How to Make a Nice Duct Tape Dress

Measure around your chest and add 1/2 inch to obtain the width of the fabric rectangle that becomes the bodice of the dress. Measure from the top of your chest to the beginning of your waist. Add 1 1/2 inches to determine the height of your rectangle.

Cut the rectangle from the flat bed sheet. Cover the entire rectangle with duct tape, one strip at a time.

Trim 1/2 - 3/4 inch along the top and bottom edges.

Add a strip of tape to one vertical side of the rectangle, with half of the tape strip extending past the edge. Fold it over the edge and press it into place. Repeat on the other vertical side.

Measure and cut a strand of Velcro long enough for one vertical side.

Peel apart the Velcro.

Sew one half of the Velcro to the tape surface of the rectangle. For best results, use a denim sewing needle.

Sew the other half of the Velcro to the fabric surface of the rectangle. Make sure the Velcro strips face each other.

Fold the rectangle in half horizontally so the Velcro strips attach.

Cut off the top corner diagonally to create a sweetheart neckline.

Fold strips of tape over the raw edge of the sweetheart neckline. Press the tape firmly.

Cut and tape a second fabric rectangle for the skirt. Start with a width at least 36 inches. This measurement yields 5 full turquoise panels. Depending on the size of your waist., you can increase or decrease this measurement. The length should be the desired length of your dress (from the waist to bottom) plus 2 inches. For this dress, the length of the fabric was 20 inches. The finished length of the dress is 18 inches.

On the fabric side, draw triangles as long as the desired length of the dress. For this dress, it is 18 inches.

The base of each triangle should be as wide as the desired width of each panel. For this dress, it is 6 inches. For smaller or wider panels, adjust this measurement accordingly.

The midpoint of each triangle is 1/2 of the triangle's base width. For this project, the midpoint is at 3 inches.

The midpoint to the top of each triangle should also measure the desired length of the dress. For a longer dress bottom, adjust this measurement accordingly.

The yellow highlighter indicates the edge of the fabric. The blue pen indicates where the measurements should begin.

Cut out the triangles. Each triangle becomes a panel.

The number of triangles needed depends on the size of your waist. If you need more triangle panels, repeat Steps 13 through 15.

Add a strip of gold duct tape to the long side of one triangle. The gold duct tape should overlap the triangle by 1/4 inch.

Connect to a second triangle by adding a second strip of gold duct tape.

Turn the tape over. Add short strips of tape to the sticky back side. It is easier to use shorter strips when sticking tape to tape.

Build the dress bottom by connecting triangles. Connect the triangles with gold tape until the dress bottom fits around your waist.

To make a scalloped edge, trace a 7-inch wide circle on the turquoise panels. This project used a cork trivet. Circular items that work for making the scalloped bottom include potholders, plates, large mugs, CDs and rolls of tape.

Use a pencil to lightly trace a 4- to 4 1/4-inch wide circle item on the gold panels. This project used a full roll of duct tape.

Cut along the traced lines to create a scalloped bottom. Cut carefully and slowly for best results.

Continue cutting around the dress, and be sure to erase or rub off leftover pencil marks.

When you're ready to wear the dress, put on the top portion first. Next, wrap the bottom around your waist and tape it in place. Add tape to the back of the dress bottom, if needed.

To accentuate the panels, lightly fold each panel.