I LOVE dresses! Today on HappiestCamper, we are going to show you How To Sew A T-Shirt Dress With Free Sewing Pattern! This is such a cute and fun dress! Perfect for lounging around the house or a night out on the town. My sewing friend, Debbie, showed me this pattern and I knew I had to make it. The shirt fabric I picked out for this is super comfortable. You can choose whatever fabric you like, but I recommend it has at least a 30% 2 way stretch to it for maximum comfort. I have some examples listed below. This pattern makes it super easy to cut out all your different fabric pieces and size this t-shirt dress for the perfect fit.
If you have been wanting to get into making your own clothes, this easy t-shirt dress is a great place to start. If you are unsure of whether you want to make a t shirt dress then check out our post on different types of dresses that will help you decide. Looking for a different dress, then check out our other free dress patterns that you are sure to love and want to sew. Otherwise, keep reading and sew this fun t-shirt dress sewing pattern. You can make this dress in about an hour or less, depending on your skill level. Grab your supplies and fabric and let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- 1.5 Yards of 60″ Wide Fabric – Fabric with a minimum of 30% 2 way stretch examples are double brushed poly, cotton jersey, rayon spandex, cotton lycra. Note the heavier your fabric the more boxy will this dress be.
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Matching Thread
- Fabric marker
- Free Pattern
Size Chart:
| Imperial (inches) | Small | Medium | Large |
| Chest | 34 | 36 | 38 |
| Waist | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| Hip | 38 | 40 | 42 |
Finished length of the dress is approximately 36” (just above the knee). This pattern is drafted for a height of 5’ 4”- 5” 5”. Is this t-shirt dress pattern missing the size you are looking for? Then check out our post on Pattern Grading.
Choose your size based on hip measurements.
Printing Instructions
This pattern has layers, so that you can choose to print only the size you need. To achieve this Adobe Reader must be installed on your machine or device. Adobe Reader allows you to click on the layers icon which will show you each size with an eyeball beside it. Click on the eyeball beside the size you do not want to print.
Before printing check that your printer is set to No scaling or Actual size. Set the Page orientation to Auto or Portrait. And then print page 1. Measure the 2” test square to see if it measures exactly 2”. If it does, print the remaining pages.
Trimming Pages
Cut off the right and top margins of each printed page before assembling the pattern. You can use tape or school glue to adhere your paper pattern together.
Pattern Assembly
After the pages have been printed and trimmed as instructed above, use the quarter circles located at the corner of each page for perfect alignment. When done your pattern should look like this:
Pattern Pieces Checklist
Once you have printed and assembled your pattern you will cut:
- Dress Back – Cut 1 on Fold
- Dress Front – Cut 1 on fold
- Neck Binding – Cut I on fold
- Sleeves -cut 2 on Fold
Seam Allowance
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed.
How To Sew A T-Shirt Dress With A Free Sewing Pattern
Start off this how to sew t-shirt dress with a free sewing pattern tutorial by washing and drying your fabric. This helps preshrink your fabric and prepares it for washing later so that your stitches don’t pull out or fray the first time you wash it. It will also help it stay super soft! Once you have done that, lay your pattern on the fabric and make the cuts from the cut list above.
Take your dress pieces and with right sides together, pin the front and back of the dress at the shoulder seam and sew using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Go ahead and pin the binding at the short ends right sides together and sew as well. You should now have a fabric loop.
Next on this how to sew t-shirt dress with a free sewing pattern tutorial, we will divide the neckline and the binding into quarters. Fold the binding in half wrong sides together. Locate the seam and mark with a pin. Using this first mark as a guide, divide the binding into half and mark with a pin again. Fold the binding again so that both pin markings are on top of each other and mark the other two ends. To mark the neckline, place the shoulder seams together and find the centre point of the front and back neckline and mark each with a pin. Using the centre back and centre front markings, place them on top of each other to find the center mark of the shoulder seams.
Now, just pin the binding to the neck line by pinning the quarter marks together.
Simply sew the binding to the neckline of your t-shirt dress using a zigzag stitch using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Next on this how to sew t-shirt dress with a free sewing pattern tutorial, we will attach the sleeves. To do this start by folding and marking the center of the sleeve.
Pin the sleeve and the dress right sides together, aligning the sleeve centre mark with the shoulder seam. Sew using the same zigzag stitch and seam allowance as before. We are about halfway through this how to sew t-shirt dress with a free sewing pattern tutorial!
Place the front and back of the dress right sides together, aligning the sleeves and side seams and pin in place.
Sew down the side seam of the t-shirt dress using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
To finish up this how to sew t-shirt dress with a free sewing pattern tutorial, we just need to hem the dress. Fold the hem of the sleeve and shirt 1/2” wrong sides together . Pin and sew.
And that’s it! Now you know how to make a t-shirt dress with free sewing pattern. This dress is so cute and fun, it will become your go-to summer dress. Make a few of these in different prints and patterns so you’re ready for warmer weather!
If you liked learning how to sew a t-shirt dress with free pattern, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
How To Sew A T-Shirt Dress With Free Sewing Pattern
Make your own cute T-shirt Dress For Summer! This easy sewing project is great for beginners and can be done in no time!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Print & assemble the free pattern and use it to cut out your fabric.
- Start by sewing the shoulders. With right sides together pin the front and back of the dress at the shoulder seam and sew.
- To make the sleeve and neck binding, pin the binding at the short ends with right sides together and sew.
- Divide the neckline and the binding into quarters , pin the quarter marks together and sew the binding to the neckline.
- To attach the sleeves, Fold and mark the centre of the sleeve.
- Pin the sleeve and the dress right sides together, aligning the sleeve centre mark with the shoulder seam.
- Place the front and back of the dress right sides together, aligning the sleeves and side seams, pin and sew.
- Fold the hem of the sleeve and shirt 1/2” wrong sides together . Pin and sew.
- Enjoy this cute dress!
Recommended Products
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Best Beginner Sewing Machines -
Fiskars Crafts 95237097J Rotary Sewing Cutting Set (3 Piece), Grey -
4-Pack Turquoise All Purpose Sewing Thread -
LIVINGO Premium Tailor Scissors Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Titanium Coating Forged Stainless Steel Sewing Fabric Leather Dressmaking Softgrip Shears Professional Crafting (9.5 INCH)
