How to Make a Summer Dress out of a Bedsheet

Plan Your DressCut Out the SkirtCreate StrapsSew the ShirtAssemble the DressFinish the Project
Edited by OhhAngieee, Teresa, WikiBunny, Lillian May and 23 others

Is that summer dress you've been eyeing just too much for your tight budget? Make a summer dress out of a bedsheet to get the fashion you want without parting with your cash. This process creates a sleeveless dress that zips in the back and then ties around your neck.

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Method 1 of 6: Plan Your Dress

1. 1
Take your measurements. You will measure most accurately if you are unclothed.

Measure your waist by wrapping a vinyl tape measure around it. Measure the distance from your waist to where you want the hem of the skirt to fall. For example, measure just above or just below your knee depending on your preferred skirt length.

Check the distance from your waist to your shoulder. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your bust.

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2. 2
Choose your bedsheet. If the fabric is sheer, then plan to use 2 layers of fabric for your dress. Alternatively, use the sheet and a second lining fabric such as white cotton.

3. 3

Select thread to use for the seams. Choose white or a neutral color that will blend in with the fabric.

4. 4
Unpick the bedsheet seams using a seam ripper.

Use the seam ripper to cut every second or third stitch. Then, use your fingers, not the seam ripper, to pull out the threads. If you're using a fitted sheet, fold the sheet into quarters and cut off the elastic around the perimeter.

5. 5
Iron the bedsheet along the place where the seams used to be. If the unpicked stitches left large holes in the fabric, then trim the edge off of the bedsheet so that the holes don't look unattractive when you're wearing the dress. Save the fabric and use it to make ties for the dress later.

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Method 2 of 6: Cut Out the Skirt

1. 1

Create a skirt pattern.

Draw a semicircle on a piece of paper. The length of the semicircle should equal the length of your waist plus 2" (5 cm) for seams. Draw a straight line from the left base of the semicircle toward the outside edge of the paper. This line's measurement should equal the length of your skirt plus an additional 2" (5 cm) for seams.

Draw a second line on the right side. The second line should have the same measurements as the first. Draw a second semicircle from the tip of the left line to the tip of the right line.

2. 2
Lay your pattern over the bedsheet and cut out the shape of the skirt by cutting along the edges of the pattern. To make the process simple, place the flat edges of the pattern paper against the edge of the fabric.

3. 3
Lay the cut fabric face down on top of your lining material. Use straight pins to pin the bedsheet to the lining. Doing this will keep the fabric from rippling or shifting while you cut.

4. 4
Cut the lining fabric into the same shape as your skirt pattern.

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Method 3 of 6: Create Straps

1. 1
Cut a strip of cloth 3" (7.5 cm) wide. Or use the fabric that you reserved if you chose to trim the edge off of your bedsheet.

2. 2

Place the fabric face-up on a flat surface. Fold 1 edge of the fabric (lengthwise) over to meet the other edge so that only the inside of the fabric is visible.

3. 3
Pin the fabric edges together.

4. 4
Sew the edges together using a sewing machine.

5. 5
Fold the fabric that you just sewed so that the unsewn ends are together. Cut the fabric in half along the fold.

6. 6
Flip the 2 tubes of fabric inside out and set them aside. These will serve as the ties for your dress.

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Method 4 of 6: Sew the Shirt

1. 1

Sketch a shirt pattern on a large piece of paper. The pattern doesn't have to be perfect because you will try the shirt on and make adjustments later.

Draw a line equal to the distance between your shoulder and waist on the paper. Add 2" (5 cm) for seams. Measure the distance from your hips to the widest part of your bust. On the line that you just drew, measure the same length, starting at the bottom of the line. Make a dot on the first line to mark the location of your bust on the pattern.

Draw a line through the dot that you just drew. The length of the line should equal onefourth of your bust measurement plus 2" (5 cm) for seams, and the dot should be at the midpoint of the line.

Draw a line at the base of the shoulder-waist line that is perpendicular to the shoulderwaist line. This line should be one-fourth of your waist measurement plus 2" (5 cm) for seams.

Rough-sketch the front half of the shirt. Sketch as though you are looking at the shirt from the side. Curve the sides inward slightly to give it a natural shape. Sketch the back of the shirt. The sketch should be approximately equal in size to the front with a section scooped out of the top.

2. 2
Cut out the pattern pieces.

3. 3
Place the pattern pieces on top of the bedsheet material. Cut out 2 front pieces and 2 back pieces.

4. 4
Pin the cut shirt pieces to the lining material. Cut 2 front shirt pieces and 2 back shirt pieces out of the lining material by cutting around the bedsheet pieces.

5. 5
Pin the 4 pieces of the shirt together.

Join the 2 front pieces with the pinned seam in the middle. Pin a 12" (30.5 cm) zipper to the back pieces. The shorter side of each back piece should be pinned to the edge of the zipper. Pin the back of the shirt to the front.

6. 6
Try on the shirt with the fabric turned inside-out. Doing this will prevent you from poking yourself with the pins.

Adjust the pinned seams as needed so that the shirt fits comfortably. Check the zipper to make sure that it fits snugly against your back and doesn't bulge. Tuck the seam in under your bust if needed. Do the same along your waist. Ignore the section above your bust for now because that will be fitted later. Take the shirt piece off and try it on after you make your initial adjustments. Keep trying it on until you have a good fit.

7. 7
Sew up the sides of the shirt piece except for the zipper. Just keep the zipper pinned into place.

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Method 5 of 6: Assemble the Dress

1. 1
Make the skirt.

Sew the bedsheet and lining fabric together along the bottom edge of the skirt (the wider part of the semicircle) with the bed sheet fabric facing inward. Remove the pins and flip the skirt inside out.

2. 2
Pin the skirt to the bottom of the shirt. Unpin the bottom 2 pins from the zipper so you can match the edges of the skirt to the edges of the shirt. Sometimes there will be some excess skirt material, so simply cut the excess fabric off of the skirt.

3. 3
Add 4 pleats to the top of your skirt, placing 2 in front and 2 in back. Make sure the pleats are small so they don't make the flow of the skirt look boxy.

Make sure the pleats are evenly spaced around the skirt. User your vinyl tape measure to double-check. Grasp the fabric and fold it over to the right as though you were starting to make a fan. Pin the folded section of fabric down so that it will stay in position. Iron the pleat to make it precise. Sew the pleats using downward stitches. Stop at the point where you want the skirt to twirl freely.

4. 4
Sew the skirt to the shirt. Make sure that the dress is folded inside-out to make your seam less visible.

5. 5

Add the zipper. Sew the back seam of the skirt up to 1/4" (6 mm) above where the end of the zipper would fall. Pin the zipper's final few inches down the back of the skirt, and sew it into place.

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Method 6 of 6: Finish the Project

1. 1
Put the dress on and place your hand on the excess fabric above the bust.

Fold the excess fabric down, angling the fold either outward or inward. Pin the fold into place. For a scalloped neckline, pin the fold inwards. For a v-neck, pin outwards.

2.

2
Take the dress off and sew the fold into place. Hand sew the fold so the sewing is less prominent.

3. 3
Fold down the raw edges of the shirt around the arm opening. Pin them to the fabric and then sew them.

4. 4
Take the straps that you sewed earlier. Fold the open edges inward just a little.

5.

5
Pin the straps to the shirt onto the top corners of the bodice. Hold the fold to make sure that it stays even. Tuck the fabric of the bodice inside the tube and pin it down '

6. 6

Sew the tubes onto the fabric.

7.

7
Wear the dress. Tie the tube ties around your neck and zip up the zipper.
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How to Turn an Oversized T Shirt Into a Hot Mini Dress

Making a Quick, Basic DressUsing a Seam-Ripper
Edited by Ladyblair103, Teresa, Flickety, Krystle and 16 others

T-shirts from many events seem to come in two sizes: "family-size tent" and "circus tent". One way to salvage the t-shirt into a fun, flattering item of clothing is to turn it into a flirty mini-dress. And it's great for the environment. No one will wear a circus tent, but you might wear a cute dress.

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Method 1 of 2: Making a Quick, Basic Dress

1. 1

Cut off the sleeves and across as shown.

2. 2

Fold in the armpits slightly towards the front of the shirt. In order to determine how far in to fold, put on the shirt so that it reaches just below your bustline. Pinch the underarms so that the dress fits as loosely or snugly as you desire.
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3. 3

Cut along the folds you just made. Remember to leave a little bit of a seam allowance.

4. 4

Turn the shirt inside out. Sew the sleeve holes closed, and hem the opening at the top.

5. 5

Turn the shirt right side out again. Cut the sleeves into triangles. Cut along the side that you had cut before (where the sleeves attached to the shirt).

6. 6

Sew the sleeves to the front of the the opening. The cut edge should be facing the center.

7. 7

Reinforce the center where the triangles meet. Bunch the fabric and sew it in place so that the cut edges don't show.

8. 8

Cut the collar away from the piece you cut off earlier.

9. 9

Sew the collar onto the dress as a halter strap.

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Method 2 of 2: Using a Seam-Ripper

1. 1
Use a seam ripper to remove the sleeves from the t-shirt.

2. 2
Cut straight across the back of the t-shirt, making a line between the arm holes. Lay the t-shirt down flat, front side up. Pull the cut section up, so that you have a square flap sticking up with the head hole in the middle.

3. 3
Using chalk, mark a point about 3 inches (6 cm) below the front collar of the shirt (assuming the shirt has a high crew neck).

4. 4
Mark two diagonal lines between the corners of the flap to the mark below the collar. Try to touch the collar with your line as you go by. You should have marked out a "V" shaped area of cloth around the collar.

5. 5

Cut along the marked lines. You should now have two long triangles of cloth where the shoulders were.

6. 6
Hem the raw edges.

7. 7
Put on the shirt and have a friend tie the two triangles behind your neck when you're happy with the height of the neckline. Now you have the halter-top part of your dress.

8. 8
Have your friend fold in the loose fabric at the sides of the shirt, starting below your arms and ending at your hips, and pin the folds when you're happy with the fit. There should be an even amount of material pinned in at both sides.

9. 9

Hand sew the fold down. Use small stitches, and be sure to use a color of thread that matches the fabric.

10. 10
Remove the pins.

11. 11
Mark about 5 pairs of points, one on each side of the fold, up the back of your shirt.

12. 12
Use your sewing shears to snip a small hole at each mark.

13. 13

Put the dress on again

14. 14
Have your friend weave your ribbon in, starting at the bottom. It should look like the lacing on shoes. Tighten gently to achieve the perfect fit. Finish with a bow.

How to Make a Colorful Heart Pillow

Edited by Sandylee222, Adelaide, Gaurang, Maliha Iqbal

Do you often do DIY small stuff by yourself? This article has a tutorial of how to make a heart pillow this time. The approach of how to make a heart pillow is mainly to piece colorful pieces of fabric together. Before you start making pillows, you need to select several pieces of fabric that you like. You'd better make sure all the pieces of fabric you have selected can be matched well.

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Steps

1.

1
Piece the fabric. Cut off the fabric you have selected. You can leave each fabric to different widths at will; fix the pieces to a whole pattern with pins; sew each combination respectively.

2.

2
Sew two pieces of heart fabric. Draw a heart shape to a size which you want your pillow to be on the paper; cut off the paper heart. Cut the pieced fabric to a heart shape according to the paper pattern. Make the other pieces of heart fabric in the same; seam the two pieces with obverse sides faced, leaving a small opening.
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3.

Stuff the heart. Turn over the heart to the observe side; stuff the quilting inside through the small opening. Sew the small opening after stuffing.

4. 4
Make a bow with satin ribbon; sew the bow to the middle top of the heart.