During the summer, the sun was coming up around 5:30 am…….now it waits until 7 am or so. And I used to have some great evening sunlight to work with until about 8-ish……..now I have to hurry and use up the last drizzle of light before 6-ish.
And that means, yep, seasons are changing, days are shortening, and the weather is cooling down.
And our wardrobes are warming up.
I was looking through my pile of sweaters the other day and realized an old sweater I had, was just too short on my long torso.
So it was time to chop her up.
And re-gift her to my littlest one.
( Inspiration for the dress found here.)
An old sweater into a new dress? Very satisfying.
(there’s something about using what you have to create something useful…..ahhh!)
No hemming involved……I just used the original sweater bottom (for the dress) and cuffs (for the sleeves).
And because sweaters are stretchy……they make such comfy clothing for babies/kids.
And in case you’re wondering where I got the tights……they’re from Old Navy (this season). Don’t they have the cutest bum?
Would you like to make your own sweater dress?
For a standard sweater dress with long sleeves, check out this tutorial here.
Please Note: Because everyone will be using different sized sweaters and will be making dresses of all different sizes, I will be giving directions in very general terms.
To begin, you want to use a thin sweater. Nothing with a ton of bulk or it will be too hard to sew the neckline. And it helps if the sweater is knit together pretty tightly……just makes things easier. If you don’t have one to spare, check out the local thrift shop. There are always treasures there.
The sweater I used was an old Gap sweater……nice and soft and not worn out at all. (just too short for me)
To create your dress, you will need a dress to pattern it after. (It doesn’t have to be a peasant style dress……but finding an A line shaped dress would work best.) Lay your dress on top, lining up the bottom of the dress with the bottom of the sweater, so then you don’t have to hem the finished dress.
Then cut the top of the sweater off, right at the neckline (not the shoulders) of the dress on top. (Be sure to add a 1/4 inch at the top for a seam allowance.) Then, starting at the bottom, cut up at an angle….staying about a half inch away from the edge of the dress (for a seam allowance). Keep cutting up in a straight line, until you reach the top of the sweater section you are working with.
Then cut the other side in the same way. (Be sure to not have too much of an angle or else the bottom of the dress with be pointy at the bottom sides, after you sew the front and back pieces together.)
Now, you want to cut off the top corners at an angle. (Try and make this line about 3/4 of the length of the arm hole opening, where the sleeve meets the bodice on the dress you are working with. Unless you are patterning after a peasant style dress, then you will know the exact length to use.)
Now, for the sleeves, use the cuff of the sweater arms. Cut each cuff off about a 1/2 inch longer than the length of the slant that you just made in the last step.
Then cut some of the width of the cuff off, so that it is just enough to go around the arm. Leave the fold along the other edge intact.
Next, cut off a bit of the inner corner of the sleeve just a bit, so that sleeve will tilt upward a bit and be more fitted on the shoulders. The slant should be the same length as the slant on the dress bodice. Cut the other cuff the same way for the other sleeve.
Now, with right sides together, sew each slant of the sleeve to the slant of the bodice front and bodice back. Here’s a view from the “wrong” side of the dress, all opened up.
Next, you can use bias tape to finish off the neck line or try to use another part of your sweater. The neckline of my sweater was pretty thin so I removed it from the sweater to use for my neckline.
Whatever you decide to use, sew the right side of the strip of fabric to the wrong side of the dress. Match the upper raw edges. Start in the back and leave a tail, sew all the way around (using a 1/4 inch seam allowance) and leave another tail……
Then match those two tails up, with right sides together, and sew them together…….making sure that you have determined how long to leave each piece before sewing together.
Then attach the strip the rest of the way to the neckline of the dress.
Next, turn the dress right side out and then grab the other edge of the strip from the inside of the dress, and fold it towards the outside of the dress. Cut a piece of cord elastic and place it right under the strip of fabric before folding it over. Leave a tail of elastic in the back as you sew……then sew all the way around the neckline, tucking the elastic under the flap of the strip of fabric. Be sure to not sew over the elastic and keep the strip of fabric nice and even and snug. (Increasing your stitch length will help keep the sweater from stretching out so much as you sew…….but it’s okay if it’s stretches out a little bit because you’ll be cinching it in with the elastic.)
Sew all the way around, leaving a 2 inch hole where the elastic ends will poke out. Tie the ends in a knot, after you determine how cinched in the neckline needs to be.
Sew it closed.
Now iron/steam the neckline flat…….don’t skip this step.
Then, turn the dress inside out and line up the sleeves and sides of the dress. Now, sew along both sides other dress, starting up at the end of the sleeves, working your way to the bottom of the dress.
Turn the dress right side out and press each side seam flat……..don’t skip this step either.
Now, for the little bow…….I cut a strip of the sweater scraps and then folded in the long edges.
Then folded in the two ends……..then sewed the ends down, right at the center.
Then I cut another little strip (with the edges folded under) and placed it across the center of the bow section. Then I pinched the center of the bow, giving it its shape……then hand sewed the ends of the strip at the back.
Now, hand stitch the bow right to the front of the dress (from the back of the bow).
And you’re done.
Ashley Johnson is a DIY sewist, crafter, costume maker and home interior designer.
Wow you are incredible! It is amazing how you look at a shirt and create such darling little clothes!!!
lovely!! very creative way and nice outcome…i’m loving it!!
This is such an ingenious idea! I pinned your blog post to pinterest. https://pinterest.com/pin/300716419/ Hope you don’t mind. I love reading your blog!
Hy Ashley,
today I made two of your tutorials – the leggins and the dress. I love both by now and I know I have to look at my clothes, what I don’t need anymore ;-)
You can watch the leggins and the dress on my blog – I’m looking forward to see you there!!!
I just found your website and think I am in love! I think your “re-gifting” ideas are amazing. Especially these days where buying new is such a hardship on so many. And thank you for your easy step-by-step tutorials. I am an average sewer that often does not use store bought patterns, so I appreciate your pictures very much!
Keep the ideas coming!
oh my gosh, that is so cute, and looks so easy to do (and I am a new sewer) you inspire me!
Hmmm, I could see some potential for grown up girls and large men’s sweaters… :-)
Even though I should be working on Halloween costumes, I will be making this for church this week.
very beautiful dress i love it so much thank u
Thank You!It looks so cute! I’ll recykle my old sweaters and sew dresses for my Amelie:-)
I just LOVE this little dress. And your model is so stinkin adorable! I dropped everything I was doing yesterday and made a pink one for my 8-week-old. Today I have big plans to make another one… or two… and maybe some leggings from your earlier post to match! Ah! Too much fun! Thanks, Ashley!
I think your dress is prettier than the inspiration one. You make thing look so easy!!!!
This is really cute!! Ive pinned this tut to my sewing board and cant wait to make one for my daughter!! Thanks for sharing :)
wuawwww!!.. 10!!!…
Any ideas for the kids at Halloween? Ghosts, Costume…
Thanks so much!
I love that. Not too complicated, cute, and free!
Could I make a request? It really helped me when you used to include a “you will need:” list at the beginning of each tutorial. Is there any way you could do that again, at least on ones where there are a fair amount of supplies needed? Thanks so much!
Gah! I totally had a sweater that would have been perfect for this, but I gave it away last season. I guess I’ll just have to go “shopping” :)
OMG! I totally have that same exact sweater, but in a green color!! And I have the same exact problem with it… so maybe my little niece would love a sweater dress for Christmas?!?! Thanks for the inspiration!
This is adorable! But of course anything you put on your sweet little girl is going to be great :)
What a fantastic idea! Gorgeous dress too.
Oh my heavens, I have the perfect pink sweater for this! No I just need the courage to do it!
LoVE! I have an extra sweater laying around for my baby girl!
Love this! I always give my clothes away, so next time I have a clean out, I’ll be looking at what I can transform. Great Job!!
You never cease to amaze me…I would never think of such a thing…but it is amazing…now I want to go look in my closet for an older sweater just to do this…and I don’t even have a baby girl right now…LOL…Thanks for all your ingenious ideas.
Love! I need to do this with some of my old sweaters!
Oh My Goodness! I love love love this! Sweater dresses are my favorite. My little girl always has at least one in her closet. When she grows out of one it must be replaced by another. This is a smart way to keep her stylish and save a little money.
that our baby girls are the sameish age/size it seems. .Mine is 8months old in a few days and fits 6 to 9 mo sizes. So by comparison,they look about the same size. :D anywho greeaat tute. Ive seen things like this at target/gap/oldnavy but dont see the point when I can make it myself! Ty ty ty!
love that! It doesn’t look like a sweater badly cut down as some of them do. It looks like a beautiful boutique dress now! How clever!!!
So adorable!! I just saw a similar one at Janie and Jack that had a little flower instead of a bow, I might need to make one of those!
I have been wanting to make a sweater dress for my baby for a while. They are so cute…but kind of expensive. I am making this today!
This is great. Thank you so much for posting the tutorial for it. I am just hoping that I didn’t get rid of the perfect sweater when I went through clothes this summer.
Brilliant! I love sweater dresses- they look nice and no ironing. I can’t wait to try this!
OMG love this!
Seriously the cutest dress ever. Love it! I’m definitely going to make one for my little one!
You make it look SO easy! Mine would be puckery and lopsided!
Holy canoles, that is UNREAL! That dress seriously looks like you paid a ton for it. I can’t believe you did that yourself! That is amazing!
I just recently found your blog and I’m LOVING your projects. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I think I’ve got a sweater or two in my pile of old clothes that I can use to make this for my 17-month-old.
I am in LOVE with this dress! Now I wish I wouldn’t thrown out so many of the sweaters that didn’t fit “just right”! Oh well, I guess goodwill isn’t too far! :) Good job, as usual!
Very cute! You make everything look so simple!
That is too adorable!
Wonderful! I may hit the thrift store for this one! I’m one of those hot blooded can’t wear a sweater people;)
So cute! Wish I had a little girl to make one for.
Love it! (and those tights) :)
Love Love Love this dress!!! Man..another thing to add to my “I must make this” list!! :)
how cute :) Love it !!!
You are very talented – this dress is adorable and so is the little girl wearing it! Thanks for sharing. Your projects are always so creative.
I love this. I’m totally gonna make one of these!
LOVE THIS! You have an amazing way of seeing a vision! This dress is so adorable – and cozy – for the winter. I might have to go dig thru my old sweaters. :)
This is adorable! I absolutely love it! What a great idea- adding this to my “to do” list