Make a Ruffle Shirt Dress With Upcycled Mens Shirts
Upcycle 3 men's button-down shirts into a lightweight, ruffle dress. This upcycle is a great sewing project for beginners because it's all straight-line sewing. If you're a seasoned sewer, you can whip up this fast and easy dress in 1 hour.
Read on, or watch the video.
Step 1: Chop off shirt #1 at your belly button
The first shirt fit me quite well, so I gave it a chop at the belly button.
Step 2: Cut ruffles from shirts #2 and #3
Cut out 10" strips from the bodice of the second and third shirts. Cut out the side seams and button plackets.
Step 3: Sew rectangles into ruffles
Sew the 10" rectangles into long strips. I made the first ruffle 1.5 times the width of the first shirt. The second ruffle is 2.25 times the width of the first shirt. Sew the ends of the strip together to make a big circle.
Step 4: Sew gathering stitches and gather the ruffles
Sew two rows of gathering stitches. Gather the first ruffle by holding the thread tails and pushing the fabric along the thread. Gather until it is the same width as the first shirt.
Before gathering the second ruffle, I hemmed the bottom 1/4" because it is easier to do flat. Repeat the gathering process on the second ruffle until it is the same width as the bottom of the first ruffle.
Step 5: Sew ruffles
With right sides together, pin the first ruffle to the bottom of the first shirt, aligning the quarter marks. Sew with 3/8" seam allowance. This should land your sewing line in the middle of the gathering stitches.
Repeat with the last ruffle. Remove all gathering stitches.
For more sewing and upcycling tutorials, head on over to my blog Pivot Point Patterns.
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I like this, it has sleeves so can be worn for an old person. But still look comfy.
Thank you
D