How to Make a Baby T-Shirt Dress

Most mothers like to dress their daughters in cute dresses. It's also true that mothers sometimes have to watch the budget and can't afford expensive dresses that their baby can grow out of in no time. This T-shirt dress can cost next to nothing yet look like a pricey boutique outfit. Best of all, it's easy to make. Read on to learn how to make a baby T-shirt dress.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• T-shirt (long-sleeve, short-sleeve or tank--your choice)
• Tape measure
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Steam iron
• Ironing board
• Trim (optional)
• Buttons (optional)
• Sewing machine
• Thread

1. Choose a T-shirt that fits your baby. If you are making the T-shirt dress for a special event in the future, purchase a larger size to allow for your baby's growth. Cut the bottom hem off the T-shirt. Keep the bottom edge even.
2. Measure the length of the hem of the T-shirt. Add at least 1/4 of that amount to make the gathered skirt. If you want the skirt to be fuller, add more. Now decide how long you want the T-shirt dress to be. Add 2 inches for the seam and hem. Write down these measurements.
3. Purchase the amount of fabric you determined in the previous step. It can be holiday-themed, little-girl stuff or whatever else you like.
4. Cut the fabric. If the fabric isn't long enough for a one-seam application, cut it so you have two evenly matched pieces for the front and back. Sew a 5/8-inch seam. Press it open.
5. Sew two rows of machine basting on the top edge of the skirt. Set the sewing machine to its longest stitch. Sew one row through a single thickness of the fabric at 5/8 inch and the other row at 1/2 inch. Leave long tails at the end of each row of basting. Don't backstitch.
6. Divide the skirt material into four equal parts, and mark them with a pin. Gently pull the long basting thread tails to gather the skirt. Keeping the right sides together, pin one pin marker at the left side seam, one at the front center of the T-shirt, one at the right side seam and the last at the center back. Evenly distribute the gathers.
7. Set the sewing machine to regular straight stitch. Sew the gathered fabric to the T-shirt. Remove all the pins. Finish the dress's hem. Add any trim you like, or sew on decorative buttons.

Tips & Warnings

• Pre-wash the fabric and the T-shirt. This softens the material and makes the baby dress ready-to-wear as soon as you finish it.