How to Turn an Oversized T Shirt Into a Hot Mini Dress

Co-authored by Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz

Last Updated: June 28, 2024 References

If you have an oversized shirt that you wish were smaller, don't throw it away! One way to salvage the t-shirt into a fun, flattering item of clothing is to turn it into a flirty mini-dress. The most popular way to do this is to cut the shirt up and sew it back together. If you are not a seamstress, however, then there are lots of other no-sew ways that you can turn an oversized T-shirt into a hot mini dress.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Sewing a Simple Dress

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Pick a shirt that you won't mind cutting up. Make sure that it is long enough to cover your hips and upper thighs. Turn it inside out, then spread it out on a flat surface.^{[1]
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Trace a tank top onto the shirt, extending the hem to the bottom. Choose a tank top that fits you, then set it down on top of the shirt. Make sure that the tank top is centered and that the shoulders align with those on the T-shirt. Trace the sides and straps onto the shirt. Be sure to extend the sides to the hem of the T-shirt.^{[2]
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- If you don't have a tank top, you can use a fitted T-shirt instead.
- You are only tracing the sides and outside of the straps. Don't trace the collar or inside the straps.
- Tank tops taper towards the bottom. Be sure to continue tapering the lines towards the bottom edge of your T-shirt. Don't draw the sides straight down.
EXPERT TIP

Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz
Clothing Designer
Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz is a professional pattern maker and clothing designer at DGpatterns in Vancouver, Canada. With over 5 years of experience, Daniela creates modern and unique silhouettes that are suitable for a busy everyday life. Her blog, On the Cutting Floor, contains sewing tips and PDF sewing patterns for a variety of projects and designs.

Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz
Clothing Designer

Make any necessary adjustments to get the fit you want. Professional pattern-drafter Daniela Gutierez-Diaz says: "If you want to add some shape to the dress, taper into the waist length. If the shirt is a little too short to make a dress, add a band of fabric to the bottom. You can even make it into a one-sleeved dress or adjust the bottom to make a cocoon dress."

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Lift the tank top away, then cut ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) outside the lines that you drew. The shirt should still be intact along the shoulders and collar.^{[3]
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Sew up the sides of the shirt using a 1⁄2-inch (1.3-cm) seam allowance. Pin the sides of the shirt together, then sew them on your sewing machine using a zigzag stitch and a matching thread color. Start just below the armpits and finish at the hem. Backstitch when you start and finish sewing to keep your stitches from coming undone.^{[4]
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- If you don't know how to sew, use hot glue or fabric glue instead. Let the glue set before moving on.
- Remove the pins as you sew or glue the fabric.
5
Hem the armholes if you want a nicer finish. Fold and pin the raw, cut edges of the armholes down by ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm). Sew the hems as close as possible to the raw, cut edge using a zigzag stitch and a matching thread color. Remember to backstitch when you start and finish sewing, and to remove the pins as you sew.^{[5]
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- If you can't sew, use hot glue or fabric glue instead. Let the glue dry before moving on.
6
Trim off any loose or hanging threads, if needed. Go over the seams and hems you just finished sewing. If you see any loose or hanging threads, cut them off with small scissors, as close to the fabric as possible.
- Skip this step if you used fabric glue. If you used hot glue, look for any whisker-like strands of hot glue, and pull those off.
7
Turn the shirt right-side-out, then cut the collar off, if desired. Once you turn your shirt right-side-out, you are technically done. For an added touch, you can cut the collar off. If you hemmed the armholes, you should hem the cut collar too. If you left the armholes raw, then you don't need to hem the cut collar.^{[6]
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- If you want a fancier collar, you could cut the front into a V-neck or a scoop neck.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Side Fringe Dress

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Pick a large T-shirt that is at least 3 sizes too big for you. Make sure that you won't mind cutting it up, then spread it out on a flat surface.^{[7]
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Place a tank top that fits you on top of the shirt, with the shoulders matching up. Trace the sides of the shirt, leaving a 2-inch (5.1-cm) seam allowance. When you get to the armholes, draw straight lines that angle from armpits to shoulders. When you get to the bottom of the tank top, extend the lines to the bottom corners of the T-shirt.^{[8]
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Make sure that you cut through both layers of the T-shirt. Do not cut apart the shoulders or collar of the shirt. Don't worry if the cut-out shapes look too big and baggy for you. You'll fix that in a moment.^{[9]
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Cut a 2-inch (5.1-cm) deep fringe into the sides of the shirt. Make the slits ¹⁄₂ to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) wide and 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep on each side of the shirt. Start cutting at the bottom hem and finish cutting at the armpits.^{[10]
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- Cut through both layers of fabric at the same time so that the fringes match up.
- Do not cut a fringe into the armholes.
5
Tie the front fringe to the back fringe. Take the first tassel on the front of the shirt, and tie it to the first tassel on the back of the shirt in a tight, double-knot. Work your way up the side of the shirt, then do the other side.^{[11]
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- If the fringes are too short for you, gently pull on them to stretch them out first.
- If you don't want the fringe to be visible, turn the shirt inside out first. Remember to turn it right-side-out when you are done.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tying a Shirt into a Dress

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1
Get a large T-shirt with a neck hole big enough to fit around your chest. You will be wearing the shirt with the neck around your chest, just below the armpits. The neck hole needs to be big enough to accommodate this. Something that is 3 sizes too big for you would be ideal.
- The shirt needs to be long enough to cover your hips and upper thighs.
2
Put the shirt on and pull it under your armpits. Pull your head, shoulders, and arms through the neck hole of the shirt. Tug the shirt down so that it sits around your chest, just below your armpits. The arms should be hanging loosely at your sides.
- If the shirt feels too tight, take it off. Cut the collar off, then put it back on again.
Grab both arms of the T-shirt, and pull them behind your back. Tie them into a tight knot so that they cinch the extra fabric. If you are worried about the knot coming undone, tie a second knot.^{[12]
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Grab both arms and pull them in front of your chest. Tie them into a tight knot, right under your bust, so that they cinch the extra fabric. Leave the dress as-is, or pair it with a cute cardigan.^{[13]
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Tuck the arms into the shirt and wear a belt for an alternate look. Tuck the arms into the shirt so that you can't see them anymore. Choose a belt that looks nice with your shirt, and wrap it around your waist. If you want to turn the sleeves into pockets, pull them out, then sew or safety-pin the sleeve openings shut. Tuck the sleeves back into the shirt when you are done.^{[14]
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- The pockets will end up being a little above your waist. This all depends on how wide the shoulders of your T-shirt were.

Community Q&A

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Question

I don't have a sewing machine. Would a running stitch down the sides have the same effect?

Community Answer

That depends on how strong and neat of a seamstress you are. If you can do neat and straight tight stitches, I would suggest doing it once per side and then again. Be careful if you choose to wash it, because your hand sewing is not as strong as machine sewing.

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If you've never done something like this before, consider practicing on an old T-shirt you won't mind ruining.

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Use a tailor's chalk to draw on dark-colored shirts. Use a tailor's pen to draw on light-colored shirts.

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If you can't find a tailor's chalk or pen, you can use a plain white chalk or black pen instead.

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