If you're looking for a fun and easy sewing project, consider making a button-up dress from a man's shirt and fabric leftovers. This tutorial will show you how to create a puff-sleeved dress with a front panel, side pockets, a round neckline with a collar, and front princess seams. The first part of the tutorial will cover how to make a pattern for the dress, while the second part will cover how to sew the dress together. This tutorial is perfect for beginners, so let's get started!

Materials:

A man's shirt
Fabric leftovers
Sewing machine
Thread
Scissors
Pins
Tape measure
Marking tool (chalk, fabric pen, or tailor's chalk)
Interfacing (optional)

Part 1: Making the pattern Step 1: Prepare the man's shirt Start by washing and ironing the man's shirt. This will remove any wrinkles and help you get accurate measurements.

Step 2: Measure and mark the shirt Measure the shirt from the shoulder seam to the hemline. This will give you the length of the dress. Measure the width of the shirt at the widest point, which is usually the chest or the waist. Divide this measurement in half to get the width of the front and back pieces. Use a marking tool to mark the measurements on the shirt.

Step 3: Create the front panel To create the front panel, measure the distance between the two shoulder seams and mark it on the shirt. Cut the shirt in half along this line. Cut a piece of fabric leftover to match the width and length of the front panel. Pin the fabric to the front panel and sew them together.

Step 4: Create the sleeves To create the sleeves, measure the length of the sleeve from the shoulder seam to the cuff. Cut a piece of fabric leftover to match the length of the sleeve and the width of the armhole. Fold the fabric in half and cut a curved shape for the sleeve. Pin the sleeve to the armhole and sew them together.

Step 5: Create the side pockets To create the side pockets, cut two rectangles from the fabric leftover. The size of the rectangles will depend on how big you want the pockets to be. Fold the rectangles in half and sew the sides and the bottom of the pockets. Pin the pockets to the side seams of the dress and sew them together.

Step 6: Create the collar To create the collar, cut a piece of fabric leftover to match the length and width of the collar. Fold the fabric in half and sew the sides of the collar. Pin the collar to the neckline of the dress and sew them together.

Step 7: Create the front princess seams To create the front princess seams, cut two long strips of fabric leftover. Pin the strips to the front of the dress, following the curve of the bust. Sew the strips to the front of the dress and trim any excess fabric.

Part 2: Sewing the dress Step 1: Prepare the pieces Cut out all the pieces of the dress and iron them to remove any wrinkles. If desired, add interfacing to the collar to make it sturdier.

Step 2: Sew the front panel Pin the front panel to the front of the dress and sew them together.

Step 3: Sew the sleeves Pin the sleeves to the armholes of the dress and sew them together.

Step 4: Sew the side seams Pin the sides of the dress together and sew them together, including the pockets.

Step 5: Sew the princess seams Pin the princess seams together and sew them together, starting at the shoulder seam and working your way down.

Step 6: Sew the collar Pin the collar to the neckline of the dress and sew them together.

Step 7: Hem the dress Fold the bottom of the dress up twice to create a hem. Pin it in place and sew it together.

Step 8: Add the buttons Mark the placement of the buttons on the front of the dress. Sew the buttons on one side and the buttonholes on the other side.

And there you have it! Your button-up dress made from a man's shirt and fabric leftovers is now complete. I hope you found this tutorial helpful and enjoyable. Let me know in the comments what you think of this dress and how it turned out for you!