18Aug | 2011
The Upcycled ruffles dress tutorial
Posted under Sewing . Tutorials . Upcycle | 57 Comments
So this past week was pretty bad blog-wise, my blog and website got attacked with malware. My feed was having issues and subscribers seemed to banish. Happily most of it is fixed now and I am happy to be able to blog again (I didn’t wanted to post anything until I was 100% sure the malware was completely cleaned) And if you saw my site down, that was the reason =] I had this post saved from weeks! so finally here it is!
A few weeks a go I showed you all how this dress turn out (I previously asked for color advice) and it’s finally time for a tutorial so you can also try it out! To make this dress I used Ken’s old sleeveless T-shirts and some fabric leftovers from a project I did years a go – Actually I was researching if those kind of shirts had a special name here because in Chile they are call “musculosas” because guys wear them to showoff their arms. All I found tho is tank tops, but I’m not sure if that describes that it is a men’s sleeveless T-shirts, but you know what kind of shirts I’m talking about, and let me know if you know the right name for them =]
Anyways, you will need either one long sleeveless T-shirt or 2 short ones. Since Ken’s were pretty long I only used one but it depends on how many rows of ruffles you want and how condensed the ruffle will be.
I love how comfortable this is, I actually wear it for a friend’s wedding, we danced all night and I could have not being more comfortable =] well until Ken made me spin around and I felt like I was showing my shorts, but that was a whole different problem hehe.
The whole project took me about 2 hours and I would say 1 and a half were ruffle making. I experimented a few different ways, hand-stitching and on the machine. So to me in the machine was faster and easier, but you can always make them by hand if you don’t feel comfortable. Remember to always secure the beginning and end of all your stitch lines and sew everything with 1/4″ seam allowance.
MATERIALS
- 1 or 2 sleeveless t-shirts
- 2 yards or less of fabric depending on the length and how gather you want the skirt portion of the dress. I also made a sash with the extra fabric I cut form the bottom.
- 1″ wide elastic (I used less than a yard)
- Scissors and ruler pins
- sewing machine, even tho if you want you can make it by hand with no problem.
MAKE IT
[Click on images to enlarge]
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1- First you need to try the T-shirt and mark a line under your bust, you will be adding about 2 inches with the elastic, so have that in mind. After that cut all the bottom in stripes of 3″ |
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2- After cutting, set 2 of the stripes a side to be used for the elastic belt (inside and out) I cut the stripes to make one long stripe and add 3 together to make a super long one, after that I sewed both edges with zig-zag because I don’t have a serger, that will prevent the fraying on the ruffles when you wash your dress, if you like the fray look you can skip this step. |
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3-Make the ruffles either by hand or using a sewing machine, you can see detailed instructions here |
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4- Measure around the neck of your shirt to know how long your ruffle or ruffles (if you decide to go with 2 or more rows) In this case I added 2 rows of ruffles and used 3 full straps of 3″ to make each set of ruffles. |
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5- To attach the ruffles first make sure the T-shirt is extended either my someone wearing it or set on a dress from. Why? because that way the t-shirt will not be shrink, otherwise it will not fit correctly when you wear it. First pin the ruffles and play with the ruffles to make them the length you need them to be. |
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6- For the Skirt I used 2 pieces of 24 inches of a leftover fabric, I straighten the edges. I placed the elastic blow my bust and pin it in the end, comfortable enough for it to fit tight and loose enough to take the elastic above my head, sew it several times. I used the maximum extend of the elastic as my measure for the width of the top skirt, I made pleads around the skirt until I reached my desire measure. |
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7- After that with the 3″ wide stripes you set a side we have to make a sandwich, keeping the skirt in the center, like it shows the image. Place the stripes wrong sides facing out. |
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8- Sew on the top all the way around, after that turn both stripes up. |
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9- Now it’s time to attach both pieces together. Since the bottom is a little bit bigger, because it got stretched when sewing the skirt (remember that the skirt is wider than the T-shirt, that’s why we will use elastic) we have to put pins to guide us. |
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10- Place pins on the sides, front and back like it shows in the image, that will make the sewing a lot easier. Place both right sides facing each other and pin it all the way around, remember to only pin the stripe that faces out, because we will sew the other after we put the elastic. After you finish the dress should look done on the outside, but now we just need to add the elastic in the inside. |
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11- Now you just need to place the elastic in the inside, fold the edge up to the inside line and pin carefully, so that when you sew the seam line of the front goes below the back line, that way it will look clean on the outside and it will be secure on the inside. The pictures shown here are of the inside of the dress, and how I folded 1/4 inch on the top and then placed the stripe on top of the elastic, pin it and sew it. |
To finish the look I made a 3 1/2 inch sash with the left overs I had from the skirt, a very simple tube that I topstitch on both edges.
Now if you wish you can just make the ruffles with a second T-shirt and keep the length of the sleeveless t-shirt. That way you can either wear a skirt or make the skirt separately so you can mix and match. Wear a belt or sash to cover the top of the skirt and you are ready to have the exact same look, being able to mix and match with other skirts or tops =] here more images of this dress.
And remember that you can mix and play with different color t-shirts and Fabric or old skirts to make different dresses and looks =] Below the first dress I made, you can see more pictures in the link.
* This tutorial is provided for personal, non-commercial use only.
Check the Site policy at the bottom for further information, Thank you!
Joy Kelley is a Chilean Designer. Wife. Crafter. IMac dependent. Pattern lover. Color obsessed. The girl behind the HowJoyful Design Studio. Mrs Poodle at Weddingbee.
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I’m glad you got your blog issues fixed, that sounds awful.
But, this looks super cute! I’ll have to make one when I get the time (:
My dad has always just called them ribbed undershirts, but my hubs is from venezuela and they call them the same this musculosos.
I think its an “all southamerican people” kind of thing, I just keep calling them musculosas here hehe
In the US they are called “wife-beaters”
It’s kind of horrible I know.
In France they’re called “marcel”, an old french first name. Don’t know why !
Cute dress! And these are called ribbed tank tops, or ribbed tanks for short. Wife beaters are thinner and are usually only found in white. Thanks for the tutorial!
Thank you for the info Danny! =]
Joy – you’re so talented!!
This dress is SO adorable – and you explained it super easy to make, but I doubt I could do as good of a job as you did! Love it.
GORGEOUS!! Great job writing the tutorial. It sounds like I could make this in an afternoon so I will have to add it to my list of things I want to make
Thanks!!
Thank you so much Conni! =] It means so much to me when people appreciate the work that takes to make a tutorial =] XOXO
i am in love!!! going to try making this for sure.
btw, love that you are from chile. i am from brazil!
That’s so awesome =] Southamerican power hehe
Que lindo! Me tinca mucho hacerlo right now!
Y que genial q seas chilena! Más me gusta, jajaja.
Voy a tratar y pongo una foto por aca
Que genial que lo intentes Javiera! me encantaria ver una foto si lo haces, un beso!
cute dress!!! The shirts are called “tank tops” here in the US when describing a women’s shirt, and Muscle Shirts when they are made for men.
That looks so great, what colour would you recomend for the skirt part if you have a black top? Thanks so much for this great fashion item!
If you have a black top anything will go with it, specially bright colors and prints! I hope that helps =] have a wonderful day!
I love this dress! I tried making something like it and it looked so awful! I am thinking maybe I used the wrong type of fabric so it looked way too bulky. What kind of fabric do you recommend? Gah it was not a self confident moment for me
I am so sorry you are not feeling so confident =[ you should try any fabric that is thin and has a cute drop. Maybe you should also try it with less width on the skirt that might help with the bulky part =] I hope that helps and dont let a non successful project bring you down!
Much love!
Ohh, Delicious!
I just finished this project and it was wonderful.. I was quite pleased with the turn out.. for my figure I was able to skip a few steps and alter it a little bit but I will soon be on to making a few more of these for my spring and summer wardrobe plus it inspired me to alter a few other shirts into dresses! Being large busted it is difficult to find dresses that cover the girls and my bra straps.. so this was PERFECT and quick! Thank you for sharing! I included a link to my FACEBOOK page that has my dress posted.
<3 Happy Crafting! <3
Ok so I have a question…maybe I’m just having a blonde moment. But in step 10 are you pinning and sewing the dress together at this time. Or are you adding the elastic at this point. I have only sewn a pillow. And that was once. So I am a newbie when it comes to sewing. But I thought I might have a go at this. Because its adorable and looks easy. I am just lost and confused in Step 10. And I read this like 15x. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much…=)
What fabric did you use for the skirt?
Love this dress! Just one question, is the elastic added to the shirt at the bottom inside edge and sewn to the shirt then, or is the elastic added to the skirt when seeing both pieces together? Thanks for your help!
Sewing both pieces together I meant in the previous comment?
also how is the skirt made exactly, don’t you have to sew the ends together up and down the length of the dress where the edges meet?
I love the skirt
Love this!!! Would you ever make this and sell it? (for those of us who aren’t as comfortable with sewing?
in America they are usually called “wife-beaters” wierd I know haha
This is so adorable! but what kind of fabric did you use for the skirt part?
This is just darling! I love the ruffles! I think I will try to make one for me!! I usually sew for my daughter!
Love your blog, I’m following you now and pinning this. 
So smart and pretty! And it seems simple too!
Thanks for the tutorial, I linked it in a series I’m writing for my blog (http://rock-n-roll-stops-the-traffic.blogspot.it/2012/05/diy-from-head-to-toe-9.html#more), hope you don’t mind
Of course not Lima! thank you for the feature =]
Thanks so much for this tutorial! It’s the first day of summer (I’m in high school so my summer starts NOW (: haha) and I want to make one of these to wear because I think they are adorable! I had quite a few of these tank tops that I was going to give away or throw out because I don’t like the way they fit me anymore. But now I can use them to make a couple really cute dresses and I am so excited! Thank you!
Very neatly done!
This is a beautiful dress. Thank you for the tutorial.
This is amazing! Thank you so much for this tutorial.
~S
Hey
Thanks for sharing this! I was just wondering what type of material you used for the bottom of your dress. I saw above that you said anything would work, I’m just trying to pick something that will be thick enough without doing multiple layers. Thanks!
Hi Jordan, for the turquoise I used a polyester blend (no layers needed because of the thickness) and for the other one I used a “chiffon like” fabric – since it was almost see through, it needed a liner =] hope that helps!
The tank tops are called wife beaters. (Don’t ask me why)And love the dress! I might have to go out and buy wife beaters! Hah
I dont understand the skirt. Can it be more especific? I mean, like a pattern to see exacly what’s the size or the form. and what’s the fabric? strech? Besides that, cute dress.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TUTORIAL! i am a newbie sewer/dress maker and have been looking for the perfect dress to make for my bday and i’ve found it!!! Can’t wait to make it soon
OMG!!! ud. tambien es chilenaaa! ♥
Holaa, me llamo susana y de casualidad encontré su página y amé los vestidos y todas la cosas que hay aquí! más encima casi me caí de espaldas cuando vi que también era chilena! Mi hermana y yo siempre buscamos tutoriales para hacer vestidos y accesorios en general, y los suyos son realmente ossom!
Muchos saludos desde Viña del Mar! C:
Hola Susi!!
Si yo soy originalmente de Santiago =] solo llevo viviendo 3 años en California =] que alegrai que encontraste mi blog y que esten haciendo vestidos con tu hermana, espero me sigas visitando! un beso grande!
XO – Joy
This is an awesome tutorial! Do you think that this dress could work on girls (11-12) too (with a few alterations)
?
Hi April! yes I think it can totally work!! =]
X
the man’s t- shirt is called a VEST in English. Love the tutorial, I hope my dress will be as gorgeous as this!
Is there a picture of the tank and skirt connected without a belt or sash in the way?
So cute! I have a hard time finding dresses that fit but are still casual because I have a large bust compared to my waist. This looks so simple to sew and adjust to fit me, I have to try it for summer.
Thought I’d add that en ingles los musculos se llaman “muscle shirts” as well as the other things people have said. But I like finding similarities wherever possible between words in different languages that mean the same thing (easier to learn!)
Can this pattern be done using a short sleeve shirt? I love the sleeveless, but I’m a little self-conscious of my arms and would love this if it was sleeved… Cute!!
very beautiful.does any one know’ where to get a machine that makes fabric covered buckles and buttons please let me know
i was wondering where you got your fabric for the red and multi dress?
Nice, but… you wore this to a wedding? Erm, ok.
I love the dress, the color suits you well. So pretty! thanks so much for sharing the tutorial! I have a question though, how do i sew them together? Your skills are more advanced than mine, and i’m stuck on the joining-together-adding-elastic procedure. Please help :’(
So i stumbled across your blog when i saw this very adorable tutorial for this dress and was browsing through your blog when i realized that i know your husband! We grew up together!!! My mom is friend’s with his mom….. anyways, love the dress!!!!! I can’t wait to try and make my own!