How to sew a tiered dress (t-shirt transformation)

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Got a favorite t-shirt that needs a little update? Here's how to make a tiered dress from a favorite t-shirt and a little extra fabric. This is an easy sewing project for any season!

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Supplies you'll need to make your own tiered dress: •t-shirt •2 contrast knit fabrics •scissors •ruler •pins •tape measure

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First cut off the t-shirt above the hem.

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Measure the bottom of the t-shirt and multiply this number x2. Save this number.

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Measure the center back of the t-shirt by folding together the shoulder seams and measuring down the center back fold. Subtract this number from the total length you want your dress to be.

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Divide the adjusted length measurement from step 3 by how many tiers you want to sew. So if you need 20" total length and you want to make 2 tiers, that's 10" each.

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Multiply the width from step two by 2 for the top tier, 2.5 for the second tier.

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Cut tiers from your contrast jersey fabrics the dimensions you calculated earlier.

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Place the right sides of the tier ends together and sew together the short ends with a 3/8" seam.

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Press up a 3/4" hem allowance on the bottom tier.

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Sew a long gathering stitch around the top of the bottom tier. Pull on the bobbin threads to gather up the fabric. Adjust the gathers so that they're as even as possible.

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Pin the bottom tier to the top tier with the right sides together. Sew the two tiers together with a 3/8" seam allowance.

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Gather the top of the top tier just like you did with the bottom tier. Pin the tiered skirt to the bottom of the t-shirt, adjusting the gathers to fit. Sew the t-shirt to the skirt with a 3/8" seam allowance.

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Use a twin stretch needle to hem the bottom tier to finish off your lovely DIY tiered dress!

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And that's how to make a tiered dress from a t-shirt. It's so cute no one will ever know how easy it was to sew!

[{"selector":"#anim-06e1c33b-1e3a-40b1-9907-50a54fba7d36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] elizabethmadethis.com elizabethmadethis.com Read more

Read the full step by step tiered dress tutorial when you click below.

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How to sew a tiered dress (t-shirt upcycle idea)

How to sew a tiered dress (t-shirt upcycle idea)

Got a favorite t-shirt that needs a little update? Here's how to make a tiered dress from a favorite t-shirt and a little extra fabric. This is an easy sewing project for any season!

Got a favorite t-shirt that needs a little update? Here's how to make a tiered dress from a favorite t-shirt and a little extra fabric. This is an easy sewing project for any season!

Supplies you'll need to make your own tiered dress: •t-shirt •2 contrast knit fabrics •scissors •ruler •pins •tape measure

Supplies you'll need to make your own tiered dress: •t-shirt •2 contrast knit fabrics •scissors •ruler •pins •tape measure

First cut off the t-shirt above the hem.

First cut off the t-shirt above the hem.

Measure the bottom of the t-shirt and multiply this number x2. Save this number.

Measure the bottom of the t-shirt and multiply this number x2. Save this number.

Measure the center back of the t-shirt by folding together the shoulder seams and measuring down the center back fold. Subtract this number from the total length you want your dress to be.

Measure the center back of the t-shirt by folding together the shoulder seams and measuring down the center back fold. Subtract this number from the total length you want your dress to be.

Divide the adjusted length measurement from step 3 by how many tiers you want to sew. So if you need 20" total length and you want to make 2 tiers, that's 10" each.

Divide the adjusted length measurement from step 3 by how many tiers you want to sew. So if you need 20" total length and you want to make 2 tiers, that's 10" each.

Multiply the width from step two by 2 for the top tier, 2.5 for the second tier.

Multiply the width from step two by 2 for the top tier, 2.5 for the second tier.

Cut tiers from your contrast jersey fabrics the dimensions you calculated earlier.

Cut tiers from your contrast jersey fabrics the dimensions you calculated earlier.

Place the right sides of the tier ends together and sew together the short ends with a 3/8" seam.

Place the right sides of the tier ends together and sew together the short ends with a 3/8" seam.

Press up a 3/4" hem allowance on the bottom tier.

Press up a 3/4" hem allowance on the bottom tier.

Sew a long gathering stitch around the top of the bottom tier. Pull on the bobbin threads to gather up the fabric. Adjust the gathers so that they're as even as possible.

Sew a long gathering stitch around the top of the bottom tier. Pull on the bobbin threads to gather up the fabric. Adjust the gathers so that they're as even as possible.

Pin the bottom tier to the top tier with the right sides together. Sew the two tiers together with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Pin the bottom tier to the top tier with the right sides together. Sew the two tiers together with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Gather the top of the top tier just like you did with the bottom tier. Pin the tiered skirt to the bottom of the t-shirt, adjusting the gathers to fit. Sew the t-shirt to the skirt with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Gather the top of the top tier just like you did with the bottom tier. Pin the tiered skirt to the bottom of the t-shirt, adjusting the gathers to fit. Sew the t-shirt to the skirt with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Use a twin stretch needle to hem the bottom tier to finish off your lovely DIY tiered dress!

Use a twin stretch needle to hem the bottom tier to finish off your lovely DIY tiered dress!

And that's how to make a tiered dress from a t-shirt. It's so cute no one will ever know how easy it was to sew!

Read the full step by step tiered dress tutorial when you click below.

Read the full step by step tiered dress tutorial when you click below.