.V.E IT!! Of all the men shirt re-dos I’ve seen this is the best one yet!! great job!
newest follower!
cajungal01 says
I am so in love with this! I only know basic sewing though and certainly don’t know how to make those sleeves or sheer….I’d pay you to make some for me though! :0) Absolutely adorable! I have a TON of my husband’s shirts that don’t fit him and they are in great condition….
:0)
~robin
Crafty Beth says
One of the best men’s shirt refashions I have seen! I just bought some elastic thread and am ready to start my first shirring project–maybe this will be it! If I do it, I’ll be sure to link to you from my crafting blog http://www.bethbeingcrafty.blogspot.com 🙂
SO-MADZ-BETTER says
wow! this is so genius!
angelina says
Wow, you are so talented! How did you get that out of that! Awesome!dress shirts
Anonymous says
I Love this!!! I don’t have a little girl, but I have 2 adorable nieces! I am in the process of making a dress like this now! I only hope it turns out as cute as yours! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Mammy Made says
Wow! I love that. You’re so talented! I’m pinning this.
– Ellie @ Mammy Made