adult tee to child's dress recon

The pattern I use is a trace from an existing dress. I've been using this nice A-line pattern for most of my tee recons because the shape is so nice.

To make a sleeve pattern I traced the shape of the sleeve onto paper

and then added some seam allowances and extra at the top for a bit of puff (but not too much with the knit material b/c they end up looking like little football players)

so, the doomed tee,

fold in half and put the front pattern over it. For this one the design was too big for the chest area so I did a little patching. I just folded the front pattern piece on the waist line and cut out the design plus a bit of seam allowance on the side.

Then took the name off the sleeve and cut out a the bottom plus a bit for seam allowance.

and, here they are:

The back was just follow the pattern cut:

Sleeves were cut from the most horrible maternity shirt ever. If you are using stripes, watch which way you cut so they don't end up looking odd.

I also cut out the bottom ruffle. Mine is 3 inches.

So, all pieced together with the ruffle on

to make the lettuce edges I used a rolled hem stitch on the serger while stretching the fabric. The same effect can be made with a zigzag stitch on a regular machine (stitch off edge with a wide but tight zigzag).

My bottom ruffle didn't ruffle very good - probably because I had cut along the not very stretchy way of the knit (check it out, one way stretches more than the other and you want to cut crosswise along the stretch)

I decided the dress was missing something at this point so I cut up another tee I'd saved for recons and added a second ruffle (also roll hemmed one edge). I also cut some bias tape from the red tee for the neckline.This is me attaching the second ruffle.

There's lots of ways to do this, but I just stitched if right along above the first (right sides together) and then added a second line of stitching to lift the ruffle high enough for nice layered effect.

The sleeves went on the usual way. (okay, I'm getting lazy, but I can answer questions here if anyone has them)

For the back, I find a couple of rows of shirring gathers the dress into a nice shape. To do this, I chalked a line across the back to mark where I wanted to gather and shirred 3 short lines there.

(Shirring instructions here)

I also used 2 lines of shirring on the sleeves to gather them in

And, viola!

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The perfect oatmeal

Ingredients:
-electric stove
-1 cup rolled oats (not quick oats!)
-1 cup soy milk
-1 cup water

Put the oats, milk, and water into a covered pot on the stove. Bring to boil (keep a watch on it so it does not boil over). Turn off element and let covered pot sit on element for 10 minutes.

Mix oatmeal with sugar, hemp hearts, flax, raisins, bananas, or whatever you enjoy. Share with child.

Shirred Top

Shirring is one of the easiest and most satisfying techniques to learn. To make a top or dress you do not need a pattern and the only stitch you need is the regular straight stitch. Shirring is simply multiple rows of stitches using elastic thread.

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Please read the comment section following this post - there is additional advice and problem solving ideas.  It turns out that not every machine is the same.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

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To make a shirred top:

-Measure the chest.

-Cut a rectangle of material with one side twice the length of the chest measurement (chest x2). The other side is the length of the top you desire.

Pause: To do shirring with this method I am about to describe, you want to acquire some elastic thread from your local fabric and notions store.

To use the elastic thread, wind it by hand into a bobbin and place it in your bobbin case just as you would regular thread. Do use regular thread on the top spool (in a coordinating colour, because it will be on top of the shirt.)

-Okay, now load sewing machine with elastic thread on bobbin.

-Set your stitches to wider stitch (the theory being, the wider the stitch, the tighter the elastic)

-Start your first row by placing your needle in the material (right side up) about 1 1/2" below the top of the raw edge (leaving enough room to make a hem)

-Backstitch to secure thread, and stitch your first row. Backstitch at end of row to secure.

-Start a second row 1/2" or so below (use your first row as a guide). Make sure you pull elastic and fabric taunt as you stitch subsequent rows.

-Keep stitching rows in this manner until you have the desired amount. The bobbin will need refilled a few times. If you run out in the middle of a row, just make sure you go back over the last few stitches to secure the elastic with the refilled bobbin.

backside:

The fun bit:

-Take your sheet of shirred fabric and try it on. Wrap it around your body and make sure that it will not be too small for you or too big. If it is too small, make a second shirred sheet in the same way and join them as side seams. If too big, just make where the seam should be.

-Sew up sheet into tube.

-Hem bottom and top.

-Add straps.

-Enjoy!