Button down shirt to child's long sleeve dress

[J_Kieviet]

By the time I found a button down shirt at a price that I was willing to pay it was already September and that meant it was to cold to wear a sleeveless dress, however I wanted to make a dress with it, so here is is with a mini tutorial.


I cut the sleeves off as well as the collar.  I tossed the collar since I didn't need it for the dress I had in mind.

I chose the length I wanted for the skirt, and measured up that high from the bottom hem (to eliminate the need for hemming) and cut straight across.  Set that piece aside.  Using the yoke part of the dress (make sure the buttons are in the middle of the new back) cut the bodice pieces using your favourite pattern.  Finally cut new sleeves using the original sleeves(utilize the hem to save time hemming later)

SEWING directions
1. sew the bodice together
     a. shoulder seams
     b. put sleeve in
     c. sew sleeve and side seams of bodice
     d. create a collar that you like - or use binding or neck insert to finish of the neck edge
2. Putting the skirt onto the bodice
     a. open skirt portion up to make sure you don't stitch it up by accident
     b. gather top of skirt (unhemmed edge)
     c. pin to bodice (keep the bodice open to avoid sewing the back shut at the waist by accident)
     d. stitch the skirt to bodice
     e. Iron if needed, and you are done  
3. Find a model and take images (not available yet because it is a gift)
picture of dress with buttons done up in the back
picture of the  picture of dress with back open

[sylviegl]

I love it!!! I have some shirts that I want to do the same thing to, I just can't figure out sleeves yet.
I am bookmarking your post and using it for inspiration soon.

Sylvie

[AlexisMomOf3]

I love it!!! I wished my husband wore button down shirts but then again I guess I can hit up goodwill to get some funky ones. Awesome job!!!

[photomommy]

This is a great dress!  I am hoping for an action shot, if you have one! A few questions for you:
approximately what size is this dress?

Did you use the yoke portion of the upper back of the shirt?  I thought that was how I understood your explanation, but the busyness of the fabric made it a bit hard for me to see.

Did you just wing the sleeves, or use a pattern from a different dress?

Thanks for sharing! 

[J_Kieviet]

the dress is a size 2-3, I used the back yoke for the upper front - it gave a nice line for detail about 1" from the lace.  For the sleeves I stitched the should seams, opened the bodice so it was flat, and drew the curve onto the fabric where the top of the sleeve needed to be to give proper length.  Hope that helps.

[crunchycrafts]

very cool !

[kinzerbud]

That's amazing! What a great job. I'm definitely going to have to try this. Thanks!

[scottpartyof5]

 ;DAdorable!!!

[mrsflibble]

so cute.

[grenouille78]

I really like it with the sleeves! I've done the original cheytown dress, but I think I'll have to try something like this, too, now that it's cold out! Thanks for sharing.