How to turn a shirt into a girls Halter dress

This is my first sewing tutorial! I'm very excited about it and a little nervous. I will start off by saying that I'm not the best seamstress, I'm still learning and I don't know a lot of the sewing terms so I will be just making them up as I go!

Let's get started!

YOU WILL NEED

shirt

matching thread

iron

elastic
safety pin

Here is the shirt I will be using

Cut off the sleeves and cut along the side seams so you have two pieces the front piece and the back piece. Draw out the shape of your halter, I used a washable marker but you can certainly use a fabric pen if you aren't to lazy to look for it like I am!

I fold my shirt in half and cut it to insure it's the same on both sides

Now that you have the shirt cut out separate the front and back piece. Cut the back piece as shown.

Get your iron hot and fold over your "arm pit" piece, make a hem, pin it and sew (I'm sure there are some technical sewing terms for this but I don't know what they are so bare with me)

Now do the same for the top of the halter but this time you need to make a casing. Be sure to back stitch and leave enough room for your safety pin to get through the casing.

Set aside the front piece of your shirt and grab the back piece. Make another casing along the top of your back piece, remember to back stitch and leave enough room for the safety pin and elastic to get through.

Now that you have your casing made it's time to thread the elastic. Pin your elastic through the safety pin as shown and thread it through the casing.

When you have your elastic threaded through the casing stitch down ONE side of the elastic to hold it in place. Stretch your elastic until the back of your dress is the size you need, Stitch it down and cut of the extra.

With the right sides together pin and sew the 2 side together.

Almost done!

Now is the time to decide if you want it to be a dress or a top.

Cut it to the length you prefer and hem.

Grab your ribbon or extra piece of fabric form your shirt and thread through the casing at the top of the shirt just like you did with the elastic.

Now try it on your little one and take a minute to admire her beauty and your hard work!

It's a cute top too!