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The Ruffles Behind Dress Tutorial

October 21, 2010 by Jessica 27 Comments

I’ve been doing some sewing and it feels so good!!!!! I have been working on a new schedule for myself and it’s working pretty good so far. I am managing to fit in everything I want to, within reason of course.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

One thing I finally got around to was making a tutorial for this dress (see pic below) I made a while back. I know. I take forever sometimes. All in due time though πŸ™‚

Refashioned Toddler Dress

I decided to give it the name “The Ruffles Behind Dress.” It was inspired by an Anthropologie sweater dress from last winter. And I must confess, after I made it, I did try to see if it would fit me (well, before I put the ruffles on). Unfortunately, it didn’t fit.

Relaxing

The Ruffles

So, I am definitely going to make me some shirts with the same idea behind it.

Tired.

I just adore how it looks on my daughter. I made it a bit larger than the first one because I want it to last longer.

Bouncing Like Tigger

I used three old shirts of mine to create it, still trying to stick to the “don’t buy anything unless I absolutely have to” plan.

What to do with the pillows

Hiding

Stacking Sittin' Pretty

Jump up !

The little decided to spice her dress up a bit too!

The Princess

How to make The Ruffles Behind Dress:

Let’s start by creating a pattern (or use one you already have).

The Ruffles Behind Dress The Ruffles Behind Dress

I started by grabbing a t-shirt (I used one that was a little big so it would come out big and I wouldn’t have to worry about adding seam allowances). I folded the sleeves in and traced it on paper. Make the top part as long or short as you like.

The Ruffles Behind Dress The Ruffles Behind Dress

I cut out two, with one having a little bit extra in the middle so I could tape it together for one big piece.
*NOTE: You could make this part a lot easier and use a shirt that fits them already. Just cut off the sleeves and use that as a pattern. And cut down the sides of the shirt to make the other sewing parts easier. Leave the shoulders sewn together though and make sure to chop off the bottom half of the shirt.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

To create the bottom, draw a line as wide as the bottom of the top bottom. Then draw lines straight down from each side. Make it as long as you want the dress bottom to be.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Then, draw a line over on each side to create an A-Line (I did 2″, but make longer for bigger sizes and smaller for smaller sizes). Then draw lines to connect the top of the skirt to the bottom (it will be slanted to make the a-line). Then create a triangle in the very center. I made mine 6 inches at the bottom and had it meet at the center point of pattern.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Now you will create a small triangle on the top sides. Just make it the size you want. Mine goes down 8 inches.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

****NOTE: Before cutting it up, make one more piece this same size for the back, which won’t be cut up.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Now begin to cut up the front pattern piece. I highlighted on the edges that were cut to remind myself to add seam allowance. DON’T FORGET Seam Allowances.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

The Ruffles Behind Dress

For the sleeves, I just trace the curve of the front pattern piece and use an existing shirt sleeve for the length and size. The top of it can be cut on the fold for easier cutting.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Next I took the top piece and placed it on a shirt and cut it out.

The Ruffles Behind Dress The Ruffles Behind Dress

The neckline didn’t exactly line up, so next time I would cut each side of the shirt out separately, but it’s an easy fix. Just match up the neck and you will see one side over hang.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Just trim off the excess.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

The the bottom pieces, I suggest placing right on the bottom hem of a shirt so you won’t have to hem it at the end. Cut one whole piece for the back. (For her dress, I ended up using the striped shirt instead).

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Cut 2 sleeves for the dress. Place the pattern on the fold and have the end of the sleeve on an existing hem so you won’t have to do that either.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Cut out all of your pieces for the front and sew together. Then sew the front top to the front bottom and the back top to the back bottom.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Place front and back right sides facing and sew the shoulders together.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Next, pin on the sleeves to each armhole, right sides facing, and sew in place.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

Place dress right sides facing and match up the sides of the sleeves and dress. Pin in place and sew together down the sides.

The Ruffles Behind Dress

For the ruffles, measure the bottom of the dress. You want to cute pieces for the ruffles that are about twice as long as what you measured. You might have to sew some pieces together to do this. Make the pieces as high as you want. Then baste down the center of the strips of fabric for the ruffles. Gather them and pin on dress. Sew in place. Remove thread from basting.

Side Buttons

Sew on two buttons to the sides if you like as well.

Smiles!

Now it’s all done πŸ™‚

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Filed Under: clothing, sewing

Comments

  1. sandandstarfish says

    October 21, 2010 at 10:17 am

    I loooove this πŸ™‚ question for ya… how well do the ruffles hold up in the wash… do they curl reeeeally bad? I want to make about 20 of these πŸ˜‰ well, I have to see how many old shirts we have first!

    Reply
  2. Happy Together says

    October 21, 2010 at 10:27 am

    “how well do the ruffles hold up in the wash… do they curl reeeeally bad?”

    Well, I have never had a problem with that actually. I think the thinner the knit the more it might do that. Air drying might help prevent it from curling up too.

    Reply
  3. β™₯ Carine CalΓ© β™₯ says

    October 21, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Wowwww, Congratulations!!!

    She is so beautiful and the dress is so special with her!!!

    Thank You for this idea and tutorial!!!

    xoxo
    Carine

    Reply
  4. Sweetie Pie Bakery says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:15 am

    I want one for myself too! It would be super cute and comfy over leggings…I really love the handkerchief you used for your daughters dress!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:17 am

    I LOVE this!! I get the catalog Chasing Fireflies and have been hunting for ideas on how to make several of their dresses that have the ruffles in the back. Thank you for the tutorial. You are inspiring me!!

    Reply
  6. Anneliese says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Super darling! Great mix of colors and patterns.

    Reply
  7. Justine says

    October 21, 2010 at 11:38 am

    She is so lucky! This dress is so fun!

    Just Better Together

    Reply
  8. Rhianna says

    October 21, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Yay! I have always adored this dress! It is so cute. Well, all of your stuff is adorable. πŸ™‚ Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Kat says

    October 21, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    This is adorable!!! I love the derruffles! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  10. mommyof2tuties says

    October 21, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    And here she goes again! Sharing something AWESOME so we can do it too. I have mentioned this before. But, I must say it again. You are so stinkin’ talented! I love All of your work and I love to see updates from you. When I first started the whole making your own clothes for the girl, I stalked LilBlue and Happy Together for tutorials and inspiration. My little girl is the same age as yours, and it has been such a joy watching them grow. I hope someday you can come to Kentucky for a move. That would be GREAT. Take care and I am so glad to see your settling in so wonderfully. P.S. You should share your scheduling technique with us, and thanks for always keeping it real.

    Reply
  11. Olives and Pickles says

    October 21, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    This is a very nice tutorial!Thank you for giving us all these gorgeous pictures and instructions! I really appreciate it.
    Enjoy nature.

    Reply
  12. Practically Spent says

    October 21, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    Thank you for sharing this. It’s darling and very creative.

    Reply
  13. Alexis says

    October 21, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    Great idea. I love the way it came out!

    Reply
  14. Madam B.C. says

    October 22, 2010 at 7:51 am

    Hi! I made two projects inspired by yours tute (halter top and cardigan with a twist). I linked your blog and tutes in my post πŸ™‚ if you want to see my versions, click: (although text is in finnish, but you can see the pics)

    http://madambc.blogspot.com/2010/10/oh-so-happy-together.html

    Reply
  15. casserole says

    October 22, 2010 at 8:58 am

    Thank you for sharing this tutorial! Your dress is SO cute!! I think I may need to make one for my little niece.

    I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-ruffles-behind-t-shirt-dress-for-little-girls/2010/10/22/

    –Anne

    Reply
  16. Jessica says

    October 22, 2010 at 10:55 am

    This dress looks so adorable on your daughter. I love the fact that you’ve used old shirts and things that you already had on hand. Great job!

    justenoughstyle.blogspot.com

    Reply
  17. Natalie Call says

    October 22, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Little ruffle bum babes sure are the cutest! Love this!

    Reply
  18. Tara says

    October 22, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Cutie girl! Maybe all things would be cute or much cuter just because of she wears them πŸ™‚

    Reply
  19. Heather says

    October 23, 2010 at 11:38 am

    Absolutely adorable! I’ll have to make several for the nieces for Christmas. Thanks for the tute!

    Reply
  20. saffiertje says

    October 24, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    this is soooooo cute great fabric choise!!! Gonna save this in my album to make!

    Reply
  21. Bumble Baybees says

    October 25, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this.. I am going to make some for my little one!!!

    And you need to share your new schedule technique… anyone out here in the blogosphere would probably love to hear how other moms schedule in time to create and cook and clean (or not) and be a mother and a wife…all at the same time!

    Reply
  22. danielle says

    October 26, 2010 at 9:22 am

    LOVE!!!

    now i just need a baby girl!

    Reply
  23. Felicia says

    October 26, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    How cute, I have been wanting to take a skirt pattern for me and make a couple extra layers of ruffle in the bottom back… I will definitely stop back when I am in the process of making my skirt for tips on how to do it!

    Reply
  24. Haylee says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:06 am

    This is so cute! I love the fabrics you paired together and the cute buttons you added.

    Reply
  25. Delia says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    What a beautiful dress. You are so so creative.

    Reply
  26. carl and em says

    November 3, 2010 at 11:37 am

    okay i totally want this in adult size!!!! i LOVE it!

    Reply
  27. Emily H. says

    April 25, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    I saw this over on I heart Naptime…and I absolutely love it!!! So cute!

    Reply

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photo(125) Welcome to my blog Happy Together. My name is Jessica Fediw and this is where I share my adventures in life, crafting, and more. Thanks for stopping by!

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I have this idea for Valentines decor on our mantl I have this idea for Valentines decor on our mantle and these fun confetti hearts I made are going to be a part of it. You can find a tutorial to make your own from @amanda_evanston . A few of the items I used in mine were: shredded Anthropologie shopping bag (and cut up the fabric handle too), cut up newspaper, hole punched card stock, fringe from yarn, cut up gold circle confetti, crinkled gift filler paper, etc... It was fun using all kinds of random things 😊
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