Upcycle Two Shirts in a Denim Shirtdress

Looking for a fun project to try with that holiday break around the corner? Upcycle a denim shirt into a fashionable shirtdress! It's the ideal time to take two of those shirts you've grown tired of in your closet and UPCYCLE them into this adorable denim shirt dress! I used two denim shirts but you can use two shirts of your choice of course!

Machines:

Sewing Machine: Strong & Tough ST371HD
Serger: Project Runway™ Limited Edition 5234PRW

Supplies:

• 2 denim jean shirts
• ¼” double folded bias tape
• All-purpose thread
• ½” wide elastic
• Fabric marking pen or tailors chalk
• Quilter’s ruler
• Scissors
• Pins
• Measuring tape

Professional organizers often say, if you haven’t worn a garment in 2 years, get rid of it! (Good thing they don’t mention fabric!) So with a desire to purge our closets, my husband handed me a couple of denim shirts to donate. I couldn’t help but notice the nautical flags on one of the shirts reminding me of our summer boating trips – I couldn’t bear to allow that one to go. A friend mentioned making a quilt, but I don’t foresee that on the shortlist anytime soon. Then it occurred to me, UPCYCLING! I do need a sundress for the boating season and what better than a couple of denim shirts to play with! Trying on one of the denim shirts, I have decided the hemline is a little too short for the dress I am envisioning. Instead, I will use 2 different denim shirts; one for the top from the waist up and one for the skirt.

Designing the Tank of the Denim Shirtdress

1. Try on the shirt and check the fit. Start by marking the width of the desired tank onto the shoulder seam.

2. As I am holding up this sleeve, notice how wide the top is and how low the armscye falls. This will all be changed.

3. Measure from the back of the neck to your natural waistline and draw a line. Measure down the front of the top as well.

4. From the waist marking, measure down an additional 3” and place another mark. (I am adding the 3” to allow a little blousing when the dress is belted). Measure down another ½” to allow for a seam allowance.

Cutting up Shirt #1:

1. Draw a line from the underarm seam up to the shoulder mark as shown.

2. DO NOT cut along the chalk mark, that is just a guide for later. Instead cut off the sleeves at the seam.

3. Locate the lowest marking on the center back and draw a line straight across as shown. (Note: If your mark on the center front of the shirt is lower than the mark on the back of the shirt, either use the front marking as your straight line or draw a line with a slight curve at each side seam to accommodate for the different lengths)

4. Cut across that line in the front and back; be careful not to cut through a button!

Checking the Fit of the Denim Shirtdress

1. Try on the top. Pin the side seam. Notice when the side seam is pinned, the underarm armscye gets higher.

2. Mark the pinned seam with tailors chalk. This will give a guide for sewing a new seam.

3. With right sides together, stitch a new side seam using the chalked markings as a guide.

4. Finish the raw edges with a 3-thread overlock stitch on the serger or a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine.

5. Press the seam towards the back of the shirt.

6. Use a tailor’s Clapper to hold the seam in place.

7. Try the shirt on again and notice the change in fit! This sleeve would actually be pretty cute, so feel free to leave the length and you can finish the armhole the same way I do with the tank.

8. Using the chalked markings as a guide, cut from the underarm seam up to the shoulder marking. Notice how the cut line curves in towards the body as it moves up to the shoulder, it not just a straight line.

9. Keep the excess fabric from the first shoulder to use as a pattern for the other shoulder. This will guarantee that you cut both sides the same with.

10. Check the button are on the front of the shirt. If there is a button within 1 inch of the hemline, remove it.

11. The tank looks good so far!

Designing the Skirt with Shirt #2

1. Layout the second shirt and locate the area just below the back yoke. Draw a line perpendicular to the button placket.

2. Draw a straight line from the tip of the first line to the hemline, keep the line just inside of the armhole and side seam.

3. Cut along the chalked lines.

4. Check the length of the skirt. Hold up one of the front pieces at your waistline. Measure the amount you want to shorten, and remove that amount from the top of the fabric piece. Here I have removed 4 ½ inches of length on my right front piece. Shorten both front and back pieces the same. In order to remove the same amount for the front left piece, I need to remove the pocket.

5. Line up the skirt pieces with each of the coordinating top pieces and mark the side seams. The width of the front top piece needs to match the width of the front skirt.

6. The width of the back top needs to match the width of the back skirt.

7. With right sides together, pin front to the back side seam making sure the bottom hemline matches up. Stitch.

8. With right sides together, pin skirt to the top – aligning the center fronts and each side seam. Stitch.

9. To cover the original pocket discoloration, I will pin the pocket right over the same spot just a little bit lower. Topstitch the pocket following the original stitch lines.

10. Because we did not add darts to the back of this shirt, we need to figure out a way to prevent the back from buckling.

11. Cut a strip of elastic 4” shorter than the width of the back-waistline seam.

12. Pin the elastic to the seam allowance as shown. Depending on the size of the shirt, you might need to ease more or less. The idea is to gather the back fabric and allowed the top to blouse over the waistband. If you’re unsure of the amount of use in the elastic, pin in place with safety pins and try on the dress before sewing.

13. Stitch the elastic to the seam allowance with the zigzag stitch

Belt Loops on your Denim Shirtdress

1. Using excess fabric from one of the shirts I’m going to cut strips 3 inches wide by 6 inches long to use for belt loops.

2. Finish the raw edges of the long side of each belt loop.

3. Press in the long edges ½”

4. Lengthen the stitch length to 3.0 and Topstitch 1/8” from the edge of each fold.

5. Topstitch a second row about ¼” from the first stitched line. This would be a great place to use decorative stitches!

6. Press under each and of the belt loop as shown. After pinning the belt loops in place, I decided to make them a little bit shorter, trim off the excess seam allowance.

7. Pin the belt loops to the dress at each side seam and center back.

8. Topstitch in place.

9. I topstitched a second row of stitches for support; Another idea is to bar tack or zigzag stitch across each end. Remember you are the designer!

10. You can see how adding the elastic at the waistline has gathered the fabric in the back and created a nice affect!

Finishing the Armholes:

1. The last step is to finish the armholes. Try on the dress one last time and check the fit at the armhole. If the armhole is gaping in the front, you might consider adding a dart.

2. Press open the double folded bias tape as shown below.

3. Open the fold on one edge of the bias tape and pin to the armscye with right sides together.

4. Remove the toolbox from the from of the Brother sewing machine, revealing the free arm, and slide the armhole onto the machine.

5. Stitch along the fold line of the bias tape that you have ironed open.

6. Fold the bias tape out towards the opening and press.

7. Flip to the inside of the garment. Fold the entire seam, including bias tape, toward the inside of the garment and press.

8. Topstitch along the edge of the armhole, pinning in place if necessary.

9. Topstitch a second row all around.

Congratulations your Denim Shirtdress is finished! Add a cute belt and you're out the door. We have four sleeves left! Be sure to save those sleeves for a future project. What should we make with them?!? A custom belt? Coordinating handbag? What would you like to see? Be sure to share the before and after photos of your denim shirtdress and tag us in the post #BrotherSews #AngelaWolf #StitchingSewcial! Cheers, Angela