Made By Lex

I saw this western-y dress for kids the other day and it inspired me to do this one. Let’s get started! Grab a men’s shirt.
Cut off the sleeves.

We need to create a chest band for the dress. Measure your child at the desired width. I like to make it a couple inches larger then normal, and account for the small amount you will loose when you sew it together. I cut out two pieces, about 4 inches wide.

Sew the two end pieces together so it makes one circular piece.
Fold it over, with the right side out and iron in half. This is your chest band.
Now we need to cut out the straps. Measure your child from where the chest band will be, from front, over the shoulder, to the back. Cut out 4 strips, about 2 inches wide.

Sew the long pieces together and turn them right side out. Iron them flat.
Now for the dress piece. Figure out how long you want the dress. Measure from the bottom of the shirt up and cut it where you need it.

Trim the bottom hem so it is straight.(Some shirts, like mine did here, had that rounded trim but I wanted it straight.)
Now for pockets. These are optional. Another thing you could do is if the shirts have preexisting pockets, you could cut those out and use those.

I cut out two pockets and two strips for hemtape.

The first thing i do is get a lining for the pockets. You could use the same material, I just love contrasting pocket lining. Pin it, inside out, to the pockets.
Sew them around the sides, leaving the top open. Turn them right side out. Then press them with an iron. I slightly gather the top in the center.
Get your hemtape.

Fold it over once in half.

Then open it up and fold the two ends in towards the center. Then press it closed and it will look like this.

Open it up and pin it to the top of the pockets, as shown.

Stitch the hemtape onto the pocket as close to the edge of the hemtape as you can get.

Now find where you want to put the pockets and pin them in place, and sew them on.

Now we are going to attach the chest band to the dress. We need to gather the dress. I do this by lengthening my stitch and setting my tension to the highest number.(like ruffling) you can also do it by hand.

Pin your chest band to the dress, right side together. Sew it on.

Here’s what you’ll have.

Now for the straps. Place your dress on your child so you can mark the placement in the front. Pin them where you want them to go. Then stittch them in place.

Now find out where you want them in the back. I did a cross over, but you can do them however you want. Stitch in place.

The last thing you need to do is finish the hem, if needed.

Here’s how it came out!!

I love the angled pockets.

It looks really cute, too, with a shirt under it, like a jumper.

The back.

Happy in her new getup!