How to Make a Jersey Baby Ruffle Dress

Turn her tank top into an adorable ruffled dress.

Make an adorable baby fashion essential from a plain, old top and some jersey knit fabric. The dress is simple to make and you can customize it by using a long-sleeved shirt for a winter dress or a tank top for a lighter summertime dress. Add layers of jersey fabric ruffles to the dress, leave all of the edges unfinished so the edges of the ruffles curl gently for a feminine finish.

Things You'll Need

• Jersey knit, baby-size tank top (or other baby shirt)
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Jersey knit fabric
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Lay a jersey knit, baby-size tank top on a clean, flat surface. Measure down about 2 inches from the underarm of the top. Draw a line across the shirt at this measurement and cut the fabric across the line. Discard the bottom of the shirt or use it for another project.

2. Turn the remaining piece of the shirt inside out and fold the new bottom of the shirt over 1/2-inch. Sew a straight stitch to make a new hemline.

3. Measure the circumference of the bottom opening of the cut shirt and add 1 inch. This is the total circumference. Lay a piece of jersey knit fabric on your work surface. Draw a rectangle. Make the rectangle 10 1/2 inches wide. The length should be equal to the total circumference of the shirt. Cut out the rectangle.

4. Fold the jersey rectangle in half. Sew along the edges to create the back seam for the dress. Fold over 1/2-inch along the bottom edge and sew it to make a finished hemline. Alternately, leave the fabric as it is. The jersey knit will curl up to create a nice hem.

5. Cut several strips from more jersey knit fabric. Multiply the circumference of the shirt by 1.5 and make each strip this length. Make them 3 inches wide. You will need about 5 strips.

6. Fold each strip in half and sew the edges together to make circles of fabric.

7. Sew a 3/8-inch straight stitch down one long side of each circle. Gather the circles to the circumference of the shirt, plus 1/2-inch, by pulling on the thread.

8. Slide one gathered circle over top of the good side of the skirt. Pin the ruffle around the top of the skirt and sew a straight stitch to attach it. Slide the next gathered circle over the topof the skirt. Position it 2 inches below the top of the first ruffle. Sew it in place. Repeat until you have added each of the ruffles to the skirt.

9. Turn the tank top inside out. Turn the skirt inside out. Slide the skirt over the hemline of the tank top, pin it in place with the back seam of the skirt aligned with the back of the top. Sew around the layers with a straight stitch to complete the dress.

References

• "Little Girls, Big Style"; Mary Abreu; 2010
• "T-Shirt Makeovers: 20 Transformations for Fabulous Fashions"; Carmia Marshall, et al.; 2006