A couple weeks before leaving California I wrapped up projects for friends and family. And now (with little sewing time on my hands) I can share them with you!My cousin Rachael gave me her husband's old shirt to make into a dress for her daughter. With the brown colors and embroidered flowers on front it was destined to be a summer dress for her own desert Beauty, Savanna:
Introducing: the shirred Shirt Dress:
and the flower-chain crown:
I started with a normal men's shirt (a size XL is probably best):
I cut the pattern piece similar to my normal Shirt Dress pattern but I made the front and back as wide as the men's shirt would allow. Using elastic thread, I shirred about 20 rows on the front and back pieces of the dress. Then, I washed and dried both pieces because I've found that the elastic thread seems to shrink up a bit with washing/drying. After drying, you should cut off any excess fabric (to fit with your normal dress pattern). Or, if it looks too small after washing/drying, you still may be okay since the elastic thread will stretch a ton. And then, just continue sewing as you would the normal Shirt Dress (minus the elastic waist band). Also, on this dress I added a separate casing around the neck, just for a color pop.
And though the dress wasn't made for Goose, she had fun dancing around in it.
We even found a hula-hoop on our adventure:
The flower-chain crown was Lucy's idea. She's hit the full-blown princess stage and wanted something appropriate for any princess in the forest (or the desert).
I simply inner-twined green pipe cleaners (which I randomly had on-hand). Then I glue-gunned a bunch of flowers on top (also randomly on-hand). And there you have it! I'll be making more of these in the future.
And now the dress is off to Arizona. Enjoy your flower-child sunset, sweet Savanna.
Love,
Lucy and Dana
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81 comments:
Super rad!! I'm inspired to learn shirring and master elastic thread to make some of these for my girlies!! The crown...gotta make some of these!
So, so sweet!! Your dresses made from shirts are all incredible, but this...is just perfect. Your little princess looks so beautiful on it!! Thanks for sharing.
Ohh, that's super adorable. I have a soft spot in my heart for shirred brown plaid. It's a very specific, and odd thing to have a soft spot for, but it's the truth.
The shirring takes the dress to another level!
Beautiful....
Wow! That's beautiful! I have a red XL men's shirt in my refashion stash; I was going to make another peasant dress with it (we love those), but I can see now that it will have to be this dress instead. Thanks for another great tutorial!
awe d cute post. i LOVE the dress. savvy is not to sure since there is no pink, but when i can convince her to wear it i'll send a pic :). kids and their opinions! lol. and love the flower hair piece. cute idea. hope things are good and thanks again for the dress. super cute.
That dress is amazing! Great Job!
Love the pictures and the outfit! Your daughter is beautiful!
I love the shirring detail...very cute dress! :)
Fantastic!! Love it! I want one for me!!:)
beautiful Dana. what a family resemblance !!! I adore your shirring addiction too! Bron
Oh my gosh this is the best shirt refashion yet! Have I commented on your blog before? Because I am deeply DEEPLY in love with it. I get all giddy when you post!
Wow, what an amazing dress!! I've got to learn how to do this. I've never tried elastic thread before... better get practicing!
That is so adorable! How did you shir around the buttons? Amazing. Great colors, too. Hey, if you get a chance, I have a giveaway going on here: http://sugarnspicecreations.blogspot.com/2009/09/twirly-whirly-dress-showcase-and.html. Come by if you get a chance! ;0)
lets try this again...you have inspired me to try out elastic thread and shirring. this dress is beautiful and i can't wait to try the technique!
Great idea and what a cute model.
That dress is really beautiful, you did such a great job with it. And, thanks for the how-to!
LOVE it!! I've missed you...
I have been dying to try shirring, and this just might be my first project! Good work!
I wish I could easily make one for me-- love it!
BEAUTIFUL! I love the colors, the shirring, the model, the flower-headband, the sunny shots, the hula-hoop, and the whole thing.
So, so, so, so cute!! I can't wait to try it.
very cute dana. The embroidery looks 10x better on the dress than on a men's shirt (no offense to the previous owner of the shirt -- it's just so darn cute on the dress)
That I love, I actually like it better than the first dress.
hi! i just stumbled on your blog and i love it! I have to ask where did you get that kings chair that you took pics of your daughter eating the sees sucker? it is the coolest chair ever and i would love one! thanks cb
Hi B-hams,
The King Chair was totally cool....but sadly, it's not ours. It was at the South Coast Plaza mall in Orange County, California. I wish I could find one like it! Every kid would love one in their room!
- dana
So glad to hear you made it safe to your new home... a move is in our near future, and I am totally nervous about it. Also, that dress is incredible. I am thinking, is there anything else we could possibly make out of a men's shirt?!? and you answer! Didn't know you could read minds did ya?
you're really brilliant! love, s.
I absolutely love the dress. You would never know it had been an article of clothing meant for a man.
seriously you amaze me, this is awesome.
can I wear a crown, pretty please...if noone is looking...
btw. I love your comments always... your too sweet. TOMORROW... Woo hoo.
Hi,
I'm writing from Brazil, I just loved this project.
I have a little one too, and intend to do for her...
Your projects inspire me!
see you
That is just adorable!
That dress is so stinkin' cute! The shirt was so perfect with all of the embroidery. It makes me want to go thrifting to find something perfect for this project. Thanks for the great idea.
totally agree with the first comment...it seems so easy and such a simple way to transform a shirt. I gotta figure out that shirring and elastic thread...
I love it!!!
Brilliant!
AMAZING transformation, dana! that shirring is WAY above my rookie-sewing head. does•not•compute. but that dress is to die for. and the crown is SUPER CUTE! now THAT i can do ... thanks for the idea! :)
so cute! as always, I am amazed!
I hope you are settling in to your new home!
Just perfect!
That dress is just super stunning!... Thats it i am shipping a truck load of my other halfs shirts over to you! ( he may have to go out and buy himself some new ones to replace them!)....And my word you produce seriously beautiful babies in your gene pool!
You never fail to amaze, impress and inspire me!
x K
WOW
Love everything about this little dress.. I love your blog!
Probably my new favorite of your shirt dresses. It looks so pretty!
You inspired me and I went and picked up some elastic thread of my own to take the dive and try it out. Now figuring out what project to try it on.
Amazing! I love this its gorgeous! TFS
This came out so cute! You really have this shirring down packed! I am still having trouble with my shirring skills. Hopefully it will come out great like yours.
your awesome. no seriously, you are awesome! so glad i found your blog, it is one of my faves!
What a beautiful dress! Love the neckline and the added touch of white there. And agreed, shirring is definitely the bomb. Great work as always.
What a fabulous dress! I love how the vertical stripes look when shirred.
I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-shirred-girls-dress-from-an-adult-shirt/2009/09/24/
--Anne
Wow -I've only recently discovered your blog and love it. Thanks for sharing so much inspiration with all us other mommy/crafter/sewer/bloggers out there. From one OC girl to another (who spent a year in TX), good luck settling in. :)
That dress is so cute. I bet she will love wearing it!
(PS. I still didn't try the elastic thread in bobbin thing. But keep on posting these kind of cute dresses and who knows I some day get enough courage to try it ;-))
Nice blog with a nice picture of cutie pie. enjoyed going through it. keep it up the good work. Beth Iflorist.co.uk
Adorable dress! I bet it's hard to let it go, but isn't it satisfying to send something pretty off to a friend.
If you get a chance, I'd love to know what brand of shoe your daughter is wearing. I have such a hard time finding pretty buckle shoes (mary janes or otherwise)for my daughter that don't have embellishments: flowers, bees, rhinestones...
Thanks!
can i ask a question about the sewing of the casing? did you attach the sewing after you shirred? that sounds like it could be hard.
on a different note, thanks for your blog. it's blogs like yours that has inspired this novice to try sewing clothes for my little girl at all (can't believe she's almost one). so, thank you!
that 2nd B&W picture is fabulous...
I think you should enter this contest by Fiskars.
http://www.nationalsewingmonth.org/html/contest.html
The dress and pictures are adorable!
I gave you the Honest Scrap Award today! You can check out my blog for details!
What a fabulous little dress! LOVE it! Glad to hear you are getting settled in!
cheers,
Shanna
Your talent just amazes me! :) Love this.
Please pass it on that Savannah is the the most gorgeous little girl!
The dress you made is stunning! :)
Just perfect like the others.
I'm doing similar things on the other side of the world (www.avarazsollo.blog.hu)
Regards
Scotty
Oh my goodness. This is so cute. I think this might be my favorite of your shirt dresses. Love the daisy chain, too.
Super cute! Another great great dress you made! i love it!
Love your blog. Those pics are totally gorgeous !
oh, another beautiful piece of clothing for your little girl. i still need to make my daughter one of those fab. dresses. First, i need to go shopping in my husband's closet!
absolute perfection. really!
Oh I love this!!! It's sooo cute!! I want you to know I completed my first 3 projects!! All inspired by YOU! :-) While I'm no where near your talent.... I think I did pretty well. ;-)Thanks so much for all teh great inspiration!
That shirt makes a super cute dress - I'm totally loving it.
It's very sweet!!! What a good idea!!
Super fab but not surprised!!You can work magic on anything you touch!
That is BEAUTIFUL! I'm so in love with it and can't wait to make one for Samster! I just can't believe how perfectly the embroidery lined up after the shirring, do you have some magic smocking technique I don't know about?!
Off to raid the hubbies closet...
Thank you!!!!!
What a beautiful dress. I need to try this next.
She (and the dress) is precious!
Hands down the most awesome version of the recycled shirt dress yet!
Lovely dress! I wish I could fit in one like that...
Thanks for the comment on my blog...I came over to check yours out and can't believe you liked mine! This blog is so inspiring. I just got my first sewing machine - and my first daughter! Can't wait to attempt some of the projects you have here...boys never inspired me to learn to sew!
Excellent work, I love the added hair accessory!!
I just want you to know that you inspire me. I go to your site for INSPIRATION. And that is just amazing to me. That two strangers can share that kind of surge of energy and creativity and possibility. Well, I guess it is more one-sided, but I just thought you should know :) Keep doing what you are doing! It affects the lives of others!
this is really great! I need to try that elastic thread. it scares me somehow. I've had some for years, sitting in the bottom of my sewing box.
absolutely adorable. i've seen lots of restyles, but none that are shirred. So cute!
I love that dress... its sooooooooooooooooooo cute :-) :0)
How lovely! Nice blog!!!
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