Overalls are for playtime, worktime or anytime.
A loose-fitting overall bib dress is cool and casual to wear. Add a soft jersey skirt with a maxi flounce ruffle to that bib top and it's the ultimate comfortable, playtime dress. Go fashionably green and recycle an old pair of overalls and a couple over-sized tees to stitch up this eco-friendly dress.
Instructions
1. Cut the fabric off under the hem edge.
Cut the bib top from the bottom of your overalls. Be sure to cut where the waistband joins the top of the legs. Usually there is a seam there. Cut just under the edge to get a finished edge on the bib top so you don't need to fold a hem under.
2. Fold the unfinished edge of your bib top under to the inside 1/2 inch if you did not cut the bib top off. Stitch this edge down.
3. Make old clothes new again.
Turn the T-shirts inside out and lay flat. Cut the bottom of each shirt off just below the sleeves. Set one aside for the upper part of your skirt. Take the second one and remove the bottom hem on the seam line. Then cut the bottom of the shirt in half again so you have two tubes of fabric the same width.
4. Remove the sleeves from one shirt by using the outside hem as a guide. Make a parallel line to it from the armpit to shoulder. Cut off each sleeve on that line. These are going to be your pockets.
5. Pin the cut edge of each sleeve together; they should still be inside out. Sew the opening closed using the pressure foot as a guide. Turn right side out and set the pockets aside.
6. Turn the top of the skirt right side out and pin to the inside lower edge of the bib top. Align the skirt's top edge with the hem on the inside lower edge of the bib top to keep your lines even.
7. Sew the top of the skirt to the lower edge of the bib top. Double stitch for durability.
8. Try on your dress and decide the placement of your pockets. Pin in place to your skirt and remove the dress.
9. Stitch the pockets down one side seam, across the bottom and up the other side to attach them to the dress. If you are happy with the look and length of your dress, then you are done. If you'd like to make your bib dress a bit longer or add a maxi flounce ruffle to the bottom continue to the next step.
10. Take the two fabric tubes you cut form the second T-shirt and remove one side seam from each. If there is no side seam, simply fold the T-shirt in half and cut though one layer of fabric on the fold.
11. Pin the two strips of fabric together on one seam and stitch together. Pin the other two ends together and do the same. Now you have a very long tube of fabric.
12. Gather one edge of this fabric tube by sewing a row of basting stitches along the hem on the 5/8 sewing line. Run another row of stitches a pressure foot in from the other row. Do not back stitch to secure when you start or end these rows of stitches; you want the strings at the ends loose to pull and gather the tube.
13. Pull the threads to gather the fabric until the distance around the fabric tube matches the distance around the lower edge of your skirt.
14. Pin the inside of the ruffle flounce over the outside edge of the bottom hem of the skirt. When stitched down, the gathered top edge will look like a little ruffle over the fuller flounce bottom. Use the hem line seam as a guide when pinning. If there is no seam, then run a row of stitches around the bottom hem of the skirt on the 5/8 line and use that to pin the flounce in place.
15. Stitch the ruffle flounce to the lower edge of the skirt on the 5/8 stitching line, leaving the top edge of the gathers free. Double stitch for durability.
Tags: lower edge, side seam, your skirt, bottom skirt, distance around, Double stitch, Double stitch durability