It's Always Autumn

creative tutorials for everyday life

  • celebrate
    • back to school
    • birthdays
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • handmade gifts
    • July 4th
    • Valentine’s
  • recipes
    • bread
    • dessert
    • main dish
    • side dish
  • sewing tutorials
    • gifts
    • how to sew
    • kids
    • patterns
    • refashion
    • women
  • photography
    • photo display
    • photo editing
    • photography tips
    • posing
  • printables
    • holiday
    • LDS
  • books
  • fun for kids
  • tips & tricks
  • FAQ

refashion sewing tutorials

the ballet dress {a simple girls sewing tutorial}

How to make a girls tutu dress from a t-shirt! Easy sewing tutorial for this cute ballet dress.

My 3 year old daughter and I tend to disagree on her clothes. She wants to wear pink and sparkles and princess dresses every day, while I prefer more modern little girl’s clothes that include colors like navy blue, grey, and gold. And sometimes when I make her dresses that I think are beautiful, like the pretty mint green sweater dress I made recently, she’s not as happy about wearing them as I’d like. So I decided to make her a dress I knew she’d LOVE – a pretty polka dot dress with a ballet style skirt. This was a pretty easy project as sewing goes because I started with a long sleeved tee from Target and just added the elastic waistband and skirt. Here’s how:

Gather your supplies: a t-shirt that fits, enough soft elastic to go around the wearer’s waist, 1/2 yard of knit material, and 1 yard of tulle. I used a “jet-set” knit from Joann’s because it’s lightweight and a little slippery, so it won’t get bunched up under the tulle. I got my tulle from Joann’s as well – it was called foiled tulle and was more expensive than regular tulle, but quite a bit softer as well, plus it has a subtle sheen.

how to sew a tulle skirt ballet dress for girls

I started by getting all my pieces cut out (see photo below). I sliced off the bottom of the t-shirt at my daughter’s natural waist, which was about 4 inches below the armpit. Then I cut a piece of elastic long enough to go all the way around the bottom of the t-shirt, plus 1 inch for seam allowance. Next I cut two underskirt pieces from the knit. At the top the underskirt pieces are the same width as the shirt plus 1 inch for seam allowance, and then I just angled out in an A-line shape. I cut it long enough to reach from my daughter’s waist to just above her knees. (I actually cut the skirt a little short, so she usually wears this dress with tights underneath. Learn from my mistake and cut it longer than you think you need!)

ballet-dress-girls-sewing-pattern-tutorial

Finally, I cut four rectangles out of the tulle for a double-layer overskirt. The rectangles were each about 36 inches wide, and two inches longer than the knit.

To put the dress together I started by sewing the ends of the elastic together to form a loop, which was the same size as the bottom of the shirt. I slid the elastic up over the bottom of the shirt (overlapping by about 1/2 an inch) and sewed in place using a zigzag. It looked like this:

ballet-dress-tutorial-sewing

Next, I put together the underskirt and overskirt as shown below (more explanation after the graphic).

ballet-dress-easy-to-sew-for-girls

1. Sewed the two underskirt pieces together down the sides, backstitching at the bottom. Press seams open and turn right side out. 2. Sew two overskirt pieces together down the sides, backstitching at the bottom. Press seams open and turn right side out. Repeat with the two remaining overskirt pieces to make 2 layers. 3. Place one overskirt layer inside the other and treat them as one layer. Run a gathering stitch (long stitch at low tension) along the top of the overskirt, then pull the bobbin threads to gather until the overskirt is the same width as the underskirt. Place underskirt inside overskirt and pin together along the top.

Then you can slide about 1/2 inch of the skirts under the elastic and pin it all together VERY WELL. Use a zig zag stitch to sew the skirts onto the elastic. This can get a little tricky, so be sure you use lots of pins and go slow. The good news is once the skirts are on, the dress is done! Neither the knit or the tulle will fray, so you don’t need to hem either skirt.

Here’s what it looks like all put together:

simple sewing tutorial for a cute girls' ballet inspired dress

My daughter is convinced she’s a ballerina every time she puts this dress on!

add a tulle skirt to a store bought tee for an adorable ballet dress

You may also like:

  • gathered skirt with attached shorts | easy sewing tutorialgathered skirt with attached shorts | easy sewing tutorial
  • easy upcycled pajamas: from t-shirt to nightgown in 15 minuteseasy upcycled pajamas: from t-shirt to nightgown in 15 minutes
  • easy DIY princess nightgown {upcycled from a tee}easy DIY princess nightgown {upcycled from a tee}
  • side bow sweater dress {an easy upcycle}side bow sweater dress {an easy upcycle}

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print


49 Comments

« bakery style blueberry muffins {with yogurt}
the easiest way to frost sugar cookies »

Comments

  1. Grammy J says

    January 27, 2014 at 11:39 am

    I get such a kick out of your daughter’s ornery grin. This was too cute

    Reply
    • autumn says

      January 27, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      Thanks! We get a kick out of her too 🙂 even when she’s completely ornery!

      Reply
      • kathleen says

        January 10, 2015 at 3:46 pm

        I just loved this and I know exactly what you mean as too daughters attitudes but after 4 daughters 2 stepdaughters and 5 granddaughters they will be who they are every single one of them hahahha but do you know what they secretly love what we make and do for them.

        Reply
  2. Kathy says

    January 27, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    It turned out super cute.

    Reply
  3. Brittany says

    February 3, 2014 at 11:05 am

    I have a confession. I’d love to make this for myself! (I was a ballet and polka dot girl when I was your daughter’s age, so she may never grow out of it…haha) How much fabric do you think you’d need for an adult sized skirt? Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
    • autumn says

      February 4, 2014 at 6:16 am

      hmm…I’m not really sure. Let’s think through it. I made my daughters skirt about 3 times the width of the shirt (so the front of her shirt was about 12 inches across and I used two front skirt pieces at 36 inches wide and two back skirt pieces at 36 inches wide). So maybe you could figure out dimensions for an adult sized skirt that way. I did use foil tulle, which is more expensive, but it’s softer and lays a lot nicer – if you use the normal old cheap tulle there’s a good chance that much tulle gathered up will poof out from the waistband and might not look great. You might want to look at this tulle skirt tutorial: http://www.cottonandcurls.com/2014/01/very-simple-tulle-skirt-tutorial/ She makes a circle skirt with the tulle so it lays flatter. You could do the same thing, just without quite so many layers. Good luck!

      Reply
  4. Emily says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    I love this! So darling, thank you!

    Reply
  5. Lauren says

    February 18, 2014 at 10:16 am

    Would you be able to machine wash this dress? I didnt know how the tulle would hold up. Im wanting to make a dress similar to this. So cute! 🙂

    Reply
    • autumn says

      February 18, 2014 at 10:22 am

      I used the foil tulle, which is more expensive than normal tulle (and it’s much softer as well) and it’s held up beautifully! She wears hers at least once a week so it’s probably already been washed 10 times and it looks as good as new. The raw edge isn’t fraying at all. I was a little worried about how it would hold up, so I’ve been really pleased. I don’t know if the cheap $1/yd tulle would hold up as well or not. Thanks!

      Reply
  6. halle hosier says

    March 3, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    What aproximate size would you say this is???
    thank you

    Reply
    • autumn says

      March 5, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      This is a 3T size!

      Reply
  7. Deanna {sewmccool} says

    April 16, 2014 at 7:17 am

    Really cute and simple! I just pinned it! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Sarah Helene says

    May 2, 2014 at 11:14 am

    CLEVER IDEA for your Ballet Dress tutorial: using a polka dot T-shirt cut shorter, wide elastic for waistband and for the skirt, knit fabric plus double layers of tulle. VIOLA . . . a darling dress for your 3-year-old to wear everywhere! LOVE your sweet girl’s smile and pose in the first photo. I like the fact that the tulle is double and the coral color does not “match” the pink polka dots in the top. Your design is “spot on” as is your sense of color! Your girl will be noticed wherever she wears this stylish dress. I’m certain Moms will ask: Where did you buy this? Then, how can I sew one? Meaning you’re creative revealing your sewing talents– BRAVO! Sarah in Minneapolis

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    May 3, 2014 at 11:09 am

    Adorable dress! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Audrey Matuauto says

    May 12, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    I just started blogging a couple months ago but absolutely adored this tutorial! I will be trying it soon! Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Lygia says

    October 21, 2014 at 8:25 am

    So cute! I too prefer more modern, no-pink, more-grey outfits for my daughter. But she’s only 2 and has not yet expressed an opinion. But when she does, I am very aware that she might choose to dress entirely in pink (yikes), but until then, momma will continue with the neutrals 🙂
    Can’t wait to try this pattern

    Reply
  12. Katie says

    January 30, 2015 at 6:47 am

    What a great idea!! At first I was like…there’s NO way I’m sewing that t-shirt top…and then I kept reading. 🙂 Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial! Can’t wait to try it out on my little girl.

    Reply
    • Cara says

      February 2, 2015 at 3:28 am

      This is exactly what i needed!

      Is foil tulle listed under any other name ?
      I know exactly what the material looks and feels like, but I just can’t seem to find it anywhere!

      Reply
      • autumn says

        February 4, 2015 at 4:51 pm

        I’ve only been able to find foiled tulle at Jo-Ann Fabrics, so I don’t know if it’s listed under a different name elsewhere. It is available on their website, though!

        Reply
  13. tütü etek yapmak için malzemeler says

    May 30, 2015 at 2:27 am

    very nice work

    Reply
  14. Jane Kirsch says

    June 30, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    Hello
    A couple questions. How did you sew the elastic together? Did you overlap it?
    Did you sew the tshirt to the elastic sewing on top of the elastic?
    Did you sew the skirt to the elastic sewing on top of the elastic? Top stitching?
    How wide was the elastic?

    Reply
  15. AdriEnne says

    December 28, 2015 at 2:19 am

    Hi! What color tulle is this? Is it the fuchsia? It’s hard to tell online if that’s the best match for a pink! TIA

    Reply
  16. Erika says

    December 29, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    So cute need to try this !

    Reply
  17. MaureenT says

    April 6, 2016 at 10:53 am

    I know you said it washes well. Did you put it in the dryer and does it need any pressing?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • autumn says

      April 12, 2016 at 11:39 am

      I dried it in the dryer all the time and it came out perfect, no need for ironing! I have never found ANY other tulle that will do that, so I love the foiled tulle.

      Reply
  18. Alice McLeod says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:45 am

    Hi AlwaysAutumn.
    I love this dress so much! It is very simple but beautiful (and I especially love cheating on the top). I am making this dress for my niece, but i have purchased a top that is a bit wider (like 7ish cm) than her natural waist (she has quite a big baby gut). The tops width at her waist is 61 cm but the elastic that goes around her waist is 54 cm. I know that if i slip a 54 cm long elastic loop around a 61 cm dress and sew, it will gather the top, which i notice you do not do in your tutorial. So now I’ve finally got to my question: Do I just make the elastic loop the same width as the top and it hang a bit loosely on her and she can grow into it? Or should it just gather it? Thanks heaps, I love your tutorials, they are detailed and can be made in custom measurements so I do not have to print out a pattern to size, which is great! Ps. Your daughter is just gorgeous!

    Reply
  19. Dress Patterns says

    December 7, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    very nice dress!! thks!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 25 of the Cutest Things to Sew for Girls - Crazy Little Projects says:
    February 21, 2014 at 8:34 am

    […] Ballet Dress: […]

    Reply
  2. How a Beginner Sewed a Tutu Skirt | Milk & Jammies says:
    April 9, 2014 at 9:42 am

    […] The Ballet Dress […]

    Reply
  3. Ballet Dress Tutorial | Go To Sew says:
    May 1, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    […] I’m so excited for this tutorial. My daughter lives in tutus and tulle and I know she’d love a few of these adorable Ballet Dresses! You’ll find the tutorial over at It’s Always Autumn! […]

    Reply
  4. 20 Cute DIY Clothing Projects for Your Kids |DIYManiac says:
    May 15, 2014 at 10:06 am

    […] Source: http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com […]

    Reply
  5. 12 DIY Darling Little Toddler Dresses says:
    May 19, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    […] and every little girl needs at least one tutu. Here is how with and old baby’s shirt and some tulle you can make a nice ballerina dress. […]

    Reply
  6. How a Beginner Sewed a Tutu Skirt | says:
    May 31, 2014 at 9:46 am

    […] The Ballet Dress […]

    Reply
  7. 10 free kids sewing patterns | Sewing | CraftGossip.com says:
    June 11, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    […] The Ballet Dress – It’s Always Autumn […]

    Reply
  8. 7 Free Sewing Patterns & Tutorials for Beginners says:
    June 5, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    […] Little Girls’ Tutu Ballet Dress at It’s Always Autumn Romantic Lace T-Shirt at Pearls & Scissors Elephant Doorstop at Create Studio Ten-Minute Cushions at Samelia’s Mum P.S. Anorina – where the heck did you get that amazing sofa? L-O-V-E it!!! Macaron Coin Purse at Craft Passion Plus Size Tulle Skirt at Burda Style […]

    Reply
  9. 51 Projects That Will Make You Bust Out the Sewing Machine says:
    June 13, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    […] Ballet Dress: Take a t-shirt that’s already hanging in your little girl’s closet and attach a strip of […]

    Reply
  10. Matching Tutu Dress for Girl and Doll | Ashcraft Creative says:
    December 30, 2015 at 11:04 am

    […] walmart for $2.50, and bought one 3T and one 12 months to use for the top.  Then I followed this tutorial to attach the skirt. The only thing I did differently was inside I cut the tulle above the […]

    Reply
  11. 25 Things to Sew in Under 1 Hour says:
    April 28, 2016 at 5:35 am

    […] Ballet Dress: […]

    Reply
  12. Make a Tutu Dress for your Princess’s Birthday | Ribbonat says:
    May 17, 2016 at 7:19 am

    […] the ballet dress {a simple girls sewing tutorial} […]

    Reply
  13. The ballet dress for girls sewing tutorial – sewing mania club says:
    June 3, 2016 at 9:07 am

    […] Get tutorial Categories clothing, dress, girl, refashion […]

    Reply
  14. Sleeve Less Blog says:
    July 29, 2016 at 2:26 am

    Ballet Girl Print Shirt Dress

    […] ide the other and treat them as one layer. Run a gathering stitch (long stitch a […]

    Reply
  15. Craftionary says:
    August 6, 2016 at 6:11 am

    […] DIY tulle skirt tshirt […]

    Reply
  16. Polyester Blog says:
    January 4, 2017 at 4:30 am

    Glittery Tulle Full Skirt

    […] seams open and turn right side out. 2. Sew two overskirt pieces together down t […]

    Reply
  17. Hundreds Blog says:
    March 27, 2017 at 1:13 pm

    Benny Gold Good Luck S S Tshirt

    […] rn right side out. 2. Sew two overskirt pieces together down the sides, backstit […]

    Reply
  18. Sew a Sweet, Simple Easter Dress – Coats Crafts US says:
    May 5, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    […] Image from It’s Always Autumn […]

    Reply
  19. Vestido de ballet TUTU para niñas hecho con camiseta reciclada | ManualidadesYa Paso a Paso faciles says:
    May 20, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    […] Fuente: vestido ballet ninas […]

    Reply
  20. How to sew a ballet dress | Simple Craft Ideas says:
    June 2, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    […] courtesy: itsalwaysautumn […]

    Reply
  21. 25 Things to Sew in Under 1 Hour - Crazy Little Projects says:
    June 23, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    […] Ballet Dress: […]

    Reply
  22. Peasant Top Pattern Easy Sewing Patterns For Beginners says:
    October 6, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    […] Simple way to make a tutu dress […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey, glad you’re here!

I'm Autumn, a mom of five who loves ice cream, Masterpiece Theatre, and clothes that hide the fact that I eat so much ice cream. When I was 18 I got a job at a craft store and told everyone (regularly) how much I hated crafts. Well, things change! Read More…

Find me here

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

My Latest Videos

Subscribe to get the latest!

Subscribe to get the latest projects in your inbox!

Your info here:

Popular Posts

Crazy easy homemade artisan bread {only 4 ingredients!}

Crazy easy homemade artisan bread {only 4 ingredients!}

tissue transfer art {easy kid art project!}

tissue transfer art {easy kid art project!}

quick & easy {baked} cake mix donuts recipe

quick & easy {baked} cake mix donuts recipe

20 pretty DIY paper flower tutorials

20 pretty DIY paper flower tutorials

girl’s flutter sleeve dress or top sewing tutorial & free pattern in 4T

girl’s flutter sleeve dress or top sewing tutorial & free pattern in 4T

Blog policy

All posts and pictures are copyrighted by Autumn Baldwin and blog content may not be reposted elsewhere. However, linking back to my content is just fine. You may use one or two photos as long as you link directly back to the specific post. Thank you!

Also, please note that this blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Copyright © 2018 · Divine theme by Restored 316