| Baby T-Shirt Dress |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-104 |
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Q: I'm tired of spending a fortune on new clothes for my new baby girl. I'm hardly a whiz at the sewing machine, but I would love to try to make the dresses myself. Any advice?
A: (Debbie Stapley, Ask DIY Craft expert) Given that baby clothes can cost a fortune for such a small amount of material, it's a good idea to learn to make your own baby dresses. At a fraction of the cost, the homemade dresses also give you a chance to display your own style and charm. Materials:
One-piece baby T-shirt
1/4 yd. of material
Elastic cording
1 yd. of trim
Cute decorations, such as buttons or ribbons
Thread
Sewing machine
Air-soluble marker
Straight pins - Measure about 2 or 3 inches down from the underarm seam of the T-shirt and then mark a stitching line all around the shirt with an air-soluble marker or pins (figure A). This is where you will attach the skirt to the shirt.
- To prepare the skirt, measure the circumference of the T-shirt and cut the fabric to be at least twice that wide, and about 8 inches long for a newborn.
- Sew a 1-inch hem along the bottom of the skirt. Simply fold under a quarter-inch of the fabric to the wrong side of the pattern, turn the folded edge under another inch, pin, and sew down with a sewing machine (figure B).
- For a decorative touch, pin and sew some trim over the visible part of the hem's stitching line with a single straight stitch. Be careful not to sew over the pins, or you'll break the machine's needle.
- Cut a piece of elastic cording the same length as the T-shirt circumference.
- Anchor the cording to the fabric in the top corner of the skirt, about one-half inch from the top and side, running the needle through the elastic (figure C).
- Sew over the length of the elastic cording with a zigzag stitch, stretching the cording and gathering the fabric as you sew along the top of the skirt (figure D). The elastic will guarantee that the waistband will stretch when you put it on the baby.
- Anchor the end of the cording to the other end of the fabric 1/2 inch from the edge.
- Bring the two unhemmed sides of the skirt together, wrong side of the pattern facing out, and stitch a 5/8-inch side seam, catching the cording in the seams (figure E).
- Align the cord with the stitching line on the T-shirt, pin the fabric to the T-shirt with right sides facing each other, and sew together, zigzagging over the elastic (figure F). Make sure when you attach the skirt to the T-shirt that the bottom of the skirt is facing the same direction as the top of the shirt.
- Turn right sides out and embellish with ribbons, buttons, or other decorative accessories.
Working smarter: Use excess fabric and elastic cording to create matching headband and shoes. And to save money on fabric, buy remnants or use what you have around the house. More questions for Debbie: Q: Is there a better fabric to use when making the dress?
A: It makes no difference what type of fabric you use. Experiment with different kinds to create unique expressions of your personality.
Q: Can the technique used for making baby dresses also be used for an older child?
A: Certainly. Simply use whatever size T-shirt is necessary, and adjust the length of the skirt to the size of the child.
Q: Is decorating the T-shirt with paint safe for my child?
A: Fabric paint is a great way to decorate your dresses, and it is completely safe. Web site resources for baby dresses: Easy Wear T-Shirt Dress How to crochet a baby dress SewBaby.com Books: Beautiful Things to Make for Baby
by Sheryl Braden
Sunset Publishers Corporation (1993)
Oxmoor House: Sunset Books
820 Tom Martin Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35211
Phone: 800-633-4910
Fax: 205-877-6835
E-mail: sunsetbooks@time-inc.com
Baby Knits: 32 Original Designs for 0-3-Year-Olds
by Debbie Bliss
St. Martin's Press (1998)
175 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-982-3900
Fax: 212-777-6359
Getting Ready for Baby: 50 Fast and Easy Sewing Projects
for Grandmothers, Aunts, and Mothers-to-Be
by Ann Poe
Contemporary Books (1998)
NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group
4255 W. Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Phone: 800-621-1918 or 847-679-5500
Fax: 847-679-2494
E-mail: ntcpub2@aol.com Sew and Go Baby: A Collection of Practical Baby Gear Projects
by Jasmine Hubble
Krause Publications (1998)
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