so i took this idea from the smashed peas and carrots blog (go here for her post on this DIY: http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2010/06/elastic-band-empire-waist-dress.html) it's super easy for beginner sewers like me!
what you will need:
an old tank top
cut of 2 inch black elastic (cut to measurement under bust line)
fabric of your choice!
directions:
i put on the white tank top and made a mark under the bust line
i then cut the tank top leaving about a 1/2 an inch under my mark for sewing room/mess up space
next i measured the black elastic and pinned it to the white tank top
and then sewed the tank top to the elastic.
i followed suit with the green fabric i had chosen for the bottom pinning and synching it by folding over the fabric as i went
i finally sewed the side seam and then
cut the bottom of the dress to the length i desired. eventually i will hem the bottom but the fabric i chose holds up fine without it for now [and i was impatient to wear it! haven't you read my proflie ;-)].
i followed suit with the green fabric i had chosen for the bottom pinning and synching it by folding over the fabric as i went
i finally sewed the side seam and then
cut the bottom of the dress to the length i desired. eventually i will hem the bottom but the fabric i chose holds up fine without it for now [and i was impatient to wear it! haven't you read my proflie ;-)].
i will admit my directions aren't exactly the same as the ones i posted from smashed peas and carrots (hers are more thorough!)
p.s. the little 'yo-yos' i added to the top will have their own tutorial later [don't you LOVE them?]
p.p.s. i have been scared to wear this dress because it's the first item of clothing i've ever made! i just had this vision of it falling to pieces while i'm out in public, however it's held up just fine and it's been 24 hours!
1.21.2013: Hey y'all, been getting a lot of questions and comments about issues with this dress that i want to address. People have mentioned issues with using regular thread as it doesn't allow for much stretching to get the dress on. For me, this wasn't an issue, i did notice that the elastic didn't stretch a ton , but when measuring the elastic out i made it only a teeny bit tighter than my actual waist. Some people have mentioned possibly using elastic thread to troubleshoot any issues. But, I have no experience with it, and didn't even know it existed! Thank you all for your comments and questions, I've loved the feedback :-)
omg look at my little seamstress friend! the dress is to die for! i want to try but i am nervous...wish you were down the street so we could do it together!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun dress and tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing! (found you on Pinterest!)
ReplyDeleteThis is super cute, you've inspired me to make my own!! I can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!! This is such a great idea! I just found your blog through Pinterest - can't wait to make one of these dresses for myself. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Kathleen
great tutorial! I made a dress like this a few months ago and I honestly get scared to wear it in public too (as i do with skirts and stuff I make) I get nervous that people will take one glance and just *know* its home made. ha ha its silly, but true... your dress looks adorable :)
ReplyDeletehave a fabulous Saturday!
-Caroline
http://www.sweetcarolinebumbumbum.blogspot.com
ps- found your blog via pinterest!
Saw this on pinterest, and I have to say that I'm in love!!!!!!!!! I wish I knew how to sew, but because I don't I'm going to have my mother-in-law make me one! Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteI found this via pinterest too... and 2 quick questions as I attempt to make this. 1) Where do you get elastic that thick? I'm thinking Joanne's or Michaels? Not sure. And 2) Can't you just make this without attaching it to the shirt and wear it over the shirt? Or would the shirt sit funny or something? I'm making some for my daughter and nieces. ADORABLE! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI found this elastic at Joann's, they had it in a few different colors too. And you can totally just make a skirt!! Happy sewing!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog on Pinterest! Love it! I'm so excited to try making this for myself. I'm hunting for black elastic though. Seems like no one carries the 2 inch kind, just 1 inch...
ReplyDeleteFound this post through Pinterest. I love your hair, it is so cute! Do you have any pics of the back of your hair?
ReplyDeletewhat kind of fabric is the skirt?? It looks nice and weighty but not too heavy. I would love to know!
ReplyDeleteLove it, super cute!
ReplyDeleteI am sharing this with my friends:
http://southernbelleshoppes.ning.com/group/sew-easy
Stop by and say hi :)
Jackie.
i love it! maybe when i figure out how to use my $10 sewing machine i will attempt this. it looks great and congrats on your first piece of clothing! must feel good.
ReplyDeletelove this idea! it's exactly like what is all over the stores except i can choose my own colors/fabric/etc. great job! also, found you on pinterest!
ReplyDeleteLove it, can't wait to make one for myself!!
ReplyDeleteAlla- the fabric is a heavy jersey knit, i purchased it at Joanns a while back!
ReplyDeletePaige- the back of my hair here was 'stacked' or graduated similar to something victoria beckham has/had
very good!
ReplyDeleteoh this is soooo cute! awesome job. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be making this next summer. We have a lot in common, even our name. Your profile could be mine to the T. :) Subscribing!
ReplyDeleteawesome--thanks Meg! I'll be making this soon and I'll upload a follow-up post on pinterest if it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little confused. What do you mean by "synching"? To match up? Do you mean match up the the tank and the green fabric? I've been going over and over this and I can't think what you mean by synching... Unless you mean "cinching" as in, to ruffle and scrunch up? I'm so confused. I'm sure I am just wing it as I go, but I am just so thrown by that word I actually looked it up and read it in the dictionary, because I only know it in a musical context, I don't know what it means in this context, I've never heard anyone synch up two pieces of fabric. So lost... :/ ?
ReplyDeleteSO pissed at myself right now... I got a whole bunch of Joann's coupons in the mail today and stood by the garbage for at least 2 minutes trying to decide whether to throw them away and I did because I knew I jsut didn't have time and didn't have any projects planned and BAM of course one pops up now. I wanted to make one of these last year but didn't see any tutorials so I was just going to wing it but never going around to it . Darn it!
ReplyDeletelol..."cinching" is right! you make small folds in the fabric.. sorry for the confusion, english never was my strong suit in school :-)
ReplyDeleteSo easy and cute! I haven't had much time to whip out the sewing machine lately but I need to get myself back into the habit. This would be a perfect dress to make for spring!
ReplyDeletetoo cute!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I am going to take your tank and elastic idea and attach a skirt from a sundress with an ugly top. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThis is so nice!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm a bit confused.. what is the point of using elastic when you directly sew the skirt on it? I mean, I just wonder if the fabric of the skirt can 'move' together with the elastic when you pull it over your head.. because it's sewed to the elastic?
thanks!
Saw this on Pinterest. Very cute!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find that cute flower to sew on the tank top?
ReplyDeleteAmazing dress!! It so cute! Thanks fro sharing how to do it.. :D
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun dress and tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete♥ tank top dress
neas0701 I made the flower myself.. I'll do a tutorial on how to (hopefully) this week.. they're so easy!
ReplyDeleteHi, I cannot find the "Flower tutorial" - can u help me how to made it? Thank you! Carol
Deletesure!-> http://www.tripoverjoy.com/2012/06/fabric-yo-yosyo.html
Deletewhat kind of fabric is it?
ReplyDeleteit's a jersey knit!
ReplyDeleteWhen I made mine I used the zigzag stitch and I cinched the skirt fabric but I still had a hard time pulling it over my head, it was too tight and the elastic wouldn't stretch. Any suggestions. Maybe yours worked out better because it was a jersey knit fabric??
ReplyDeletei made two of these today but instead of a tank i used some 3/4 sleeve tops that i haven't worn in years. they turned out really cute and were not much work, thank you for the tutorial!!!
ReplyDeleteI made this a month ago and haven't worn it yet. I wonder if I should've used elastic thread because like many of the comments above, the elastic doesn't stretch very well when stitched to the fabric. I actually ended up taking out the stitching the first time because it had a hard time going over my bust. The second time around I loosened the tension on my thread and used a wider zigzag stitch. It fits better, but we'll see how long it lasts.
ReplyDeleteYou are delightful to read:). You sew like I do. And it was a wonderful choice of colour on bottom. You look adorable in it. Keep posting makes my day:)
ReplyDeleteI love this dress and I'm a beginning seamstress too! I find myself making things for my daughters and never anything for myself. This is a great project to start with! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteStephanie from www.momneedsahand.blogspot.com
Using a zig zag stitch to attach the fabrics to the elastic might help with pulling it over your head.
ReplyDeleteI'm having my dear seamstress friend use this tutorial to make my bridesmaids dresses for my September wedding!It's a casual country wedding so they will be perfect! Also my "party" dress for after the ceremony and my daughter's flower girl dress will be made from this, but different colors!
ReplyDelete