Another Easy Nightgown Tutorial

This one from a t-shirt, of which I have eleven thousand. Joe buys a lot of t-shirts in his quest for the perfect fit. The lower quality ones only last him a month or two before they shrink or stretch - and then they migrate over to my fabric stash.

Where I make them into Kara-sized nightgowns with very little effort. Yay!

The t-shirt I'm using here was NOT one of Joe's. It came in a giant box of clothes my sister-in-law was given, that she passed on to me. Years ago. I should really just take the thing over to Goodwill. Maybe later today.

Anyway. Supplies = adult sized tshirt, shirt that fits the child this will be for (for sizing), straight edge, rotary cutter, pins, sewing machine and thread.

Fold the tshirts in half, and lay the smaller one on top. Note (and mark) where the shoulder of the small shirt is located on the large.



Remove the small shirt, and cut a straight line from the widest point (inside the seam) on the bottom hem to your marked shoulder on the large shirt. This will cut off both sleeves.



Cut down the sleeves, following the seams. I just eyeball it, usually. It doesn't seem to matter too much. An inch or so from each seam fits Kara alright. I didn't take a picture but cut off the other seam too - about an inch in.



This is what the sleeve looks like unfolded, after trimming. And I know. Usually sleeves are all curvy for a more flattering fit. But. This is a toddler nightgown, out of a used tshirt. It's nice and stretch anyway, and I don't care too much about perfection as she will just be sleeping in it.



Matching the shoulder points, pin sleeves to the body, right sides together. You'll have to manipulate the fabric a little bit, it it'll be fine.



Sew the sleeves on to the body.

Now you have this.



Fold your gown in half, inside out, matching the hem and sleeves. Pin.





Sew a continuous seam from the sleeve to the hem, backstitching at the underarm to reinforce.





Turn right side out, and you're done! Ta-da!



This one, well, the neckhole was kind of big. A regular t-shirt fits better. But I liked the little ruffled edge.

Keek approves.



This is the same process I used to make Kara this little striped dress from an old polo shirt - super cute. I did have to hem it up a little bit. Cuter knee length.



And if you're concerned about a snugger fit - just run a couple lines of elastic thread around the back. Pulls it in nicely.

Show me, if you make one!