Many years ago, I got an idea to make a girls maxi dress from a t-shirt. When she was younger she loved to wear this dress... and had requested another one but this time with JUST fabric on the bottom. She’s all grown up now, but this t-shirt maxi dress lives on and has been passed down to cousins and friends. The tutorial is a few years old but has managed to stand the test of time.
This maxi dress is made from Voile. I love the light airy fabric which is perfect for summer.
(note: with over 10 years of tutorials on this site, I like to go in and clean up and improve older tutorials to make them easier for you to use (based on experience and reader feedback. I also have a lot of new readers who have not seen all of the great stuff in the archives. This project is one of my all time favorites, and I’m happy to be sharing an updated version of it with you today)
Turn a T-Shirt into a Dress with this Maxi Dress pattern:
Ready to get started?
To make this maxi dress you’ll need the following:
- T-shirt. It needs to fit snugly, but not tight- if you’re not sure of the size, go down a size. Mine is from Old Navy.
- 2 yards of Voile Fabric- You could also use Velveteen- but try to stick to something light and airy, otherwise, the dress will get heavy- if you want to make it for a taller than a size 10 you’ll need more yardage
- ½ yard of Voile Fabric for the waistband
Seam allowances are ½″
Step One:
On your t-shirt make a mark approx 2″-3″ down from the bottom of the armholes.
Step Two:
Step Three:
Step Four:
Step Five:
To make the sash.
Cut a piece of fabric 6″ wide by 54″. (it was 54″ wide since it was a Voile fabric).
Fold in half, miter corners. Stitch together leaving a 2″ opening in the center.
Turn right side out- slip stitch opening closed. Press.
You May Also Like:
How to Make a Dress from Two T-Shirts
Summer Dress Patterns for Girls
How to Make a Pillowcase Dress
