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kojodesigns

kojotutorial: another jcrew-y ruffle dress (or what to do with a pile of white t-shirts)

May 10, 2010

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I don’t know how we ended up with so darn many white t-shirts (you know, the kind with messages/organizations/events on them?).  We’ve been out of college long enough that you’d think that our white-t-shirt-with-a-message stash would be seriously diminished by now, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.  Perhaps we get them more often than I recall?  Perhaps they multiply on their own?  Whatever the case may be, there is a sea of white t-shirts in my To Be Refashioned drawer.  My goal for the month?  Use up some of this plethora of white jersey!

And what better use of soft, white t-shirt-y material than a new (and faster!) version of the J Crew-y ruffle dress?

To simultaneously make a dress for a sweet little girl in your life (our recipient was Burke’s sweet friend Eleanora [“Nowa”]) and make a dent in your white t-shirt refashion pile, you’ll need:

-several white tshirts (I used the blank backs of two men’s L t-shirts for the front and back of the dress and part of another white tshirt to make the lines of ruffles)
-white ribbon
-a fabric pen
-a ‘template’ dress in the size you’re hoping to make (for tracing)
-a sewing machine (I took this opportunity to use the fabulous embroidery options on my sewing machine, but this is, of course, optional)

First, follow steps 1-6 of the original J Crew-y ruffle dress to make your base.  I added little ribbon belt loops at step 6 to better hold the belt in place on the dress… you can too, if you want.

With your ‘base’ made, cut long strips of 2″ wide white jersey from your tshirt.  These will become your ribbon rows.  Sew a basting stitch down the middle of the strip, pull on the thread to ruffle, and pin in place on your dress.  Stitch a straight line to secure your ruffle rows.

For a 18-24m dress, sew 3 or 4 rows of ruffles.  Adjust to meet your preferences and the size of your dress (I sewed rows of ruffles until I hit the belt loops and then stopped so that the belt would fall just under the ruffle-y top).

If your sewing machine has various flower-y embroidery stitches, add floral white-on-white embroidered trim  to the bottom of your dress near your hem.  I love pretty (and intricate) details, and I love white-on-white, so I’d recommend this little detail if you have the capability.

Make a ruffle belt (see steps 7 and 8 of the original tutorial if you need more detail) to complete the ensemble.  Give as a gift (or keep for your daughter!).

Now wasn’t that a terrific use of a pile of white t-shirts?

Uncategorized 21 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. C.R.A.F.T. says

    May 10, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    what a great idea 🙂 come win a lamp and join a party @ http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/2010/05/making-
    monday-marvelous-3-and-giveaway.html

    Reply
  2. Andrea says

    May 11, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    cute!! Love little white dresses.

    Andrea @ TheTrainToCrazy.com

    Reply
  3. L ~DIY Diva~ says

    May 11, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    very cute.
    I'd love to have this linked to my weekly link party "Make my Style Mondays"

    http://www.avidaccents.blogspot.com

    Reply
  4. sweetpicklesandchocolate says

    May 12, 2010 at 12:07 am

    Hey Kirsten and Jordan!
    You gals are very creative, i love the t-shirt dress! I'm featuring it tomorrow for Rave Reviews Wednesday at Sweet Pickles and Chocolate. Please stop by and grab the rave reviews button!

    Dena
    Sweet Pickles and Chocolate

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    May 12, 2010 at 11:57 am

    Love it!

    Reply
  6. Anne Maskell says

    May 12, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    adorable! I found you on show and tell wednesday, and now I'm a follower!

    Reply
  7. craftedbymama says

    May 12, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    this is too cute
    amy

    craftedbymama.blogspot.com

    Reply
  8. the momma says

    May 13, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    So cute! I love little girls in all white in the summer…I think I'll have to give this a try!

    Reply
  9. Practically Spent says

    May 14, 2010 at 2:39 am

    Wonderful, wonderful. So airy & feminine. True ~ where DO we get all those t-shirts from?

    Reply
  10. eli says

    May 14, 2010 at 5:50 am

    Great project! thanks for linking up on craft schooling sunday, hope to see you again this week!

    Reply
  11. Ashlee says

    May 14, 2010 at 6:06 am

    CUTE! I love ruffles, who doesn't, and I am loving my ruffle food.

    Reply
  12. Little Lovables says

    May 14, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    so cute, what a great idea

    Reply
  13. Sarah Jane says

    May 14, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    great idea! I'm just getting into sewing so I think this will be fun to attempt!

    Reply
  14. CraftCrave says

    May 16, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [16 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

    Reply
  15. CraftCrave says

    May 17, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [17 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

    Reply
  16. CraftCrave says

    May 18, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [18 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

    Reply
  17. CraftCrave says

    May 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [19 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

    Reply
  18. CraftCrave says

    May 20, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [20 May 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria

    Reply
  19. Jamielyn says

    May 23, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    socute, I love the white ruffles!! Come link it up http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  20. FineArtPainting says

    June 9, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    This is SO good that I'd love you to add a link back to your tutorial from our blog through out brand new & weekly DIY / CRAFT tutorials LINKY PARTY.

    http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-linky-party-free-pillow-crochet-pattern/

    Many more people would love to know your idea! … and be inspired by your beautiful execution. You've done a great job!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 10 Dresses to Make Yourself says:
    January 16, 2013 at 10:20 am

    […] Designs makes this J Crew Inspired Ruffle Dress from a pile of white T […]

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