T-SHIRT DRESSES FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

For several years our church has been involved with Operation Christmas Child.  Part of Franklin Graham's ministry, OCC provides gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories.  Most importantly, included in each box is a booklet that presents the Gospel of Jesus in their own language. Please visit their website for information, resources, and most importantly, testimonials from individuals who received a shoe box as a child.  The national collection date will be in November.  It is never too early to begin shopping and planning for the items you would like to share.

Last year, a few of us made pillowcase dresses to include in our shoe boxes.  This year we are making t-shirt dresses as well.  This is a simple, fun project and the variations are limitless! You can make the skirt out of one fabric or sew strips of any width you desire and out of any fabric you choose. Simple skirts, ruffles, appliques, pockets, rick rack, so many choices! This is a great project to utilize small leftover pieces of fabric and notions you may have on hand from other projects or to even recycle garments you no longer wear. 

First, you will need to determine the length you want to make the dress.  Here are some general guidelines for finished lengths (measure from the shoulder seam of the t-shirt):

2T    15"                       3T     17"                 4T    19.5"               5T      21.5"    

6T     23.5"                   7T     25.5"              8T     27.5"

****Easy enough to approximate for larger sizes!

The first step is to measure across the bottom of the t-shirt.  The shirt for this project was 26 inches.  "Standard" ratio for gathering is 2.5 to 3 times the measurement.  This makes a very full skirt; you can do considerably less if you prefer. The pictures in the tutorial are for the blue and green polka-dot dress in the center.

Next,you will need to determine the length of skirt you wish to attach.  To make this dress a 6T, with the shirt I chose, I needed a finished skirt length of about 10". Don't forget to cut the skirt longer to allow for the seam allowance. I used 4/8" seam allowance--you can use whatever you choose, just make them all the same!   Since I choose to use two different colors for the skirt. I purchased 2 pieces of fabric, 1/3 yard each, 44" wide.  I cut it in half, placed right sides together and stitched the ends at 4/8".  

Place right sides together, stitch at 4/8"

Make sure to press as you sew and zigzag/serge the seam edges.  I always machine stitch the hem at this point; much easier than hemming a fully gathered skirt!

 Gathering the skirt: In order to make attaching the skirt a little easier, place pins to mark the sides, center front, and center back.

Use pins to mark the sides, center front and center back on the skirt; this will make attaching the skirt so much easier!

                                                                        

Set the stitch length on your machine to the longest length possible and make two rows of gathering stitches.  Be sure to leave long threads at the beginning and end--DO NOT BACKSTITCH!!  For this project, I sewed the gathering stitches at 3/8" and 5/8"

Pull the gathering threads until the skirt is the same size as the bottom of the t-shirt.

Don't despair if you are new to "gathering"--it takes practice.  Getting the skirt attached evenly to the shirt can be a little tricky. When you attach the skirt to the shirt, pin  the sides, center front, and center back to the shirt.  Now you are working with easing 1/4  sections of the skirt, a little more manageable.I have found it easier to use lots of pins and sew SLOWLY!
Another technique I like to use is to stitch BETWEEN the rows of gathering stitches. I sewed this skirt at 4/8". 

Using this technique, you will have a row of basting that shows on the outside.  Simply remove the basting stitches, press, and finish the raw edge of the skirt at the waistline.