The other day I was at the thrift store looking for some things for the guest bedroom I’m in the process of redecorating (formerly Sawyer’s Woodsy Nursery). I painted the guest room a lovely buttercream color and was looking for pillows or fabric to match. In the linens section I came across this lovely pale yellow queen sized flat sheet. I bought it for $3, originally intending to make a pillow or two out of it (which I still will most likely do). But today, I pulled it out, eyeballed it, and decided it would be a loverly color for a dress. So, I put aside a bit of it for a throw pillow later and with the rest made a DIY DRESS | easy to sew dress from a thrifted sheet.
If you want more easy sewing projects check out my Infinity Wrap Dress, my Maxi Dress, or my Shoncho!
I wanted the top to stand out, so I pulled out my stamps and fabric paints and settled on using a foam arrow stamp and white paint to create a whimsical random patter on the square of fabric I was to be using for the front of the top of the dress. I really really like the way it turned out. I like the subtle pattern the white paint created against the soft yellow.
Here is the breakdown of my diy dress:
Cost: About $8 (for all supplies; although it only cost me $3 for the sheet since I had everything else on hand).
Supplies:
- A queen size flat sheet in the color of your choice.
- Coordinating thread.
- A sewing machine.
- Scissors.
- A measuring tape.
- Pins.
- Elastic (for the waistband).
- A foam craft stamp in the design of your choice (you can also make your own using a wood block and a thick piece of craft foam).
- Fabric paint.
- A foam craft brush.
- An iron.
First, like I said, I stamped my pattern on the front of the square piece I was using for the front of the top.
Then I made the dress as shown below…
I’m really happy with the way it turned out. I love the boatneck square top design because it is SUPER easy to sew and doesn’t require sewing in a zipper or sleeves (which I hate doing). I also like the super long sashes to wrap it around the waist a few times to create a wide waistband. What I love the most though is definitely the arrow design on the top. The decorative hem from the original sheet made a really cute bottom to the skirt and was a plus that I got to skip hemming on that part. Anyway, there it is! Hope you like it and feel inspired to go make yourself a pretty little something our of an old sheet. :) What else can you make with old sheets? I’d love to hear your ideas!
2 comments
I was wondering how you would measure and calculate how big your squares need to be to fit and how long/deep does yiur scoop need to be for the neck hole? I got 2 thrifts sheets today that are gorgeous and I really want to make this pattern but im pretty new to making clothing for myself…
I guess you could use a t-shirt or existing dress as a guide?