BUILT-IN-SLEEVE DRESS (CUTTING OUT)

2010-03-12T12:05:00.001-08:00

Today we are going to learn how to make this dress. It doesn't have any sleeves to sew in, so it is easy for beginners. The entire dress is made from recycled materials. I bought the orignial pieces at .99 a piece. The dress cost me 1.98 to make but I have scraps enough left to make her little sister a shirt too. If you count that into the equation the price isn't even worth mentioning. The fabric is solid, so when it gets too short, and she still likes it, I can put a pair of jeans under it and she can wear it for another year.
First go to your daughters closet and pull out a shirt that fits her well. If you don't really have one that fits her well find one that fits the best. If all of the stores shirts run a little small then just add a little when you are drawing it out. If all of the stores shirts run a little big then just take a little out when you are drawing it out.
Here is a picture of the original shirts I used. Here are your options for obtaining your starting materials cheaply. You can buy t-shirts on sale at Walmart or Old Navy or any other place that has great sales. You can rumage through your closet. Your husband or you may have some old t-shirts you no longer wear, but are made out of hardy fabric. Or, hit up your local thrift store, be sure to ask the clerk what kinds of sales they have and when they are.
Here is a picture of the second shirt. Come on, all of us have a few of this lying around, shirts you will never wear, which the company you work for gave you.
Lay the shirt that fits your daughter on top of the shirt you chose to use for the body of the dress. Then trace with a crayon, pencil, or a fabric marking pen. I have used all three and none works better than the other. Since we are using a knit fabric, it will stretch, so don't worry about adding a seam allowance... unless you want a little more breathing room. I just trace the exact measure. But before you start...
Be sure to line up the bottom seams of the shirt. You don't want your markings not to match when you sew the shirt together because the shirt wasn't lined up when you cut it out. Also, I am a big fan of drop waists right now, meaning the waist line resides a little lower than your daughers hips. If you want a drop waist, scoot the shirt, you are using as your pattern, up from the bottom of shirt you cutting about three inches. (Trust me it will be cute.)
See those nice blue crayola markings. Yes, I just rumaged through my four years old crayon box. Just trace the sleeves on along with the rest of the t-shirt. It will work, I promise. I chose a shirt with really small sleeves but if your shirt has longer sleeves, no worries, just trace. When tracing, trace along the back neckline, we will be dealing with the front neckline later.
Cut along the crayola markings. If you passed kindergarten you should be able to do this with ease.
Stop when you reach the half way mark. I stop half way across the neckline.
Then fold the cut part in half. Try to match the left edge of the shirt with your right crayola markings. Continue cutting. Follow the edge of the t-shirt. This way both halfs of your t-shirt will look symmetrical
Well, the back neckline shouldn't match the front neckline. All shirts scoop down a little in the front, so we don't feel like we are being strangeled. Let's deal with the front neckline.
Place your finger on where the front neckline should be and fold the shirt down.
Then pick up your handy-dandy crayon and make a mark. Then draw a half circle from the left corner of the shoulder down to the marking and back up to the right corner of the shoulder. Again if you passed kindergarten you should be able to eye a half circle. If you can't then grab a bowl or a cup out of you cupboard that fits the size of the front neckline and trace it.
Then cut the neckline. Don't cut the back shirt piece, just the front shirt piece. Please don't cut the back. It might be tricky... :) If it is then just lift the front off of the back before you cut.
I want to make the neck sleeves and skirt out of a contrasting fabric. Pick up the other t-shirt and cut out the ribbing along the neckline.
Clip into the ribbing.
Cut along the neckline. (I hope you are enjoying this Joy. Step-by-step.) :)
Then toss the ribbing over onto your other pieces.
I wanted to sew a little bit of contrasting fabric along the edge of the sleeve. Yeah. Since I don't like finishing edges, just cut off the edge of the sleeve and re-attach it.
Cut about a 1/4 of an inch out from the double seam. You will want the seam to show and you need room for a seam allowance.
Lay the sleeve edge you just cut, folded in half, against the t-shirt sleeve. Then cut about a ¼ an inch out from where the body sleeve stops. I just like to eye it. If you are a perfectionist then you can measure. Go on you can measure it, I won’t tell. I just like to cut and see where it takes me.
Walla.
Then take the other sleeve edge, if you cute the first one right, and use to measure for the other sleeve edge.
Now take the neck ribbing and lay it against your neckline. Measure your neckline and then Measure the ribbing. Cut the neckline the exact measure of the t-shirt. If you want you can measure the original t-shirt, it might be easier to measure because it is one piece, instead of broken pieces.
Cut the bottom of the contrasting t-shirt off. You can make it as long or as short as you would like. I have made really long skirts and really short skirts. If you accidently cut it too small all the better, because now she can wear it with a pair of jeans under it, which looks really sassy. If you want to be safe, you can measure. Go ahead. I am not there, I can’t see you. (To measure put the original t-shirt on her and measure from the bottom of the t-shirt down to the length you want the dress. Then calculate how many inches you will need. Add an extra inch for your seam allowance.)Now cut a straight line.
Yeah, we are done cutting. My sewing teacher use to always say it takes as long to cut out as it does to sew it together. She is right. So, you are half way done.

little toes

2009-06-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

I did this baby quilt for my sweet Korean friend Mee Hyun. I will always remember taking off my shoes and sliping on some Korean slippers when I visit.

fire engine

2009-06-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

I love this little wall hanging and ball I did for my dear friend Ashley.

grow beautiful

2009-06-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here is an image of the quilt before it was stipled.

grow beautiful

2009-05-18T11:34:00.001-07:00

BUTTERFLY TRAIL

BUILT-IN-SLEEVE DRESS (CUTTING OUT)

little toes

fire engine

grow beautiful

grow beautiful