Today’s talk is a step by step on how to make a dress from a shirt and a skirt. I enjoy getting creative with second-hand clothes. It makes me feel good to breathe new life into tired old clothes. I love quick and cool dresses in the summer and keeping all my “junk” covered. I also like wearing clothes you won’t find on anybody else.

For today’s project, choose a top and a skirt to “get creative” with.

Measure and cut your shirt to the desired length (high waisted, regular, or drop-waisted). I’m vertically challenged so I go for high waisted looks. I love to wear drop-waisted dresses and shirts, but I’m just too short to pull it off.

Cut your skirt to make the dress the length you want. I like maxi length so I just cut off the elastic waist. I left the hem intact so that I wouldn’t have to hem the finished item, plus I liked the hemline like it was.

Next (this part takes a little forethought), turn your skirt the wrong side out. Put the shirt inside the skirt. It will be right sides together so that when you turn it right side out, you will have both sides right side out. This is very important. If you sew it backward, you will really get a piece like no other but not in a good way. You will be sewing on the wrong side of the material of the skirt. The shirt will be “stuffed” inside the skirt. Line up the side seams and the middle of both pieces of material front and back.

Pin the materials together, gathering any extra material as needed.

Sew two seams parallel (for strength) all the way around.

There is your new dress made from a shirt and a skirt.

I gave the sleeves and collar an upgrade as well. I shortened the sleeves and hemmed them, turning them under twice and stitching to keep the linen from raveling.

I removed the collar and restitched the neckline to give it an “oriental” type collar.

Turn your dress right side out and you’re done! We put the leftover sleeves and collar into the scrap bin to be used for some future project. Now you have a brand new, one of a kind dress. You won’t see anyone else wearing a dress just like yours and you’ve recycled old or out of style clothes.

A quick note about skirts and material. Buying new material is expensive. You can get a lot of fabric from a full skirt or dress. Also, consider drapes or fabric shower curtains, they have a lot of material in them. You can also splice coordinating fabrics together in order to make enough material for your project. You are limited only by your imagination and the amount of fabric you can scavenge.

We hope this talk has given you some ideas that you will put into action. Make new from old or unused until your heart is content. Again, you are only limited by your imagination, so go for it, make yourself an upgraded wardrobe. This type of sewing project also makes for a great gift. Everyone likes having one of a kind items, especially when the gift is made especially with them in mind.

Thank you for visiting and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.